NC State (8) vs LSU (9), Thurs approx 9:20pm TBS, [Updated 9:45pm]

14-15 Basketball102

NC State is seeded #8 in the East Region and will play 9th seeded LSU in Pittsburgh on Thursday. With the tournament bid, Mark Gottfried becomes the first coach in ACC history to earn an NCAA Tournament bid in each of his first four seasons and moves within one of the school’s all-time record of five straight.

Interestingly — NC State senior, Ralston Turner played at LSU for two seasons before transferring to NC State three years ago.

LSU was 22-10 on the year against the 97th toughest strength of schedule in the country; while NC State (20-13) finished the year at #39 in the RPI against the 9th toughest schedule in the country. The Tigers lost to Auburn in the SEC quarterfinals this weekend.

LSU went 3-2 against the Top 50 while NC State went 4-8. LSU’s three T50 wins were against Arkansas (#20), West Virginia (#24) and Georgia (#38).

LSU defeated West Virginia (74-73) on the road on December 4th…right around the time the Mountaineers manhandled NC State in Madison Square Garden. LSU also lost in November on a neutral floor to Clemson by three points. LSU also manhandled Tennessee in Knoxville in February, a Volunteers team that NC State also defeated relatively easily in December.

NC State has opened as 1.5 point favorite in Las Vegas.

The Sporting News has their preview up right now and is available by clicking here.

Storylines

— With ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren, N.C. State beat Xavier in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament to move into the field of 64, but lost an overtime battle to St. Louis in the second round.

— The Wolfpack was on the wrong side of the tournament bubble in early February, but wins over Louisville and North Carolina within 10 days of each other vaulted them back into the Tournament discussion.

— Gottfried has taken the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons in Raleigh, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2012.

— Quarterman and junior guard Josh Gray each average four assists per game. The Tigers have four players averaging double-digit scoring, and Mickey has averaged a double-double for the season. The Tigers average nearly 74 points per game.

— LSU is in the tournament for the 21st time in program history, reaching the Final Four in 1953, 1981, 1986 and 2006. LSU’s lone national title came in 1935, before the first NCAA Tournament in 1939.

— The Tigers have steadily improved under Jones, who has LSU in the Tourney for the first time since 2009. Jones previously took North Texas to the Big Dance in 2007 and 2010.

If Wolfpackers have much about which to complain it would be having to be in the same bracket with two ACC brethren – Louisville and Virginia.

CBS’s Clark Kellogg thinks that LSU will make it to the second weekend by defeating NC State and Villanova, but Doug Gottlieb followed up with a counter point that he thinks NC State is the team to watch.

I tend to agree with ESPN’s Jim Calhoun who states that he looks NOT at ‘how a good a team did all year’, but instead at ‘how good a team is/can be.’ Calhoun then called NC State ‘immensely talented’. Ultimately, NC State was the 31st overall seed in the tournament and LSU was the 35th overall. See the entire seed list below.

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14-15 Basketball

Home › Forums › NC State #8 in the East — Plays LSU

Viewing 25 posts - 51 through 75 (of 103 total)
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  • 03/15/2015 at 7:46 PM #80101
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    I DVR’d the Iowa State/Okie semi-final Friday night. Maybe the most entertaining non-partisan game I’ve seen all year.

    03/15/2015 at 7:47 PM #80102
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Comments…..and humor is challenged due to head cold – ugly weather in G’boro….spent too much time outside with too little alcohol.

    UNC (Hahvad of the South) versus the REAL Harvard (coached by a Dook Grad and Dook assistant). Obviously the Computer that the selection committee used has a REAL sense of humor. Can you imagine the SIGNS in the crowd if there were an ACC Match Up? Real Student Athletes who ATTEND classes versus Pretend Student Athletes who have a “Hall Monitor” so that they really DO have to attend classes?
    That is the best match up of the day.

    Second Best….John Wooden’s ghost is alive. UCLA, who go dismantled….I mean cut up, stomped on, run over, ground up and then burned….but still survived. It was KY 41 and UCLA 7 @ half. Then final was 83 – 44. Cal ran out of cheerleaders or it would have been worse…and UCLA makes the cut. Sounds like the NCAA heiarchy had a hand in this one….as it ranks as the most inept selection of the day. Miami has requested a review….as well they should.

    Don’t understand Archie’s Flyers got a play in. Wonder if Davidson will be allowed to use their Tuxedo Speedo FT diversion…..and they got in….without a play in.

    It appears that Roy’s coaching history is being embellished by the OAT that only hear part of what is whispered into their ear pieces. Roy has HOW many “Straight” NCAA appearances? Say WHAT? Charlie Scott was the FIRST ACC Black Scholly? NOPE…it was UMD. Dean’s minister challenged his to offer a Scholly to a Black Athlete….that was a SLAP in the face of the UNC Racial Policies. The first UNC Black Attendee was issued a “swim card”….which they then revoked. The graduates on several sides of him (alphabetically) chose NOT to WALK or attend their OWN Graduation. The IRONY was that….that UNC was the most racially prejudiced campus in the ACC….save USC? BUT, the press did not study the history or read the “Black Student Memories” on the UNC web pages. NCSU had a Black Golf Team Captain in the 50’s.

    Finally….and then the rant is over…..

    We GOTT to have a good game against LSU. I hope that Turner lives in the Case Center and shoots more jump shots than the fake UNC classes. He has GOTT to have a good game..

    GO PACK….onto to Pittsburg…..

    03/15/2015 at 7:48 PM #80103
    wufpup76
    Keymaster
    Heelh8r wrote:

    A chance for Purvis to shine!

    Really, when you think about it, it would be great exposure for Purvis to show off his leet jumpshooting skills in Madison Square Garden at the NIT Final 4

    (*snicker*)

    03/15/2015 at 7:51 PM #80104
    Gowolves
    Participant

    Don’t sleep on Northern Iowa. Louisville will have all they can handle with them. If the Pack are fortunate to get to the sweet 16 I would not be surprised with a match up them.

    03/15/2015 at 7:51 PM #80105
    Trout
    Participant

    I hate the NC Central didn’t win the tourney and get a NCAAT invite, but they could do some real damage in the NIT

    03/15/2015 at 7:52 PM #80106
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    Yeah, I think UNI is the likely foe. And we would beat ’em. LIKELY beat ’em. 75/25 proposition, like LSU.

    03/15/2015 at 7:55 PM #80107
    Trout
    Participant

    Kiss of death, Jay Williams just said we would beat Nova

    03/15/2015 at 7:59 PM #80108
    JeremyH
    Participant

    we always get to be that team that *could* “surprise” someone. so what else do we know about LSU..

    03/15/2015 at 8:01 PM #80109
    wufpup76
    Keymaster
    Trout wrote:

    Kiss of death, Jay Williams just said we would beat Nova

    I don’t know, on one hand I’m glad to not be alone in thinking so highly of State’s talent level and ability. On the other, I hope Gottfried has mandated ‘positive press’ ear plugs for the entire team.

    Just keep feeding them Kellog’s nonsense over and over.

    03/15/2015 at 8:05 PM #80110
    JeremyH
    Participant

    so I guess the Purdue loss wasn’t that bad after all..

    03/15/2015 at 8:05 PM #80111
    Wulfpack
    Participant

    Here’s a little blurb about LSU:

    LSU Tigers (46): In the sophomore tandem of Jarrell Martin and Jordan Mickey, the Tigers have a legitimate NBA frontcourt, one that often does its best work on the defensive end. The Tigers also have a thing for horrendous, glaring unforced errors. It’s not exactly an ideal characteristic come March.

    03/15/2015 at 8:09 PM #80112
    JeremyH
    Participant

    maybe they should tell UNC and Wisconsin get their game together out of the way. That region is light and fluffy.

    03/15/2015 at 8:10 PM #80113
    wufpup76
    Keymaster
    JeremyH wrote:

    we always get to be that team that *could* “surprise” someone. so what else do we know about LSU..

    Athletic, some talent – horrible, horrible decision making. Wildly inconsistent. Smart, disciplined ball will beat them 9 out of 10. Also to note on the ‘focus’ and ability aspects – Tigers went 25-44 from the FT line in their OT loss to Auburn. That says a lot. Hornsby is their (poorer) version of Turner. Neutralize the guards, let the big men make mistakes and bad decisions. Get them in foul trouble – you don’t do that by settling for contested jumpers.

    If we play to their whims though it would be a long afternoon. They hurt you when you let them hurt you. They’re a terrible match-up for a team like West Virginia. West Virginia’s style of play is not smart, decision-making basketball – LSU’s athletes feasted. Against teams that execute, LSU is behind the 8-ball.

    03/15/2015 at 8:10 PM #80114
    JeremyH
    Participant
    Wulfpack wrote:

    Here’s a little blurb about LSU:

    LSU Tigers (46): In the sophomore tandem of Jarrell Martin and Jordan Mickey, the Tigers have a legitimate NBA frontcourt, one that often does its best work on the defensive end. The Tigers also have a thing for horrendous, glaring unforced errors. It’s not exactly an ideal characteristic come March.

    so as long as our jumpers are falling, we’ll be good? : ) story of the season
    sounds like a nice test for our rotating “bruisers”.

    03/15/2015 at 8:20 PM #80115
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    I would rather listen to commercials than Vitale

    03/15/2015 at 8:25 PM #80116
    Trout
    Participant

    Teams with best chance to make it to Final Four, according to ESPN BPI

    Kentucky 81%, Wisconsin 46%, Gonzaga 43%, UVA 38%, Nova 36%, Arizona 36%, Duke 27%

    03/15/2015 at 8:28 PM #80117
    JeremyH
    Participant

    we also have some chance, .1%

    03/15/2015 at 8:34 PM #80118
    Fastback68
    Participant

    So how many 7 foot lurches do we have to deal with in our bracket?

    03/15/2015 at 8:45 PM #80119
    pack_time
    Participant

    LSU’s Jordan Mickey has injured shoulder. Only played 16 min. and only scored 1 point, compared to his average 34 mpg. and 17 ppg. When LSU played Kentucky MIckey played like an equivalent to Lacey. If Mickey doesn’t play or is not at full strength States chances go up big time.

    03/15/2015 at 8:52 PM #80121
    JeremyH
    Participant

    heh, Wofford beating us was like their signature win. you’re welcome Wofford.

    03/15/2015 at 8:52 PM #80122
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    HWSNBN did get in, but as a 5 seed. Will have to chop wood on the road.

    03/15/2015 at 8:53 PM #80123
    BJD95
    Keymaster
    JeremyH wrote:

    heh, Wofford beating us was like their signature win. you’re welcome Wofford.

    Cincy likely doesn’t get in without beating us. We just give until it hurts, damn it.

    03/15/2015 at 8:56 PM #80124
    JeremyH
    Participant
    BJD95 wrote:

    HWSNBN did get in, but as a 5 seed. Will have to chop wood on the road.

    ha, you really sat through the NIT selection show? nice.

    03/15/2015 at 8:58 PM #80125
    JeremyH
    Participant

    Jay Williams has us against UVA in the elite 8. What the… moonshine kickbacks back home?

    03/15/2015 at 9:00 PM #80127
    BJD95
    Keymaster
    JeremyH wrote:
    BJD95 wrote:

    HWSNBN did get in, but as a 5 seed. Will have to chop wood on the road.

    ha, you really sat through the NIT selection show? nice.

    I am pretty sure I was dropped on my head a lot as a small child. I am indeed the eldest, so there are no reliable, unbiased witnesses.

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