Your “Here We Go Again” Pitt Open Thread

01/17/2017Wufpacker16-17 Basketball ACC ACC & Other NC State NCS Basketball132

What do I mean by “Here we go again”….?

Well, now for only the SECOND time during my time at SFN, I have no idea what to write.

Just….wow.

Yes….”Facepalm Level” has been unlocked. Next stop…..Bag on Head.

Yes, I do realize some of us are already there.

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I’m not gonna talk much about the GT game. This is a family site and I don’t want to scar(e) any of our younger readers by making up new and increasingly unseemly profanity….as I try to describe the heinous visions which presented themselves on my TV two nights ago.

But there is no excuse for losing to GT by 10 at home. No excuse.

No excuse.

But at least Coach sees the truth this time….

“I’ve done a bad job”

With defense, Coach? Yes, you’ll get no argument from me.

Now, it’s time to remember you’re the coach. Tell the press about defense all you want, that’s fine. But it’s time to find a way to get it across to your players in such a way that they can hear it.

COACH them.

And also, maybe either learn to coach defense, or bring in someone who can.

Coach…just so ya know, let’s be clear. Just as there was no excuse for losing to GT at home, there will be no excuse for losing to Pitt at home.

So don’t.

Your chair is beginning to glow, son.

Time might be running out more quickly than you might think.

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The Pitt Panthers come into Raleigh tonight sporting an identical record (12-6, 1-4 ACC) as the Pack. The winner will climb out of a 4 way tie for the ACC cellar.

Typing that last sentence depresses me.

And that’s all the research on Pitt I plan to do. Here, have a couple of links to fill in the gaps if you wish….

Wolfpack Hosts Pittsburgh Tuesday Evening (GoPack.com)

Pack Tracks
– NC State dropped its first home game of the season Sunday evening, falling to Georgia Tech, 86-76. The Pack is now 10-1 at home this season, including a 9-1 mark at PNC Arena.
– The Pack was led by freshman Dennis Smith, Jr., in the game versus Georgia Tech. The ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year scored a season-best 31 points and led his team in rebounds (8), assists (6), steals (2) and blocks (2). Sophomore Maverick Rowan also reached double figures in the game, scoring 17 points to tie his season-high.
– Sunday marked the second consecutive game, NC State only placed two players in double figures scoring. It’s only the third time in 18 games this season, NC State has only had two players score in double figures. The Pack is 0-3 in those three games. For the season, the Pack has five players averaging in double figures and has had at least four players reach double figures in nine of its 18 games this season.
– Freshman Dennis Smith, Jr., has led the Pack in scoring and assists in eight of the last nine games. He has led the team in steals in nine consecutive games. Through 18 games, Smith is on pace to break many NC State freshman records.

GAME NOTES: Panthers On the Road to Face NC State (PittsburghPanthers.com)

By The Numbers
• Pitt is ranked 36th in the most recent RPI with a 4-4 record overall against teams listed in the top 100. The Panthers’ strength of schedule currently sits at ninth in the NCAA. NC State enters Tuesday’s game 48th in the RPI.
• The ACC has 11 teams, including Pitt, currently ranked in the top 50 of the RPI. The Panthers play six games against top 50 teams in January.
• Pitt has not lost four consecutive games since dropping the final five games of the 2014-15 season.
• Jamel Artis is averaging 26.7 points per game over the past six contests with a 43-point outburst at No. 14 Louisville last Wednesday. He is 26-of-48 (.542) from three-point range in that six-game span.
• Jamel Artis is six points shy of becoming the 17th player at Pitt to top the 1,500-point mark. Artis has 1,494 points in 120 career games (12.5 ppg.).
• Jamel Artis (22.4 ppg.) and Michael Young (20.9 ppg.) are both averaging over 20 points per game on the season. Davidson is the only other school in the NCAA with two players scoring 20 or more points per game.

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Gametime: Tuesday, 1/17 – 7:00pm

Coverage: ESPNU

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A Team Well-Coached

In case you haven’t noticed, lately the Wolfpack Women have more balls than….

OK, gonna stop that sentence right there.

But seriously….

#23/22 NC State Defeats #12/15 Duke, 55-52 (GoPack.com)

RALEIGH – The No. 23/22 NC State women’s basketball team (14-5, 4-2 ACC) picked up its third straight win in the series against the No. 12/15 Duke Blue Devils Sunday afternoon, winning 55-52 on Kay Yow Court inside Reynolds Coliseum.

Sunday’s win was NC State’s third over a team ranked within the national top 15 since Atlantic Coast Conference play began on Dec. 29. It also marked the Wolfpack’s first three-game winning streak over the rival Blue Devils (15-3, 3-2 ACC) since Feb. 2, 1996.

“I’m proud of our kids,” NC State head coach Wes Moore said in his postgame press conference. “It wasn’t pretty at times, especially in the second half. Our kids are warriors and they just find a way to win. Our word for the day was ‘finish,’ and that’s what they did today.

“Duke did a great job defensively. We had a tough time getting looks. As a coach, I have to break down this film and see if I can get us some better looks.”

Incidentally, they are up to #21 in the rankings this week.

Go Ladies, Go!!!!!