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Boiling hot from 3 tonight but that was in large part because we took good shots against an outmanned team. I think we put everyone in who was healthy…. Isn’t Newman hurt?
The real season starts. Due to a fluke of scheduling, we have Clemson up twice early in the ACC schedule. Those seem like must win games for both programs so I expect a high level of effort. Clemson has more good wins early (Ohio State, Florida, South Carolina) than we do, or really that I can remember them having since Barnes. They can also actually score this year. Do they try and run, or go back to Brownell’s tighter style of play?
Roof is a very good hire. I wonder if that means Hux may retire soon. I also wonder if this means we’re switching out of 4-2-5.
Good class. It was nice to see Leary sign. We now have a succession plan for QB. It is nice t see the 4 stars, but it was also nice to see kids that contributed at the larger high schools. I tend to think that translates better than kids that put up gaudy stats at smaller schools, playing against smaller schools. In basketball the AAU circuit, traveling tournaments, etc. help vet whether a small school kid is ready for the big time. In football it is much harder to tell.
Whiteshoes absolutely nailed it. We can’t shoot and our roster is a mash up of players around the perimeter that don’t really mesh. Our strength is inside, but likely due to the fact we’ve play d smaller teams. Coach is trying to work Abu back in but we suffer offensively and defensively when he’s playing the four. Shrugs. That’s what we’ve got this year.
I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw of UNC/Wofford. I saw Wofford get up big, then try to sit on the lead. I turned it off when the phantom whistle came out. The things I liked about that game though were that this wasn’t a senior laden Wofford team. They had 5 freshman, 5 sophomores and 2 (3?) upper classmen. UNC also seemingly has absolutely nothing inside. I am not saying we’re beating UNC, but I will say that this is Roy’s weakest team since about year one. Maybe kharma is going to eventually catch up with them.
1997: Yurt’s been better in every single game this year than he was last year IMHO. Whether that translates to the physicality of ACC play remains to be seen. Right now he’s playing better ball than Abu probably ever has in a NC State uniform, and the team is definitely playing better ball around him. I get that Abu is a freakish athlete, but I don’t think that he has the basketball skills that Yurt does.
The huge surprise for me has been Nard. He looks like a man playing among boys, is taking it to the rack with assertiveness, and is shooting around 75% from the free throw line. KK’s system allows the big men to put up some ridiculously good numbers, and Nard’s been the primary benefactor. Of course a lot of that is due to all the hard work he’s put in. It’s great to see a Senior break out this way, particularly one that has been injured.
Chop: I agree regarding Yurt. It seemed like the staff was really focus on getting abu worked back in, thinking it wouldn’t matter too much because we were going to win that game. Better to win closer than we otherwise would and have Abu more ready for ACC play. Fine if it works, but you’ve got to win the game.
Abu in there took minutes away from Yurt (who is scoring at will every time he gets a real touch), moved Dorn off the four (where he’s been stuffing the stat sheet) and really actually hurt us on offense (Abu loves that 18 footer), defense (that big Euro kid went crazy with 3s), and rebounding (despite our size advantage and shooting woes we lost the board battle). It is a situation where the +/- doesn’t reflect the flow of the game.
Shoo Fly Pie is pretty tasty stuff, particularly if heated and topped with vanilla ice cream. I like mine “thicker” than most people make with less molasses and more of the crumbs mixed in. I had one one time that had chocolate chips in the crumb layer, and that was absolutely delicious (not traditional, but maybe the best variation I’ve had).
I think we can all agree that our grandmothers’ kitchens were pretty special places. I was blessed by two that could really cook. If there’s a heaven, I hope it consists of our families sitting around those tables.
grey: I will tell you I haven’t given up on the Pack. If you look back at my preseason prediction, as well as my post game comments after the Arizona win, they are consistent. I’ve been pretty clear that I felt like this team was going to struggle against teams that pack it in around the basket and play zone. They’re going to surprise some teams that are willing to go up and down with them.
If our strategy against a zone is to stand around and chuck up the first open look from the perimeter, then we’re really going to struggle given our lack of shooting ability. If this is the philosophy of our coaches, then we had better be recruiting shooters (though we seemingly have at least one sitting on the bench). I think there’s hope that it gets fixed this year, but it’s got to get fixed by going inside out, driving the lane, etc.. It’s not going to be fixed passively tossing the ball back and forth between two guards standing around the hash lines and not even trying to score until about 13 seconds left in the shot clock. Saturday also wasn’t the first time that the offense has completely stalled out against a zone, and without some buckets, we seemingly can’t set up the press.
We’re also in big trouble if AF has the green light on every possession. Packi’s got the stats, but he’s currently one of the least efficient players in D1 basketball. Good kid, plays hard, always draws a tough defensive assignment, but just not a primary scoring option. He’s likely what we’ve got, but given that, we need to spread it out more.
Let’s not polish this thing too much. UNCG got their 3rd all time win against an ACC team on Saturday. They did it with a massive run that spanned 25+ minutes of live action. It was the reverse of the Penn State game. That was the definition of ugly. Step up, own it, and move on. I saw KK doing that in his refusal to make excuses due to Markell’s absence.
There’s a lot of basketball left to be played. Realistically, we’re picked near the bottom of the ACC, and that may just be where we finish (though I still think we’re going to do better than 12th).
Also, our non-conference scheduling has been odd to say the least. I appreciate the focus on academics during exam weeks, but between the game spacing and diet of cupcakes, we’re potentially in for a shock when league play starts. Our first opponent just got a win against Florida, and that should be one of the easier games on the schedule. We just lost to a SoCon team (which good ACC teams just don’t do). This needs to improve next year. It was one of the few bright spots of Gottfried.
Our zone offense is offensive. I knew we would struggle against Syracuse, UVA, Clemson and the Pack it in stall ball teams, but I didn’t see this one coming. It is hard to play 4 around 1 when none of the four can really shoot. Hopefully help is on the way.
To salvage this season:
– Bang it inside
– No threes until a big man has touched it in the paint
– Green light needs to come off AF.
– Beverly should never throw another cross court pass against the pressIt’s interesting to see the “talent” (or lack thereof) exiting the strip club and walking through the parking lot from the weird shifts. I would say based on the expansion of that facility over the past 20 years that the strip club business is far more lucrative than running a BBQ joint. I don’t get to Country BBQ that often (last time was about 18 months ago), but I keep thinking one day I’ll show up and the strip club will have moved to greener pastures.
chop: I forgot to mention that I feel similar about steaks that you do about burgers. I’ve had $100 steaks that I honestly don’t think are any better than what I can do with a good cut of meat, my spice rack and my smoker. I’m not saying I’m all world (I’m not), but a steak out just isn’t worth the price when I can do something that I personally think is as good or better for a fraction of that. I rarely order steak out and always go for items that I either don’t enjoy making, or ones that require a lot of ingredients that I don’t want to stock. The latter is why I’m more apt to buy a burger or stir fry out.
Mac: Country BBQ is the lesser known of Greensboro’s “big 2” of BBQ. Stameys has the location, nostalgia and big clock, but Country BBQ actually has the good food. It’s next to a strip club on Wendover, so the location isn’t good. The caveat I would say is that they are in the family tree (literally, I think they are actually family) with the owners of Lexington BBQ (big barn). If you like that style of BBQ, then this is similar, but with slightly more kick. If you don’t, then you’re not going to be a fan. If you go, save some room for the cobbler at the end, as it is one of the best desserts you will have at a BBQ joint in this price point.
Chop: I hear you on making a burger at home. For me burgers are about toppings and I don’t want to stock all the toppings for my once a month fix. It is why I like 5 Guys. Again, the elf ties are nothing special.
I also agree regarding Greensboro. I do like Red oak and have served it up to people all over the globe generally with pretty positive reviews. It is not the best beer ever but pretty solid. I don’t think Natty Greens is anything special, but I guess it is better than Natty Bo. 😉 Greensboro does have Country BBQ which to my mouth is some of the best around. If I’m within 20 miles, I’m going to time it so I can stop in.
chop: That’s where I’m at. When I’m back in NC, I don’t go to Chargrill or CookOut, but would go to Chargrill before CookOut. When I’m out west, I always find time to make it to In and Out.
All this burger talk made me hungry, so I took a quick trip to 5 guys. Ahh, the once a month grease bomb…….
chop: I suspect that we are of similar age. I too was expected to entertain myself as a kid. If I got near my parents and wasn’t doing something perceived as productive, they’d just give me some work to do.
Like you, I find soccer very fun to play. I don’t really enjoy watching it that much outside of national play. I feel that way about a lot of sports (racquetball, golf, table tennis, badmitten, etc.). There are sports that I feel the other way about where I like watching and don’t like playing (football, tennis, etc.).
I’ve heard from the younglings that CookOut on Western has passed Chargrill for a late night burger run. I will admit the shakes are far better at Cookout, though I think the burger is better at Chargrill. The fries are bad at both.
Becton901: The last time I checked, there are various Chargrills. While I think the product they put out is probably about the same as it was 20+ years ago, I think there’s a lot more competition. When I was at State, there was Char-grill that was better than something like McDonalds or Wendy’s but wasn’t as expensive (or as good) as Fat Daddy’s. It was really the only thing in between. Now there are things like Cookout and Five Guys.
For my money, the best price/taste low to mid level burgers are Five Guys and In and Out. I’d rather have either than Chargrill.
Yogi: I’ll give the Washington Duke a try. Who wouldn’t want to add another great Shrimp and Grits to their food quest?
I’m not a food snob, and one of my greatest pleasures is to find cheap eats that are as good or better than an expensive place. For me, price and food quality don’t necessarily equate. It is more about freshness, prep and flavoring. I’ll give a place some extra points for good service.
Having said that, Captain Stanleys just is not that. Half the stuff in there is out of the cans, and I’d guess the fish is frozen. There’s not a price low enough for me to consider that “good” food. It is calories. <shrugs>
I would agree about Calabash. There’s nothing down there worth the drive based on what I have sampled. I feel that way about all the fried seafood houses that litter the coastline.
I agree with those suggesting Cajun restaurants. After S&G, if gumbo or jambalaya are on the menu, that is what I’m going for.
Capt Stanley’s in Garner. I seen Chuck in there a few times.
I’ve been there more times than I’d care to admit and I saw Chuck there a few times. I went because my grandparents loved it. The food there was best left for the doggie bag that they took home for their pet.
… the shrimp & grits at the Washington Duke Inn topped them all.
Shrimp and grits is my “bucket list” meal, in that if I had one last meal before I kicked the bucket, what would it be? I order it at any restaurant that has it on the menu, and have had it all over.
Amazingly, the best I’ve had were not in the south………….
chop: In high school, I had more passion about the pick up basketball games played at the Y every night (after whatever practice for school sport ended, and my homework was done) than I did about the actual sport I was playing for the school or another league. I think what is being called out is the perceived importance and interest of things that people chose to do and take part in creating, versus more structured events that they just show up for.
Those things are true for us as adults as well. I bet many are more passionate about Wolfpack sports than they are about their jobs……….
The youth league / traveling team / AAU movement and model is just terrible. I know so many parents who are spending thousands a year on youth sports, but who aren’t putting any money away for their kids for college. I ask them why they’re spending so much on youth sports, and they say that they think their kid might get a college scholarship. I ask them what happens if their kid gets a partial scholarship to a small D3 school halfway across the country, versus nothing to a good state school they’re admitted to, or the opportunity to go some place really good like an Ivy, Stanford, etc.. They don’t have an answer. It baffles the mind. We have some really messed up priorities in this country.
I don’t think that model started with soccer. I think it probably started with baseball and soccer just latched on to it. The Little League World Series has been around since 1947. “Traveling” youth soccer models popped up in the mid-80s. My parents declined that fleecing, and I have no regrets that they did. Rec soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. was fine. I was never going to make a career out of a sport.
I enjoyed playing it far more than I enjoyed playing American football. I don’t particularly enjoy watching it outside of national play, much like I don’t like watching almost all of the Olympic sports outside of the Olympics.
I don’t like that our national team is a joke. It’s getting our 4th tier athletes behind American football, basketball, baseball. It’s also getting lower level training worse than those sports and also worse than hockey and the Olympic sports. American youth soccer is a joke compared to countries that take the game more seriously, and until that changes, American soccer isn’t going to improve.
It’s all about the money. When eyeballs get on TV, TV dollars will go up. That will pump more money into the sport and draw better athletes. With more money there will be better coaching and better youth programs. So, with that in mind, I’m perfectly fine with MLS being forced into the national spotlight.
It might not be popular here, but another sport in the US that is that way is auto-racing. Our professional circuits are inferior, and we don’t develop top level drivers. For a country that prides itself on 100 years of automotive innovation, we’re way behind on this one as well.
Seems like Drink wants to be a head man. DD said as much in a recent press conference. If he gets offered S. Alabama, then I think he is gone.
If his choice is NC State’s OC or S.Carolina’s OC, I think he’d be wise to stay at NC State. The defenses he’d face at S.Carolina will likely be stronger so he could put up better numbers here.
I do think that if S.Carolina wants him, they can have him. There were some red flags when we hired him and they have carried over. Somehow I think we can do better, though I would prefer that he not leave for a lateral move. We have a good QB committed and I would it is easier on the players to keep the same system and terminology.
I don’t the extension was signed.
Ahh.. That makes sense. I didn’t look into it, and thought that deal was signed based on the ESPN ticker I saw one night. Taggert read those tea leaves well. I think Taggert at FSU will create an absolute monster. He was close at USF and that is not nearly the same level of platform to work with.
Tenn going after Saban’s DC is an interesting choice. I guess Fuentes told them no. Saban’s assistants have been a bit hit or miss. We’ll see how it plays out.
I’m probably in the minority, but I think that FSU just upgraded. I remember a Taggert led USF team give FSU all they could handle when FSU had Winston. That was Taggert at a fairly moribund USF vs Jimbo when he had it rolling at FSU. Time will tell.
I had thought Oregon had Taggert locked up with that extension. I guess FSU decided to pay $$$$$.
