NC State came out of the gates gunning, sporting fresh legs after the break in action due to exams! The players looked super focused early and did not give Charleston Southern any hope as they raced out to a 20-3 lead before the first break in action.  The Pack was also missing leading scorer Trevor Lacey due to a sprained ankle suffered this week in practice. We will have more on that to come. What stood out from tonight’s game?

Caleb Martin: 

Reynold’s will hold a special place in this kid’s heart, Caleb had an excellent night offensively and was equally sound on the defensive end! Finishing the night with 17 points and 7 rebounds Caleb was able to use his length and first step to shoot over Charleston Southern’s smaller lineup. On the break he had a couple of nice finishes soaring above the rim to finish with authority. There is little doubt in my mind that Caleb will be a big time player when it is all said and done. He just gets it! The little nuances of the game come so easily to him, he is comfortable at taking what the opposing defender gives him and reacts with confidence. As Caleb continues to gain experience look for him to be more aggressive offensively by attacking the rim. In my opinion he has all the attributes one could ask for in a small forward, size (6-7), quickness, leaping ability, passing, ball handling, and a desire to defend. In one segment in the first half Caleb displayed all of these attributes. In back to back possessions he knocked down a step in 3-pointer, had a great defensive shift, and then came down and grabbed an offensive rebound that he converted for an easy bucket .The sky is the limit for this kid and he will only get better as he gains more confidence that can only come through game situations.

Cleaning the Glass: 

NC State averages 42.8 rebounds per game good enough to be ranked 14th overall in the NCAA. Rebounding is about heart as much as it is positioning, two parts of the puzzle that the Pack understand. Overall the team rebounds well as a whole! Charleston Southern was simply outmatched in tonight game; however, let’s still give the guys credit for out rebounding them to the tune of 50 to 37. Not one player on the team had double digit rebounds on the night, instead it was a balanced effort with five players having 5 or more rebounds. This has been one constant on the season! NC State has out rebounded opponents in 7 out of the first 9 games. The two games we were out rebounded in was the lose to Purdue and the nail-bitter against USF. The Wolfpack must continue to exert their dominance on the glass as the season marches forward. We simply cannot allow opposing teams second chances, especially as the competition will begin to get much stiffer as conference play nears!

Ralston “Freeze” Turner: 

Ralston didn’t let exams rain on his parade! Following up an excellent game against the Demon Deacons (Anyone else perplexed by the oxymoron of a demon that’s also a deacon?) Freeze finished the night with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and shot over 40 percent from distance. One three that Ralston connected on was a beauty in the way he was able to keep focus as a Charleston Southern defender tried to thwart his attempt from behind to no avail. Splash nothing but net… Settling was not an option against the Buccaneers, as his mid-range game was fine tuned. Personally I saw Ralston use screens and a confident stroke early to help the Pack squash any hope the Buccaneers may of arrived with. It cannot be overstated just how much our team needs Ralston to score. However do not label Turner as simply a shooter, tonight he showed his versatility in the way he created for others (4 dimes) and hit the boards (5 rebounds). Everyone should be glued to the screen when Turner plays, at any moment he could get hot and hit 3 or 4 in a row! He is one of the great heat check guys in the NCAA!

Trevor Lacey: 

This past week Trevor tweaked his ankle in practice, he was a participant in warm-ups and looked fairly decent; however, you could tell that he was a little cautious in his movements which probably lead to the decision to hold him out of tonight’s game. Wearing a bulky brace throughout pre-game drills I felt like Lacey would of been available to play if it was a conference game. His status for Sunday is still unknown, but have complete faith in Ryan Holleman, head trainer. I have seen him work extensively with players to help them return to action. Also NC State has a great group of orthopedic doctors that can be called upon to help if need be. Look for Lacey to make a speedy recovery. In the meantime it could be a blessing in disguise! Cat was forced to be a leader tonight and responded well! Barber tallied 14 points (6-10 shooting) and snagged 7 rebounds. I also thought that he did an admiral job at controlling the tempo. Another step in the right direction for Cat Barber.

Historic Reynolds: 

Tonight was the first of two games that will be played in Reynolds Coliseum, the second contest is Sunday at 4 PM versus the Wofford Terriers. Reynolds has hosted some of the most memorable moments in NC State history, ranging from two NCAA Championship teams (74 and 83) to one of the most famous speeches of all-time by the late Jim Valvano. I am a little sad that they are remodeling Reynolds, somethings should be left as is; however, I am confident that Debbie Yow will insure that the remodel still honors everything that Reynolds has stood for! Sunday will be your last chance to see  NC State play in Reynolds before it is closed for its’ face lift. Tip-Off is slated for 4 PM. Come out and support the team and use the opportunity to pay your respects to Historic Reynolds Coliseum!