If State ever needed a big win against Carolina, it’s now. After a near win over #1 syracuse and then an egg at Clemson, the boys in red have their backs against the wall.
There is one hope, however.
Lucky for NC State, their arch rival UNC has been playing great basketball of late. I know that sounds like it’s a compliment to UNC, but in reality, State needed the Heels to build themselves up, so they can knock them down. Roy’s bunch is the talk of the NCAA right now, making a huge, late move in the ACC and beating teams handily while doing so. That sets the stage for the Wolfpack, who need a quality win against a quality opponent. How sweet would it be for that win to come against their rival in Raleigh.
For State to pull off this upset they’re going to need to play physical, focused and possessed basketball. UNC has gone from a team with no identity, to a group that is confident, athletic and hungry. Here is why UNC has gotten better:
McAdoo is playing physical and very aggressive…
McAdoo started off the season playing very weak against tough opponents. For whatever reason, he was settling for jumpers, attacking the rim soft and allowing other bigs to muscle him around. Now, McAdoo is a team leader and a huge reason why the Tar Heels have turned into one of the most feared teams in the nation. The junior is reeling off big game after big game. He’s scoring at the rim, using his athleticism to face up dominate off the dribble, and owning the boards. He’s averaging 14.6 pts and 7 boards per game. For State he is going to be a tough matchup because of his versatility. Last time the teams met he played strong, putting up 16 points and 13 boards. Now, those stats might be a little misleading. McAdoo was living at the line for some reason. Every time he drove the refs blew the whistle. He went to the line 14 times that game, which is the most he’s gone in any ACC match this season.
Leslie McDonald is on fire….
The line you never thought you’d see written. McDonald, the on again off again shooting guard who really has never been a huge factor for UNC, all of the sudden is baking. 21 points vs. Duke, 19 more vs. Wake. Let’s be honest, no one is scared of McDonald, but he’s starting to make a case to be respected. He dominated off the bounce against Duke and knocked in five 3s vs Wake, so really he’s not just scoring one way. State needs to be cautious not to let McDonald get going.
Meeks is sporadically having huge games…
You might catch Meeks on a night when he does absolutely nothing offensively. You also might catch him on a night when he’s hitting fade away jumpers in your face. Meeks is going to be a player, but right now he’s inconsistent. He’s big and strong, but State definitely has the size to match him inside. The difference here is the motor. Meeks, when going good, plays very hard and is very aggressive on the glass. State needs to keep him off the boards if they want a chance in this one. He’s averaging 8 points and 6 boards, but put up 23 and 7 just three games ago.
Marcus Paige still cooking….
Dang. Honestly, I have to admit that I didn’t think Paige was ever going to be much of a threat. I thought he was just a poor man’s Kendall Marshall. I was wrong. Paige some how has turned into UNC’s leading scorer and leading assist man. He’s having big nights every time out. At 17 points and nearly 5 assists per game, this kid is a star. He put up 15 last time the teams met and he’s just going to be a tough cover for the Pack. Tyler Lewis has taken over the PG reigns for Mark Gottfried, but he still struggles defensively against opponents who are aggressive and like to score. Paige fits this mold and will be trouble for the Wolfpack.
So with all of this being said, do we think State can pull this off? Of course we do, we’re PackInsider.com. Seriously though, I do think State has a shot in this one, but they really have to be strong inside. Paige is going to get his, but if the Wolfpack bigs can control the middle they can certainly win this game. That means Washington, Vandy, Anya and Freeman need to step up and own the backboards. If Brice Johnson, McAdoo and Meeks get going, then State is in trouble, however this season the Wolfpack bigs have been a real bright spot.
Tomorrow we’ll get into more details on exactly how UNC is vulnerable and how NC State can expose them.