Warren Explodes for 41 as State Downs Pitt

I guess all the ‘this season is over’ talk can cease. TJ Warren is in full takeover mode lately and after coming so close against UNC and Syracuse, he made sure he finished this one off. State, who as marked for dead coming into this game, played one of their best halves of the season in the 2nd period and shocked Pitt on their home court 74-67.

TJ Warren is taking over the league
This was the 8th time this season that TJ has gone over 30pts, but 41…that’s just silly. Warren is approaching legend status around these parts right now. It’s been a real long time since State had a player who could single handedly take over basketball games the way he’s doing it right now.  This was a career high for the sophomore, who was just unconscious the entire game. TJ also added 3 assists, 4 steals, 5 boards and a block…all while  completely shutting down Cameron Wright, who averages over 11 ppg. I know I keep saying it but i hope everyone is realizing what you’re watching right now. Warren may seriously be the best all-around scorer NC State has ever seen and if he’s knocking in 3s like he was against Pitt, well then there is no one in the nation that can stop him. There’s nothing left for him to prove right now. He single handedly beat Pitt on this night, and has been VERY hot lately. This team is going to be very dangerous come ACC Tourny time.

Cat Barber coming of age
Maybe it was the new-look pony tail, or maybe it was simply just a freshman starting to learn how to play at this level. Barber was magnificent in the 2nd half. He played within himself, found open men and even scored when the opportunity presented itself. He was great on both ends of the floor, completely shutting down the bigger, stronger Lamar Patterson in the 2nd half. Cat finished with 9 points, 5 boards and 5 assists without a turnover. Barber honestly could have ended with 8 or 9 assists if his team knocked down a few more open shots. If he continues to play like a leader, all of the sudden you have two very capable PGs who give you completely different skill sets. This will be key for Gottfried as post season play nears.

Freeman ate up the offensive boards
If you told me that NC State would out-rebound Pitt by 12, I’d have thought you were crazy. The truth is, NC State has gotten abused on the boards all season, but tonight they’ve done what we’ve all wanted to see all season. The Pack relished the opportunity to get physical inside. They invited contact and simply were more aggressive in the paint. Lennard Freeman set the tone. He finished with 8 boards, 6 of which were offensive.

Protecting the basketball
40 minutes, 15 assists and only 6 turnovers. Cat Barber and Tyler Lewis combined for 7 assists and only 1 TO. This team needs to maximize possessions and against Pitt they did that. If Barber plays like he did, you add in Lewis and all of the sudden you have one of the best 1-2 PG combos in the league.

Is the NCAA Tournament still in reach? 
The loss to Clemson squashed a lot of hopes, but this win reignites the fire. This team has 1 point losses to Wake, #1 Syracuse and #19 UNC. That won’t help them much in getting a at-large bid, but it does give you a gauge of what this team is capable of. They need to finish out the season with a win against BC. That would give them an even 9-9 in ACC play and 19 total wins. If they want to get to the big dance, they will need to not only beat BC, but turn around in the ACC Tournament and win 2 games, one of which needs to be against one of the big boys. With how hot Warren can get, and how this team is trending, I wouldn’t turn your back on them quite yet!