Sustained Success

After dismantling Duke this past Sunday, NC State faces a new kind of challenge that comes from success. Life in the ACC is a difficult road where ups and downs are common place. State must be on high alert this Wednesday as they face another bitter rival in UNC. Our players must not be ok with just beating Duke. The problem that NC State has fallen victim to all to often is success. It happened a couple of years ago when we knocked off Duke on Tracy Smith’s birthday. All signs pointed up for the Pack only to lead to despair as the team crumbled down the stretch.

That was a long time ago and the team had a completely different make-up with Sidney Lowe at the helm. This years team must use the win against Duke as a lesson. They must use the confidence gained from such a win and use it to their advantage. The reason we beat Duke is simple, we executed the game plan and played with poise and confidence, as well as energy. Our guys are more than capable of replicating such an outing each game! Granted our guys will not shoot lights out each and every night; yet if they play with the desire and focus they can contend for a top 4 finish in the ACC.

In order for State Basketball to continue their accession upwards in the college basketball landscape we must create a ruckus environment each game. The PNC Arena is one of the most difficult venues to play at when it is filled to capacity! Unfortunately it only seems to reach such elite heights twice a year, when Duke or UNC come to town. Imagine the advantage our team would have if we could fill the arena each and every game with 19,000 plus rowdy State fans? I can not think of a more imposing arena to play at!

Frequently I have said how I feel like Coach Gottfried and his Staff are the ones to get NC State to the top once again. This season has been one that could of turned south quickly; however, the team has banded together following an awful loss against Cincinnati. This team hasn’t lost back to back games this season. Give the players credit for sticking together and allowing the coaches to teach them. Against Duke our guys trusted the game plan and were mentally tough enough to see it through. We out fought Duke, who is notorious for its’ fight and effort!

Sitting at 3-1 in the ACC is a great start for the Pack. The schedule grinds on from here; with the Tarheels coming to town this Wednesday. Look for our guys to come out with great intensity and accomplish a great feat in defeating both Duke and UNC in back to back games. These type of results are a must if NC State Basketball wants become a fixture in the top 25. We must battle for respect on Tobacco Road, the best way to accomplish that is to win! There is no better time than the present!

Side Note: Brandon Ingram SF (6-8 180) #12 on ESPN top 100 list for 2015 was court side. Currently he has Duke, UNC, NC State, Kansas, and UCLA as top choices

Tip-Off is slated for 7PM this Wednesday night at PNC Arena.