It’s cold, the days are short, and the grind is just beginning. The middle of January marks the mid-point of the season. There are plenty of tests for the Pack as the ACC schedule moves along. The next couple of games will either push the Wolfpack firmly into the NCAA discussion or it will put our guys on the outside looking in. When playing in such a competitive environment as the ACC it’s pivotal that a team stay in the moment. On any given night a team could fall, there is no such thing as an easy win, especially on the road. If a team gets caught looking ahead or staying in the past they could find themselves at the bottom of the standings.
Look no further than Duke! The day prior to their loss to NC State they were a virtual lock for a # 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Accolades and praise followed the Blue Devils prized trio of Okafor, Jones, and Winslow. Fast forward a week as the Blue Devils suffered two consecutive losses and a devastating beat down in Cameron Indoor and all seems lost. Doubt mounts as analysts question whether three freshman can lead the Devils to the promised land. Once at the top now the Blue Devils find themselves in the middle of the ACC.
State must garner enough energy and enthusiasm to capture the state of Florida in their next two games. I see the game against FSU as a must win for the Wolfpack. The truth lies in the fact that our guys have not performed well on the road. This fact must change if Gottfried and his team want to continue their streak of NCAA bids.
The Seminoles have been mediocre at best sporting a 9-8 record and does not have a quality win on the season. Yet NC State cannot get caught overlooking such a team, but must look at this game as a challenge to win in a hostile environment. I can attest that FSU has always fought hard at the Tucker Civic Center. Our group should expect nothing less than FSU’s best effort. This must be our mindset prior to each opponent. Remember quality wins are great and can help a team punch their ticket to the dance; however, nothing can stop momentum like a bad loss. Losing Saturday would be a terrible loss. As I look through the positions I feel like we are better in each category.
Ralston and Trevor must use their experience to help the younger guys realize what type of focus and effort it takes to win on the road. Following Saturday’s game State must travel to Miami to face the Hurricanes. Coming off of a huge victory in Cameron Indoor will most certainly give any team confidence and even more to a team with the mental makeup of the Hurricanes. Miami has been solid all season and have proved capable of playing with any team in the country.
It was great to knock off Duke and it was a spirited effort against the Tarheels but the Pack must find a way to push through the schedule and take each game as they come. Coach Gottfried does an excellent job of helping his teams keep a focused mindset. Prior to each practice he will write a few words on a white board and discuss it with his unit.
In bold letters sketched on the board reads, “18 Games all equal 1.”
Will the Pack prove that they are more than just a team that beat Duke? We will find out Saturday at 1:30. Tune into the ACCN/Raycom to catch all of the action.