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Gameday: NC State Looks To Regroup Against GT

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9 years ago

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NC State @ Georgia Tech
12 noon | ACCN | Atlanta, GA

NC State needs to get back on track and fast. The Pack has fallen to 13-9 and 4-5 in the ACC. While none of their losses have been bad (RPI wise) the guys need to start winning again if they want to be a lock in March. Today’s game will be the first step in that direction.

What’s the Lineup?
Since Cody Martin has entered the Wolfpack starting lineup, the team has gone 1-3. At the surface you’d think it’s obvious that you need to put Cat back into the starting PG role, but look a closer and that might not be the case. In 2 of those 3 losses NC State was up by 18 or more early in the first half. In both of those games NC State started off very strong, but then lost their way. I think keeping Cody in the starting lineup is something Gottfried should stick with, but I think it’s playing with the lead that this team needs to worry about.

Playing withe the Lead
GT is one of the worst teams in the league this season. They sit at 1-7 in the league and have just not been able to get anything going thus far. It’s likely that the Pack is going to get a decent lead at some point today (barring a repeat of that Clemson game last week). When they get that lead they need to learn how to play with it. In the recent games they’ve dominated early the equation has been obvious. They are working inside-out and focusing on getting Abu in the paint. In the two games they did this, Abu got in foul trouble on the other end and they were forced to go with a different line up. This is when things fell apart. They can not abandon that type of play. They need to feed their bigs and allow their guards to play off of that. Teams are keying on Lacey and Turner and it’s making it hard for them to get off. With Abu, Washington and Anya getting touches down low, all of the sudden the defense needs to react, collapse and that’s when you’ll see Lacey and Turner really able to do some damage.

Get to the Line
State has had a hard time getting to the line lately. A big reason is that they don’t have anyone attacking. Abu is doing it and he is getting to the line and the Martins have been on occassion doing it as well. Lacey has the ability to do it and so does Washington but those two lean on their jumpers a little too much. Of course, their jumpers are a big part of their games and should not be abandoned, but when you jump out to big leads you can’t just sit back and shoot it, you have to put the pressure on the defense, wear them down and get to the line for some free points.

Now or Never
State deserpeately needs these next two games. You have GT today and then Wake. Both very winnable games. After that however is #2 UVA and #10 Louisville. If State keeps slipping on winnable games they are going to be dug into a whole too deep to get out of. They need to win all of their remaining winnable games and then steal one from UVA, Louisville or UNC if they want to be a lock.

 

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
8 years ago

I don’t know what finally made it click for Cat Barber but he played like the ball was a hot potato. Instead of the usual dribbling the ball for 25 seconds each possession, he actually moved the ball. And he was actually contributing on offense. Still not a fan of his but he could use more games like this. With all the rebounds we were giving up Gott switched to zone. However, I thought that he should have gone to zone earlier and with a bigger lineup. That would have helped with Abu’s foul trouble as well. Not sure why… Read more »

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s 2023-23 Men’s Basketball Schedule Has Arrived

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5 hours ago

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September 26, 2023

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NC State’s 2023-24 Men’s Basketball schedule has arrived!

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NC State to Honor David Thompson with Statue Outside Reynolds Coliseum

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2 days ago

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September 25, 2023

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RALEIGH – NC State University will pay tribute to three-time All-American David Thompson with a statue sculpted in his honor that will be placed outside of Reynolds Coliseum.

The unveiling will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the day of the Wolfpack men’s basketball team’s annual Heritage Game at Reynolds Coliseum, and will be open to the public.

“This is such a deserved honor for the greatest basketball player to ever wear an NC State jersey,” NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan said. “He is one of the most iconic players to ever play in the ACC and our hope is that this statue will ensure that generations of NC State students and fans will always remember the legacy and contributions of David Thompson.”

Thompson is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in college basketball history. A 2008 ESPN story ranked him as one of the ten best college basketball players of all-time, and he is regarded as one of greatest athletes in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

The Boiling Spring, N.C., native played three seasons at NC State from 1972-75 and was a unanimous first-team All-American at the conclusion of all three seasons. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year all three seasons.

He was named the Associated Press National Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975 and remains one of just five players in college basketball history to win multiple AP National Player of the Year honors.

Thompson immediately made his mark on the Pack, helping lead NC State to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973. The Pack dominated the 1972-73 season and was at the top or near the top of the polls all season as Thompson averaged 24.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Thompson returned in the 1973-74 season and led the Wolfpack to a 30-1 record and the school’s first NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball National Title.

In the Final Four, Thompson and the Wolfpack met up with UCLA, the seven-time reigning National Champions and the only team to have defeated NC State that season. The Pack trailed 74-67 in the second overtime when Thompson’s heroics helped lead NC State back. Thompson pulled down a defensive rebound and made the go-ahead basket with under one minute remaining and then made two free throws with 38 seconds to go to give the Pack a 78-75 double overtime win in a game that is still considered one of the greatest Final Four games ever played.

Thompson finished the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Bill Walton and the Bruins.
Two nights later, the Pack won the National Title over Marquette, 76-64, behind 21 points from Thompson. Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

To make it into the NCAA Tournament, the Pack defeated fourth-ranked Maryland, 103-100, in overtime in the 1974 ACC Championship, in a game that is routinely considered one of the best games in college basketball history.

As a senior, Thompson averaged 29.9 points, still the highest single season average in NC State history. He scored an NC State and ACC record 57 points in an early season win over Buffalo State. The Pack started the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and never fell out of the top-10, but lost in the ACC Championship game to end its season. The Pack finished the season ranked seventh in the nation but because the NCAA Tournament at that time only allowed the conference champion into the tournament its season was over.

Thompson closed his career with 2,309 points in 86 career games. He led the ACC in scoring all three seasons and was NC State and the ACC’s career scoring leader when he graduated.

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Former NC State Basketball Player Torin Dorn Joins Coaching Staff of G-League SLC Stars

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3 days ago

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September 24, 2023

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Former NC State basketball player Torin Dorn has joined the staff of the Salt Lake City Stars, the G-League team for the Utah Jazz. Dorn’s title is Player Development Associate/Assistant Coach.

After playing 3 seasons at NC State, Dorn went on to play professionally overseas in Poland and Czech Republic, before joining the Wolfpack coaching staff last season as a Graduate Manager.

Dorn will be working under newly appointed head coach Steve Wojciechowski (former Duke PG), who was the head coach at Marquette the past 7 seasons.

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NC State Guard MJ Rice Will Be Returning Soon After Stepping Away for a Period of Time

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7 days ago

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September 20, 2023

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NC State Guard MJ Rice (6’5″/215) announced yesterday that due to personal reasons, he had to step away from the basketball program, but was excited to be back with his teammates soon. He was clear that his commitment to NC State hasn’t wavered.

(Tweet)

Life is much bigger than sports. These young men are human beings first and foremost, and as we all know, this life is never simple and easy.

Rice transferred to NC State this offseason from Kansas with three years of eligibility remaining. The former High School McDonald’s All-American didn’t get a lot of playing time in his Freshman season at Kansas, averaging 7.6 minutes per game in only 23 games played.

Coming out of Prolific Prep in California, Rice averaged 20.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a Senior. Rivals ranked him as a 5-star prospect, ON3 ranked him 24th nationally, and ESPN ranked him as the #1 player in the state of North Carolina.

Whatever Rice is working through, we value him as a person more than we do a player.

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