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NC State Basketball

For Gottfried It’s All About The Competition

Published

9 years ago

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Yesterday morning Coach Mark Gottfried was with Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio and he hit  on a couple of topics as to why his team has had such a strong finish to the season. His main supporting argument as to why they upset the #1 seeded Villanova Wildcats was the strength of schedule that the Pack played this season. Not only does NC State play in the best basketball conference in the nation (5 teams in the Sweet 16) but the Wolfpack didn’t rely solely on the class of the ACC, they went out and played a challenging non-conference schedule. Coach Gottfried spoke about how his guys saw Villanova as just another team in front of them and how they have great confidence each night because of the teams they have played thus far.

He then cited the facts that our players have proven capable of beating world class opponents as they have won on the road versus Louisville and UNC. He pointed out that his guys have kept their heads up through the low points and have never lost that sense of belief. A quote I love from former player Scott Wood is, “if you don’t play anyone, you don’t beat anyone.” How true is this statement? How often do we see top seeds coast through an easy non-conference schedule and a weaker conference only to find their way out of the tournament before the second weekend?

Not only has Coach Gottfried made it a point of emphasis to schedule a tough non-conference schedule that is usually comprised of teams that have a track record for making the NCAA Tournament but he has laid a blue print for getting into the dance as well. Many can argue that in the last few years and even this season a big reason why the committee overlooked the fact that our teams have lost more than 12 games  is because we have had such a high RPI and SOS. Gottfried recognizes this and this is the reason he will continue to schedule the best of the best.

Let’s take a look at how NC State moved past what looked like a classic example of a collapse within the last minute of the Villanova game. In the last minute or so the Wildcats chose to press the Pack which we handled with success, until Trevor Lacey was about to get trapped and the unthinkable happens…he over throws a wide-open Dez Lee at half court. At this juncture I know that Wolfpack fans across the country thought not again! With 36.8 seconds remaining the Wildcats were only down 2 points and it’s their ball. Our guys all look towards each other and make the choice to not allow Trevor to be the scape goat. In that next to final possession our guys defend like their lives depended on it and the Wildcats missed a three pointer to win it. Cat Barber collects the rebound and in the next 14 seconds State steps up and sinks free throws to win the game.

In my opinion the Wolfpack didn’t collapse because they have seen every possible situation this season and have learned how to handle adversity. By playing a rigorous schedule, the Pack has learned that you must never give up or let your guard down. If our guys would have lost focus and thought that the game was over once the Wildcats missed with 14 seconds remaining we could very well be talking about what could have been. Luckily for the Wolfpack,  they have learned their lessons and have begun to apply them at the right time. Let’s hope we can use all of our experiences this coming Friday and keep the momentum going as we look to take down the Cardinals of Louisville for a second time this season

 

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ThatWiggaJigga
ThatWiggaJigga
8 years ago

The NCAAA tourney is a different beast.  We had that game won and were handling the pressure while hitting our free throws.  In no way a collapse.  Nova took and hit 3 very tough 3’s at the very end of that game.  This is the tourney though, None of these guys want to go home and Nova is filled with some great offensive weapons.  Was not suprised they made it tight at the end.  Though the TO and then both players leaving the ball on the screen were bad plays, we still handled their hot shooting and full court pressure… Read more »

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
8 years ago

LupusBeowulf No doubt. We were extremely unlucky last season and extremely lucky this season. And luck is a huge factor in the tourney so I hope we continue that trend. Rather be lucky and winning vs being good and losing any day.  That was a busted defensive effort on that play but overall the team played decent defensive. If Nova doesn’t hit those last few 3 pointers we may win that game going away. There was also a sequence at the end of the NOVA game where we get called for that ridiculous foul behind the 3 point line, Turner… Read more »

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DanielHargreaves
DanielHargreaves
8 years ago

LupusBeowulf They had two unlikely 3 points falling in at the end of game. you can’t make every one of them. It’s not luck. it’s hard work paying off.

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wulfpacker
wulfpacker
8 years ago

LupusBeowulf I would say knocking down free throws is finishing well. Yes both Lacey and Lennard did back off but still it was solid defense on Hillard who was torching State that possesion.

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LupusBeowulf
LupusBeowulf
8 years ago

Great game, but let’s not act like we finished well.

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LupusBeowulf
LupusBeowulf
8 years ago

They had a wide open 3 at the end on blown defensive coverage where both players (Trevor and Lennard?) backed off the shooter…

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NC State Basketball

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

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3 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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NC State Basketball

NC State Announces Hiring of Larry Dixon as NC State Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

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1 month ago

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August 24, 2023

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RALEIGH – NC State men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts announced Wednesday that Larry Dixon has joined his staff as an assistant coach.

Dixon comes to NC State after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at South Florida.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted in January to allow two more assistant coaches on men’s basketball staffs. Dixon, will serve as one of the Pack’s two new assistant coaches that can engage in coaching activities but may not recruit off campus.

“I think Larry is a great addition to our staff,” Keatts said. “He’s a North Carolina native that has dedicated himself to a coaching career since graduating from college. He started at the high school level in North Carolina and eventually moved up to college and now has been a Division I assistant coach for almost 20 years. I think his experience is going to be a great asset for me and our coaching staff, as well as the young men in our program as we develop them on and off the court.”

Larry Dixon joined the USF coaching staff as assistant coach on May 12, 2018.

In just his second season with the team in 2018-19, Dixon helped USF to the top win turnaround in the NCAA during the 2018-19 season, as the Bulls won 14 more games than the previous season. In addition, USF turned in a 24-14 overall record to set a new single-season school record for wins. The Bulls would go on to win the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship and claim the program’s first postseason title since 1990.

Dixon also played an instrumental role in the development of 2019 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Laquincy Rideau and 2019 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Alexis Yetna.

Dixon helped USF become one of the top defensive teams in the NCAA during the 2019-20 season, finishing the year ranked 20th in scoring defense by allowing only 62.7 points per game. The Bulls limited eight teams to fewer than 60 points during the season and held 27 of their 31 opponents under their scoring average at the time of play. The Bulls also ranked 44th in the nation in turnovers forced with 15.6 per game, and stood 65th in the NCAA in steals with 7.5 thefts per game.

In 2021-22, Dixon helped develop Russel Tchewa and Corey Walker Jr. into one of the best frontcourt tandems in the league. The Bulls were again among the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 45th in the NCAA in scoring defense (64.9 ppg).

Dixon came to Tampa after five seasons as an assistant at Georgia Southern under head coach Mark Byington. Prior to his stint with the Eagles, Dixon had collegiate assistant coaching jobs at Winthrop (2007-12), East Carolina (2005-07), South Carolina State (2003-05) and St. Andrews College (2002-03).

In his final season at Georgia Southern, Dixon helped lead the Eagles to a 21-12 record, including an 11-7 mark in the Sun Belt. In 2016-17, he helped Georgia Southern reach the postseason for the first time since 2006, playing in the College Basketball Invitational.

Prior to arriving at Georgia Southern, Dixon spent the 2012-13 season as head coach at York Comprehensive High School in York, S.C.

During his five seasons (2007-12) on the coaching staff at Winthrop under head coach Randy Peele, Dixon was recognized as the top assistant coach in the Big South by Fox Sports.

Before entering the college game, Dixon served as the head coach at Garinger High School in Charlotte, N.C. for three seasons. In 2001, he led Garinger to a North Carolina High School sectional championship and earned Mecklenburg County Coach of the Year honors from the Charlotte Observer. Dixon also spent one season as an assistant at Carver High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. and one season at South Rowan High School in his hometown of Salisbury, N.C.

Dixon graduated from Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, N.C) in 1996, where he was a four-year letterman as a player. He was named the team’s most improved player following his junior season and the top defensive player after his senior season. He helped the Golden Bulls to a pair of CIAA Southern Division titles and a championship game appearance as a sophomore.

A native of Salisbury, N.C., Dixon has two children, Devin and Leah.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Releases 2023-24 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

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1 month ago

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August 9, 2023

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NC State released their 2023-24 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule today.

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Below is a look at each teams 2022-23 record, postseason play results, followed by their final rankings according to the NET and KenPom.

The Citadel – 2022-23 Record – 10-22. NET Ranking: 330/KenPom: 327
Abilene Christian – 2022-23 Record – 13-17. NET Ranking: 204/KenPom: 193
Charleston Southern – 2022-23 Record – 10-21. NET Ranking: 304/KenPom: 302
(Vegas Showdown) Vanderbilt – 2022-23 Record – 22-15. NET Ranking: 81/KenPom: 81 (Won 2 games in the NIT)
(Vegas Showdown) Arizona St. – 23-13. NET Ranking: 61/KenPom: 55 (Lost in 2nd Round of NCAA Tournament)
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(Vegas Showdown) BYU – 2022-23 Record – 19-15. NET Ranking: 84/KenPom: 77
@ Ole Miss – 2022-23 Record – 12-21. NET Ranking: 129/KenPom: 122
Maryland Eastern Shore – 2022-23 Record – 18-13. KenPom: 251
UT Martin – 2022-23 Record – 19-14. NET Ranking: 251/KenPom: 273
(Hall of Fame San Antonio) Tennessee – 2022-23 Record – 25-11. NET Ranking: 5/KenPom: 6 (Lost in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament)
Saint Louis – 2022-23 Record – 21-12. NET Ranking: 97/96
Detroit – 2022-23 Record – 14-19. NET Ranking: 212/KenPom: 200

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NC State Basketball

NC State Men’s Basketball to Play Vanderbilt in Opening Round of Vegas Showdown

Published

2 months ago

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August 8, 2023

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The bracket for the Vegas Showdown on November 23-24 has been released, and NC State will play Vanderbilt in the opening round on ESPN2. They will either play Arizona State or BYU the following day, depending on how it shakes out.

Vanderbilt finished the regular season last year with a record of 22-15, and were ranked 81st according to KenPom. Arizona St. finished the regular season with a record of 23-13, and were ranked 55th according to KenPom. BYU finished the regular season with a record of 19-15, and were ranked 77th according to KenPom.

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