Posted by J.J. Greenstein on January 24, 2012 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article
Not since 2004 has a Wolfpack team started 4-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Sure, one could argue that it’s a down year for the ACC, but following a 78-73 win at Miami and a road trip to you know where waiting on Thursday evening, the hype has risen for Coach Mark Gottfried’s squad in Raleigh.
“I think our guys, as soon as the Miami game was over, their minds shifted to North Carolina. I think they will be excited, there is no question,” said Gottfried.
And they should be excited; State hasn’t entered a match-up with North Carolina (16-3, 3-1 ACC) with a better conference record than the Heels in years. Following Sunday’s victory over Miami, the Pack matched their win total from all of last year at 15.
This team is playing with confidence, and it is showing on stat sheets night in and night out. All five starters average in double-figure scoring, with an emerging Deshawn Painter coming off the bench averaging 7.8 points per game. Painter took over the game in Miami, scoring 18 points and pulling down seven rebounds while starting forward Richard Howell battled foul trouble. The balanced scoring has kept the Pack in games all season.
Even with the un-explainable loss at home to Georgia Tech, the Pack finds themselves tied atop the ACC standings. The Pack knows it should be 5-0 in conference play right now, but their sights are set on building on the early success they have earned.
“I think for our team what is important to realize is that although we’ve had a couple of nice wins we are a long, long way from where we want to be. Our guys know that,” stated Gottfried.
The players seemed to share the same view as Gottfried. Junior forward Scott Wood, who broke J.J. Redick’s streak of 54 straight free throws made when he was a perfect seven for seven at the charity stripe on Sunday, putting his streak at 58 going back to last season.
“We’re starting to play well at the right time; hopefully we can continue to get better.”
Wood leads the Pack with just over 13 points a game, scoring double-figures in all five ACC games this season. He’ll need to be at the top of his game if State is going to knock off the Heels in Chapel Hill Thursday night.
The game Thursday is far more important than just ending the winning streak that Carolina holds over the Pack. A win would go a very long way towards the Pack’s goal to make the NCAA Tournament, and would give them a great road win to add to their resume.
“Winning is what breeds confidence. We have to win big games. That’s what changes your program,” said Gottfried, and this is certainly a big game.
Just not big enough for the first-year coach to break out a red blazer like his predecessor. Who, by the way, won his first match-up against Roy Williams and the Tar Heels. Unfortunately, it would be the only time he would come out on top in the rivalry.
Posted by Brandon Rink on January 21, 2012 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article
Virginia has a chance to send the Hokies to 0-5 in ACC play. Also, this is a really old pic. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)
No surprises in midweek play means we’ll have a wild weekend?
(16-7 on season)
Saturday
12:00 PM ET – Boston College 65 Wake Forest 61 (Chestnut Hill) – Wake is struggling – really struggling right now, while BC is coming off a 14-point loss at NC State, falling back to 2-2 in ACC play. Should be a classic.
2:30 PM ET – Clemson 67 Georgia Tech 63 (Clemson – The Yellow Jackets haven’t broken 50 points in their last two ACC contests, while Clemson was close but no cigar in each of its last three games (losses by a combined 12 points). Brad Brownell’s club plays well at home (8-2 over last two seasons) and should edge out another desperate team in Georgia Tech.
4:00 PM ET – Duke 70 FSU 62(Durham) – What is this high-flying scoring machine, and what have you done with FSU? The ‘Noles are scoring 74 PPG in conference-play, led by a league-leading 37.5 3pt%. Obviously, if they lock down and run away like their last two (90-57 over UNC and 84-70 over Maryland) – Cameron will be no factor, but I don’t think any ACC team is that consistent this season.
Sunday
12:00 PM ET – NC State 68 Miami 65(Coral Gables) – This is a bellwether game for NCAA chances, as Miami can’t afford any home ACC losses, and NC State could use a good road win. In year one, I’m really impressed with what Mark Gottfried has done in Raliegh, and this isn’t an unbeatable Miami team – Wolfpack in a close one here.
6:00 PM ET – Virginia 65 VT 58 – Not a good time for Hokie basketball, eh? Staring 0-5 in the face in ACC play with a trip to rival Virginia, who just drilled Georgia Tech on the road, 70-38, and is 15-2 on the season. Virginia Tech’s death march to another disappointing season continues here.
Posted by Brandon Rink on January 18, 2012 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article
Just another quiet season for Roy Williams & co. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)
A look at the midweek in the ACC with some intriguing games…
Wednesday
7:00 PM ET – Miami 68 Clemson 63 (Coral Gables) – Durand Scott and Shane Larkin being questionable leave me a bit wary here, and the Tigers won in Miami last year…but give me the Hurricanes in a close one.
Thursday
7:00 PM ET – Duke 75 Wake Forest 60 (Durham) – The Deacs scored 40 against NC State, at home, last Saturday. Yeah, they’re struggling at the worst time going into Cameron.
8:00 PM ET – UNC 71 VT 64 (Blacksburg) – Virginia Tech has lost by 3, 4 and 2 points respectively en route to the 0-3 in ACC play start, while UNC won by 23 and 17 – lost by 33 this conference-play season. So, that’s where we are in a matchup of teams that’ve lost their way. With the Tar Heels, I at least know they can score, while I can’t say the same about the Hokies.
8:00 PM ET – NC State 72 Boston College 63 (Raliegh) – BC is sitting pretty at tied for second in the ACC, but now comes the hard part, the road. The Eagles have lost 86-64, 64-57 and 83-60 on the road this season. The Wolfpack dominated Wake Forest on the road last week (76-40), but fell to Georgia Tech in Raliegh too (82-71). They can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want that elusive NCAA bid.
8:00 PM ET – Virginia 63 GT 55 (Atlanta) – Is Virginia really a challenger for the ACC crown? We’ll find out Thursday night in Atlanta. These are the games that Duke and UNC usually win, but others fall – the 14-2 ‘Hoos facing a solid, but beatable Yellow Jackets squad. In ACC play, Georgia Tech is hitting 40 percent of 3s and holding opponents to a second-best 40.6 field goal percentage. If the Cavaliers are as dialed-in as at Duke, they’ll grab win No. 15.
From yesterday
Tuesday
9:00 PM ET – FSU 65 Maryland 60 (Tallahassee) – Here’s the real trick…FSU refocusing after the pats on the back and high-fives from the last couple days after the 90-57 win over UNC. Clearly, the Seminoles, at their best, can win fairly comfortably here, but remember, this is FSU and ACC basketball…don’t expect another 33-point win, but a win nonetheless.
(11-7 on ACC picks on the season – post-FSU’s win, yeah, that good!)
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