On the Dunk

NC State and the Bubble

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:12:00 +0000

The Wolfpack is on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament, despite several tough losses recently. A weak bubble and a clutch victory over Miami have given State a late-season reprieve, and the Pack just might sneak in. To get there, State's task is simple in theory, but may be tough to execute. If State can beat Virginia Tech and get to the ACC semifinals, there is a good chance the Wolfpack gets a bid. However, if some upsets around the country occur, State may need to make it to the ACC Final.

After the Miami win, ESPN's Joe Lunardi moved the Pack into the "First Four Out" category. Dance Card views State more favorably, placing State at #46 of its projected 54 bids (the # of bids takes into account the fact that some automatic qualifiers would be in anyway, and some would not).

Comparing State's profile to some teams projected to be in the tournament or rated above NC State as of today (numbers pulled from http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rankings):

State's resume compares favorably to these teams, with one glaring exception- the lack of Top 50 wins. Miami and Texas are just outside the Top 50, so those two moving up some would give State a boost, but the Pack clearly has some work left to do to feel safe next Sunday.

State's profile also looks good compared to UVA and Miami, the ACC's other two fringe tourney teams. UVA has the head to head advantage as well as a win over Michigan. However, State's SOS, especially its non-conference SOS, is much better. If Virginia is solidly in the field, it's tough to argue that State is too far out of it. Miami has wins over Duke and Florida State, but only 3 total Top 100 wins, and of course the Pack beat the Canes twice.

At this point, State just needs to keep winning and hope the chips fall in its favor over the next few days.

ACC "Reprimands" Karl Hess; By "Reprimands" I Mean Praises

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:15:00 +0000

The ACC issued a reprimand of Karl Hess tonight. However, the "reprimand" basically involved the ACC praising Karl Hess' officiating and accusing Corch and Googs of inciting the crowd and excessive demonstrations. In other words, "Screw you NC State, Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta."

It's time for NC State basketball to fight back. The Karl Hess incident has pushed many State fans over the edge with respect to their opinion of the ACC and tension is at an all time high. State cannot keep getting pushed around like this, and I know Debbie Yow will not stand for it. The ACC is never going to stand with us, so the only thing we can do is push them right back. We cannot accept this "reprimand" and must refuse to let this issue die.

Yow's honoring of the '88-'89 team is a great step in the right direction, as it's a not-so-subtle retort to the events that have transpired over the past 55 hours.

As fans, this needs to be a reminder and motivation to never give up on our team and to do all we can to support them throughout Tuesday's game- and every game, for that matter. I have no doubt that State will be in foul trouble Tuesday night and that things won't always go the Pack's way. Regardless, our team needs to feed off our energy, passion and even anger. Bring back that hostile Reynolds environment and we give our guys a chance to upset the Tar Heels. I've seen much worse NC State teams beat better Carolina teams. It can happen.

Adding to all this ACC-Hess angst is the fact that the Pack is in desperate need of a big win to get into the NCAA Tournament. Whatever happened is in the past- the Duke loss, the FSU debacle- forget that stuff. There's really only one thing State can do that will make everything right again.

WIN.

Unprofessional Egomaniac Karl Hess Tosses NC State Legends from RBC Center

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:51:00 +0000

In the ACC's latest showing of disrespect to NC State and its once proud program, lunatic referee Karl Hess threw NC State legends Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta from the RBC Center in the second half of State's loss to Florida State. Hess had no legal right to toss Corch and Googs, but the RBC Center officials complied with the ejection.

(By the way, if I were Corch or Googs, the RBC Center and the ACC would be hearing from my lawyer, which is me, but still, they'd be hearing from me.)

There is absolutely no excuse for this childish behavior from a ref. Neither Hess nor the spineless ACC office would comment on the actions of Hess. Hess should not be allowed to ref another game this season, perhaps ever. He had no right to do what he did and needs to answer for it. The ACC needs to make a statement about this garbage as well, but frankly, they just don't give a damn about anything but their TV deals and when the next Duke-UNC game is.

This is not the first time an ACC ref has displayed blatant unprofessionalism against NC State this season. Roger Ayers and perhaps another ref seemed out to get NC State in at least two games this year with ludicrous technical foul and intentional foul calls and a huge missed traveling call at Stanford. It is clear that a pattern is developing.

Despite the fact that FSU was allowed to play a physical style more fitting for a hockey game yet only had eight second half fouls, that is not why State lost. The bigger issue here is the way NC State is treated by the ACC in general.

Anytime there is controversy, John Swofford and his minions in the ACC office refuse to comment or take any action. All the ACC cares about are it's precious TV markets. Fair competition, tradition and the quality of the product mean nothing to the league. I feel, and I believe many other NC State fans feel, that State gets no respect from the ACC office and its refs. I am personally sick and tired of it and for the first time ever, would not mind seeing the Pack go somewhere else.

One final issue that troubled me during the game was another of Karl Hess' asinine antics. After the ejection of the former State greats, the Pack started to make a run to get back in the game. When State was making its run. FSU's Ian Miller drove to the other end of the floor hit a shot and got fouled. Karl Hess, practically celebrating, called the foul and indicated the basket was good joyously, as if he were an FSU fan.

Laugh this off if you will. Respond with something witty about black helicopters. But this insanity has gone on for years and State is on the receiving end of it 99% of the time.

Opportunity Awaits NC State

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Opportunity. That is precisely what awaits NC State over the next six days. The Pack has a huge opportunity in Coach Mark Gottfried's first season to not only cement its place in this year's NCAA Tournament, but also to make a statement that State is going to be a legitimate contender in the ACC for the foreseeable future.

At 7-3, alone in fourth place in the conference, State is only a game and a half out of first with six games remaining. Beginning on Thursday night, State plays all three teams ahead of it in the standings in a challenging six-day stretch. If the Pack can win one of those games, State's tourney chances go from possible to probable. If State can win two of those games, an improbable, perhaps stunning, second or third place regular season finish comes into play. If State can win all three... Let's not go there yet.

Forget the matchups and the Xs and Os. This is NC State's and Mark Gottfried's opportunity to show the college basketball world that the Wolfpack is for real, and that the Pack is finally back.

That's not to say that if State has three more losses on its record on Tuesday night, that things aren't changing in Raleigh- just that it will take some more time. But why wait? Opportunity is here NOW.

Pack Trio Selected to McDonald's All-America Team

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:25:00 +0000

For the first time in school history, State is bringing in three McDonald's All-Americans in one recruiting class, as Rodney Purvis, Tyler Lewis and TJ Warren were all selected to the prestigious Mickey D's team.

Obviously, this is a big deal for State's program in terms of publicity and exposure. Coach Gottfried and staff are making great strides in improving the perception of the program, and having three incoming players representing the Pack on high school's biggest stage will only help the cause.

State has had two players on the team twice- Sidney Lowe and Derek Whittenburg in 1979 and Chris Corchiani and Rodney Monroe in 1987. Prior to today's announcement, State was tied for 21st in total McDonald's All-Americans since 1977 (Link).

Congratulations to these three players for their personal accomplishments, and for already writing themselves into the NC State history books!

Congratulations is also owed to the NC State coaching staff, who signed this incredible recruiting class despite only being on the job since April 2011. How is this possible at a program like NC State? While one has to credit the hard work of Mark Gottfried and his staff, I point you to this post and this post.

The ACC: Then, Now, but Not Much Longer

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:00 +0000

NC State has played Carolina at least twice every year since 1920, but they say all good things must come to an end. The ACC released its new scheduling format to be used when Pitt and Syracuse join the league. Most notably, State loses its annual home and home series with Carolina, as Wake Forest is now the Pack's sole partner.

Several words immediately came to mind which I wanted to use to describe my feelings about the ACC's and John Swofford's final nail in the coffin of ACC hoops tradition. None of these words should be typed and posted on my blog.

In the initial round of expansion, State was forced to give up its ages old home and home series with Duke, but that was okay, because we still had Carolina (and our oldest rival, Wake). The other casualty of that round was the Maryland series, which has provided its share of great moments and is usually still an emotional matchup.

Apparently, the ACC has determined that the history, tradition and rivalries that once made the ACC the greatest college basketball conference no longer matter. Only one of the six most significant ACC basketball rivalries has been preserved. The six rivalries that (in my humble opinion of course) most defined the league are UNC-Duke, UNC-State, Maryland-State, Maryland-Duke, Duke-State and Wake-UNC. Of those, only Duke and Carolina will play each other twice per year once Pitt and Syracuse join the league.

It's hard to imagine an ACC where State doesn't have Carolina on its home schedule. This is of course the biggest game on the Pack's schedule every year, and for a substantial part of ACC history (and earlier), was as big as the Duke game from Carolina's perspective. Earlier, I summed up my feelings in a tweet:

The ACC has done everything they can to destroy #ACC hoops. I don't give a damn if State-UNC has been 1 sided. Tradition & history matter.

As for Wake Forest, I am pleased that State will continue to play them twice a year. However, this is not a passionate rivalry, and for State's "rival" to be a team that doesn't elicit bitterness and hatred just makes losing the annual Carolina series even tougher to swallow.

It was not only the success of the league's programs but also the rivalries that were so important to the popularity of the ACC. The decision-makers have shown no regard for that tradition, despite the fact that the ACC's commercials allude to it with the slogan, "Then, Now and Always." Today the league sent a message that its slogan is nothing more than empty words.

Some of my favorite quotes from Twitter today:

@clayrelwof - Neuturing centuries old rivalries in turn neuters passion. Our kids won't give 2 [expletive] about ACC basketball.

Caulton Tudor via @accnow - Basketball scheduling policy is only the latest indication of how little the ACC actually cares about fans.

@jpgiglio - Any questions now about the death of the ACC and who killed it?

@ArmstrongWTVD - yep. that's the thing. they've ripped the heart out of the league.

ACC Opener is Huge for State, Gottfried

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:10:00 +0000

It's a little strange to call State's ACC opener a must-win game, but the fact is that the Pack needs to beat Maryland on Sunday night.

While State has fared well against a tough non-conference schedule, it has not done enough to solidify itself as an NCAA tourney team. During the first half of the season, State played tougher, more passionately and just flat out better than it did over the past five seasons, but failed to pull out a win over a top 50 team. As Coach Gottfried pointed out to his team and the media, State needs to win 11 ACC games to make the NCAA Tournament. To do so, the Pack has to win at home against the middle and lower tier teams in the league.

Beating Maryland will not likely be easy. The Terps have been a thorn in the Pack's side for the better part of a decade, and currently hold a frustrating 9 game winning streak over State. The Terps have recently added two very good players to the rotation in Alex Len and Pe'Shon Howard, and have won seven straight games after a rough start to the season.

Earlier this season, well-known NC State blog StatefansNation posted about "taking it back" with regard to State's all-time record against various opponents. For most of the history of the ACC, State was in the top 3 in conference wins and had a winning record against the Terps. Currently, the Terps are third in all-time ACC wins and hold a 76-72 record over State. For State to get back to where it belongs, this is one of the rivalries the Pack must turn around.

To get back to where it belongs, State needs to regain its place in the ACC pecking order ahead of schools like Maryland, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. Coach Gottfried, who has already shown his recruiting prowess, can establish that his program is going to be a force in the ACC and get a leg up on fellow newcomer, Mark Turgeon. It all starts with a win on Sunday.

Wolfpack vs. #1 Syracuse

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:04:00 +0000

The Pack has an opportunity to make a big statement early in the Gottfried era with a home game against #1 ranked Syracuse. To get you ready for the game, check out two of State's greatest wins in RBC Center history.

State with a 16 point comeback win over Chris Paul and Wake Forest and State beats #1 Duke in 2004:

Go Pack! Beat Syracuse!

Despite Tough Losses, Wolfpack is on the Right Track

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:19:00 +0000

As the Texas game proved that there's a new attitude in Raleigh, losses to Indiana and Stanford proved State still has a long way to go. The Pack blew second half leads in each game, becoming rattled down the stretch against two solid opponents. State simply has to learn how to win. A program that has been entrenched in mediocrity, specializing in finding new ways to lose games, can't be fixed overnight. What's important this year for State is to develop good habits and begin to understand what it takes to win consistently.

Despite the two losses, State's season to date has more positives than negatives. Calvin Leslie has played with maximum effort and within the team concept. DeShawn Painter has emerged as an effective player on both ends of the floor. Lorenzo Brown has been excellent as State's point guard (though his late game decision-making and effectiveness must get better). C.J. Williams has shown more consistency than in any previous season. The coaching staff has done a nice job having the team prepared to play and substitution patterns make sense.

State may not make the NCAA Tournament this season, and it's unrealistic to expect it to happen at this point. Wins over Indiana or Stanford would have been nice to have on the tourney resume, and with a down ACC, State won't have as many opportunities for quality wins as in a typical year. While the NCAA Tournament should always be a goal, this program must first establish a great work ethic, mental toughness, and a competitive will that has been lacking for years. When State learns how to compete at a high level for 40 minutes night after night will the Pack be a legitimate contender.

So far, the coaches are doing the right things, the players seem to be responding to what's being taught, and the program is improving in every aspect. As long as that trend continues, this season will be a success, regardless of whether State is dancing in March.

Big Ten-ACC Challenge Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:46:00 +0000

Tuesday
Michigan at Virginia: Michigan looked pretty good in Maui and UVA has struggled to score points. Pick: Michigan.

Northwestern at Georgia Tech: Neither team has been impressive. Both teams played LSU- Northwestern won, Tech lost- but I like Tech at home. Pick: Georgia Tech.

Illinois at Maryland: Maryland has struggled and Illinois hasn't played anybody. Pick: Illinois.

Miami at Purdue: Miami is pretty average. Purdue has beaten a good Iona team and Temple. Purdue is the better team. Pick: Purdue.
Clemson at Iowa: Iowa lost to Campbell. At home. By 16 points. Pick: Clemson.

Duke at Ohio State: These are undoubtedly two of the nation's top 5 teams. Ohio State may be just a little better, especially at home. Pick: Ohio State.

Wednesday
Indiana at NC State: Both teams are much better than they were a year ago. State has played the better schedule so far, but Indiana has been impressive. Pick: State.

Penn State at Boston College: BC is bad. Pick: Penn State.

Florida State at Michigan State: After a horrible offensive showing against Harvard, FSU nearly knocked off UConn. Michigan State struggled against two tough opponents in Duke and UNC. Pick: Michigan State.

Virginia Tech at Minnesota: Virginia Tech played well in New York, beating Oklahoma State and competing respectably against Syracuse. Minnesota just lost its best player to injury. Pick: Virginia Tech.

Wake Forest at Nebraska: Wake Forest is bad. Nebraska is decent. Pick: Nebraska.

Wisconsin at North Carolina: Wisconsin will try to push Carolina around and slow the pace. UNC will have its hands full trying to avoid a second straight loss. Pick: Carolina.

Big Ten 7
ACC 5

State Whips Elon in Gottfried's Reynolds Debut

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:44:00 +0000

In Coach Mark Gottfried's first game in historic Reynolds Coliseum, NC State had no trouble with Elon. The Pack was in control throughout the game and showed some improved perimeter defense, basically shutting down Elon's three point attack. Calvin Leslie, Scott Wood, CJ Williams and Lorenzo Brown played very well for the Wolfpack. Freshman Thomas de Thaey got his first substantial playing time and looked tough inside.
The most encouraging aspect to take from Friday night was perhaps State's attitude and effort. After the game, Brown exemplified the Pack's new mindset:

We’re still upset from that loss that we took from Vanderbilt. We have some anger to take out on people. (N&O link)

After a nice 5-1 start, the schedule continues to get tougher with Indiana, Stanford and Syracuse games coming up in the next couple of weeks. To get out of this stretch of games with more wins than losses, the Pack will have to continue its improvement and maintain the mental toughness exhibited in the early weeks of the season.

Calvin Leslie needs a nickname. The guy is a highlight machine:

News & Observer Photo

The Cardiac Pack Comes Back

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:22:00 +0000

For nearly 30 minutes on Monday night against the Texas Longhorns, NC State played its worst game of the season. The Pack couldn't defend, rebound or shoot. Then something happened. The Wolfpack started to click offensively and defensively. Shots started falling like rain, Texas fell apart and NC State stormed back from down 18 points to take an 8 point lead, finally winning 77-74.

I watched in near disbelief as the Pack went on a 28-2 run in a 9 minute span against a respectable Texas team. As a result of years of State typically being on the receiving end of such an epic comeback, I was shocked. I thought, this is not something that NC State does. But this NC State is different. Resiliency, a team-first mentality, mental toughness and maximum effort have defined the first five games of this season.

Perhaps the best thing about State's win over Texas is that one cannot just point to one player, one moment or one lucky break. This was a total team effort. Everyone contributed- from obvious heroes such as DeShawn Painter, Calvin Leslie, Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood, to the enthusiastic and emotional guys on the bench, to the coaching staff keeping the players mentally in the game and focused on playing the right way.

So far in 2011, State has met adversity on multiple occassions and responded positively. The credit for that goes straight to the coaching staff, which has instilled toughness, confidence and team chemistry in a once fragile program. The players have bought in and it is resfreshing to watch.

About 9 months ago, in the midst of an incredibly frustrating and disappointing season, I wrote an article entitled "NC State Basketball is Dead." The title was harsh, but the point was that State had not only lost its commitment to winning, but that State basketball no longer had any significance. One amazing comeback victory does not make State a contender again, and two games in the Legends Classic exposed some of State's weaknesses. However, the takeaway from this event is that NC State is no longer a program that rolls over and quits when the going gets tough.

Only time will tell whether State basketball is on its way back to what it once was, but for one night at least, it felt like the magic was back.

Legends Classic - Can State Beat Vandy?

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:59:00 +0000

NC State heads to New Jersey for a chance to raise some eyebrows in the college basketball community. The Pack opens with Vanderbilt (ranked 20th), and will face either Texas or Oregon State on Sunday.

According to the "experts," State is sure to lose to Vandy. On Friday, ESPN's Eamonn Brennan posted a brief preview, highlighting center Festus Ezeli's injury and stating with respect to Vanderbilt:

Frankly, they have to win games like this.

Really? State is such a pushover that Vandy can't afford to lose this one? This follows ESPN's August preview, where the analysts opined:

The bracket is built for Vandy-Texas and anything less will be a disappointment for the organizers.

So, organizers would prefer a small school with little following running a version of the Princeton offense than a matchup of big public institutions playing uptempo, fast-break basketball? Interesting.

"Frankly," this kind of stuff from the national media is short-sighted and lazy. NC State isn't as short on talent as many believe and Vanderbilt hasn't proven anything this season yet, losing to Cleveland State and struggling against Bucknell.

In any event, State has a chance to earn some respect and prove the doubters wrong. Sure, the Wolfpack will be without Scott Wood, but Calvin Leslie will be back to provide some scoring punch. State will need another solid effort from Lorenzo Brown and someone will need to step up and make a couple threes.

In my preview of State's non-conference opponents, I posted the following:

Expectation: State will have its hands full in this one. I'm not sold on Vandy as a top 10 team, but it will be favored to win the Legends Classic. Realistically, if the Pack is competitive for 40 minutes, this game will be considered a success.

That expectation sells this NC State team short. The Pack will play hard, play as a team and will be well-prepared for the game. State may not win, but it won't roll over either. Perhaps State can prove the doubters wrong and earn some positive publicity. Of course, we'd hate to disappoint the Legends Classic organizers.

Game Report: NC State's Win Over Princeton

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Some quick thoughts on the Wolfpack's win over the Princeton Tigers:

Lorenzo Brown was phenomenal. Despite having flu-like symptons and a sore ankle, he carried NC State for much of the second half, hitting several big shots. For the game, he had 16 points, 8 assists and 5 steals.
State had a lot of trouble defending the Princeton offense, especially in the first half. Some nice adjustments were made at the half to reduce the amount of open threes.
Princeton was able to take State out of the uptempo game Coach Gottfried likes, so the Pack had to execute in the half court all night. This proved difficult without Scott Wood. State is going to have to adapt quickly to his absence with a tough game against Vanderbilt coming up on Saturday.
Several high majors have been beaten by or struggled against low/mid majors. Great job by the Pack gutting out a win in tough circumstances.
State faced adversity for the first time this season and fought through it. The Pack showed a toughness and resolve that have not been present in years.

Game Report: NC State's Win Over Morehead State

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:34:00 +0000

Some quick thoughts on State's home victory over Morehead State:

Richard Howell was unstoppable on offense and simply outclassed the Eagles' defenders. He was really in the zone and his energy level has never been better.
DeShawn Painter continued his fantastic play, going 6-6 from the field and 7-7 from the line. His hard work in the offseason has really paid off, and he is moving himself up in the rotation. His motor never seems to stop or even slow down.
Lorenzo Brown played a solid game at point guard, again displaying his superb vision and passing ability.
Scott Wood found his shooting touch, torching the Eagles throughout the first half.
Alex Johnson hasn't found his range yet, but played an excellent game dishing out assists and not turning the ball over.
The most impressive aspect of the game tonight was State's ball movement. I don't know that I have ever seen an NC State team move the ball as quickly and effectively. State's zone offense was very good, particularly in the first half.
The Wolfpack played an excellent defensive game throughout. While the Pack didn't get as many steals as they did against Asheville, State guarded well in the half court and made it difficult for Morehead State to run its offense effectively.

Game Report: NC State's Win Over UNCA

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:39:00 +0000

Some quick thoughts on State's season opening win over UNC-Asheville:

Going in to this game I thought it would be tough, given Asheville's tournament experience and solid backcourt. However, State was in control from the outset and the game was never really in doubt. Good opening win for Coach Gottfried.
State gave great effort throughout the game and played with emotion.
DeShawn Painter was impressive in a backup role. He scored, rebounded and defended well. Painter played as hard as anyone and seemed intent on solidifying a place in the rotation.
Freshman Tyler Harris played some key minutes late in the game and did a fantastic job. Harris seems to have great instincts and a feel for the game. He knows how to play and looks very comfortable out there.
C.J. Williams had a solid game all around and showed that he can be an efficient scorer in State's offense.
Lorenzo Brown did just what a point guard should do and more. He filled up the stat sheet, nearly getting a triple double. Most importantly, he only had three turnovers- none in the second half.
Richard Howell looked good dominating the boards and scoring in double figures.
State had to grind in 2nd half and did not seem to get discouraged when Asheville took away the fast break.
The Pack needs to improve its perimeter defense. Some of the trouble may have been because of Asheville's small lineup, but this is an issue to watch over the next few games.
State was effective playing uptempo in the first half, but there was some sloppy play and too many turnovers.
Overall, this game was certainly a step in the right direction.

Season Preview: Outlook and Expectations for NC State

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:57:00 +0000

When Coach Mark Gottfried arrived in Raleigh, State had a long way to go to become a competitive ACC basketball program. There seemed to be serious issues with some of the essential aspects of a college basketball program. For example, strength and conditioning, scheduling, team chemistry, work ethic, practice habits and mental toughness were all areas that needed to be addressed.

The new coaching staff was and is intent on changing the culture. Since April, Coach Gottfried established his authority over the program, hired a well-respected strength and conditioning coach, and encouraged team bonding and unity. In response, the players spent countless hours in the gym this summer working on their games and preparing for this season and spent time together off the court.

A huge problem that seemed to plague Coach Lowe's program was the lack of help from the assistants. Coach Gottfried was able to hire an experienced, respected coaching staff. The result should be a more effectively run program, a more constructive environment for the players and better player development.

This season, State has enough talent to compete with anyone in the league, except perhaps Duke and Carolina. The Pack's top nine players would qualify as ACC level talent, with eight of those already having significant college playing experience. The other, Thomas de Thaey, is a 20 year old freshman whose build and maturity level is that of an experienced player. Of course, State had significant talent on the roster last season and finished 10th in the ACC.

I've broken down the Pack's roster here (guards) and here (forwards & centers) and after looking at the rest of the ACC, I like what State has from a talent standpoint better than many of the other teams. Many conference foes have holes in their rosters- Miami and Virginia lack frontcourt depth, Florida State could struggle to score, Virginia Tech may have to rely on a bunch of freshmen in key roles, and so on. While State is far from perfect, the Wolfpack has depth and experience at most positions.

Major keys to State's success in 2011-2012:

Lorenzo Brown led the team in turnovers per game last season. As the full-time point guard, he must improve in that area.
Calvin Leslie must stay mentally focused and dedicated to the team concept. He can be an excellent player if he does things the right way.
Scott Wood has to knock down three pointers and stay out of foul trouble.
Some combination of DeShawn Painter, Thomas de Thaey and Jordan Vandenberg must produce points, rebounds and solid defense down low to provide depth and take pressure off of Leslie and Howell.
State has to find a way to improve its defense and rebounding and give consistent maximum effort.
Coach Gottfried has to manage personalities and playing time better than his predecessor.
State must handle adversity well. The Pack plays a tough schedule early and has a couple tough stretches in ACC play. When losses happen and things to wrong, State has to find a way to bounce back.

In light the schedule, State's roster, and all of the changes in the program over the past seven months, what should be the expectation for the 2011-12 season? At the very least, State fans should expect to see a more disciplined team that gives better, more consistent effort on the court this season. On the high end of the spectrum, State could be an NCAA Tournament team. A reasonable expectation heading into the season is for the Wolfpack to be competitive in every game, challenge for top five ACC finish and at least get in the NCAA Tournament conversation.

Season Preview: ACC Projections and Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:36:00 +0000

The ACC is projected to be weaker than usual this year. North Carolina and Duke appear to be the only sure things, and Boston College and Wake Forest could be historically bad teams. A clear third may be Florida State, but after that it gets fuzzy. It is very difficult to predict the middle of the pack, as a bunch of teams are question marks. Apparently trending toward the top of that group are Miami and Virginia, while Maryland and Georgia Tech look to be near the bottom. Still, it's anyone's guess at this point.

Predicted order of finish and outlook for each team:

1. UNC
Key Returning Players: Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Tyler Zeller, Kendall Marshall, Dexter Strickland, Reggie Bullock, Leslie McDonald
          Key Losses: Justin Knox
          Notable Newcomers:   James McAdoo, PJ Hairston
        Outlook: Final Four or bust. The Heels are loaded. The only potential issue is point guard production when Marshall is out.

2. Duke
Key Returning Players: Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly, Mason Plumlee, Miles Plumlee, Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton
          Key Losses:   Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, Kyrie Irving
          Notable Newcomers:   Austin Rivers, Quinn Cook, Alex Murphy, Marhsall Plumlee
          Outlook: Duke has the depth and talent to have another great season. A Final Four is a possibility, as usual.

3. Florida State
Key Returning Players: Michael Snaer, Bernard James, Deividas Dulkas, Ian Miller, Okaro White
          Key Losses: Chris Singleton, Derwin Kitchen
          Notable Newcomers: Antwan Space
          Outlook: The Seminoles lost their best offensive player (Kitchen) and best overall player (Singleton), but return the rest of a deep roster. Defensively, they should be stellar, but they will likely struggle on offense again this season.

4. Virginia
          Key Returning Players: Mike Scott, Joe Harris, K.T. Harrell, Sammy Zeglinski, Assane Sene, Jontel Evans
          Key Losses: Mustapha Farrakhan
          Notable Newcomers: Malcolm Brogdon
          Outlook: The well-coached Cavs get their top player, Mike Scott, back from injury. In an ACC full of questions, Virginia appears to be on solid footing. However, UVA doesn't appear to have a big time scorer outside of Mike Scott. UVA will be solid defensively, and should get solid guard play. They need Sene or Akil Mitchell to have a breakout year.

5. Miami
          Key Returning Players: Malcolm Grant, Durand Scott, Reggie Johnson (out several weeks due to injury), Garrius Adams
          Key Losses: Julian Gamble (injury)
          Notable Newcomers: None
          Outlook: One thing Frank Haith did well was recruit, so new coach Jim Larranaga has plenty of talent this season- at least in the backcourt. Interior play will be an issue until Reggie Johnson returns from injury. Frontcourt depth is a potential problem.

6. NC State
          Key Returning Players: Lorenzo Brown, Calvin Leslie, Scott Wood, Richard Howell, C.J. Williams
          Key Losses: Tracy Smith, Javi Gonzalez, Ryan Harrow
          Notable Newcomers: Alex Johnson, Tyler Harris, Thomas de Thaey
          Outlook: As I did last year, I like State's roster more than many in the ACC. How quickly can this team develop and adapt to Coach Gottfried's new system? Will there be greater effort and endurance?
          *I'll have a more extensive post on State's outlook prior to the opener next week.*

7. Virginia Tech
          Key Returning Players: Erick Green, Dorenzo Hudson, Victor Davila, Jarell Eddie
          Key Losses: Malcolm Delaney, Jeff Allen, J.T. Thompson (injury), Terrell Bell
          Notable Newcomers: Dorian Finney-Smith, C.J. Barksdale, Marquis Rankin, Robert Brown
          Outlook: Virginia Tech is in rebuilding mode having lost the core of its team. The Hokies welcome a fantastic crop of freshmen and could be pretty good by the end of the season. If Green can hold his own at point guard and Hudson returns to pre-injury form, the Hokies could exceed expectations.

8. Clemson
          Key Returning Players: Andre Young, Tanner Smith, Milton Jennings, Devin Booker
          Key Losses: Demontez Stitt, Jerai Grant
          Notable Newcomers: Bernard Sullivan
          Outlook: The Tigers lost their leader and best perimeter scorer, Demontez Stitt, and their best big man, Jerai Grant. Expect Devin Booker to have a big year. Clemson will have to find a way to get production from the backcourt in order to repeat the success of Brad Brownell's first season.

9. Maryland
Key Returning Players: Terrell Stoglin, Pe'Shon Howard, Sean Mosley, James Padgett
          Key Losses: Jordan Williams, Cliff Tucker, Dino Gregory, Adrian Bowie
Notable Newcomers: Nick Faust, Alex Len
          Outlook: New coach Mark Turgeon has the challenge of rebuilding a roster that lost a great deal of production from 2010-11. The Terps will have to find some production from the post and have high hopes that Alex Len can fill that role. He will miss the first ten games as a penalty, and Howard will miss some time due to injury.

10. Georgia Tech
Key Returning Players: Glen Rice Jr., Mfon Udofia, Jason Morris, Daniel Miller
          Key Losses: Iman Shumpert, Brian Oliver, Maurice Miller
          Notable Newcomers: Julian Royal
          Outlook: Brian Gregory has huge rebuilding job as the Jackets have very little returning production on its frontline. To make matters worse, Tech lost three of its top five scorers, including its best point guard and distributor, Shumpert.

11. Wake Forest
Key Returning Players: Travis McKie, C.J. Harris, Ty Walker, Tony Chennault
          Key Losses: J.T. Terrell, Gary Clark, Ari Stewart
          Notable Newcomers: None
          Outlook: Wake could be worse in 2011-12 than in 2010-11. The Deacs have very little depth, having suffered some unexpected attrition as second-leading scorer J.T. Terrell left the program. On the other hand that could end up being a good thing for chemistry. Top scorer and rebounder Travis McKie is back, and C.J. Harris can be a productive player. Don't be surprised to see Wake finish ahead of Georgia Tech.

12. Boston College
Key Returning Players: Danny Rubin, Gabriel Moton
          Key Losses: Reggie Jackson, Joe Trapani, Cori Raji, Biko Paris, Josh Southern
          Notable Newcomers: BC added seven recruits, but none are highly rated.
          Outlook: The Eagles entire starting five from last season is gone, and BC hasn't recruiting very well in recent years. The top two returning scorers combined to average 6.6 points per game in 2010-11. In a normal ACC season, two ACC wins from this team would take a miracle. However, the ACC looks incredibly weak this year, so a few wins aren't out of the question.

Season Preview: State's Non-Conference Schedule- December/January

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:19:00 +0000

State begins December with another tough stretch of games- at Stanford, NC Central and Syracuse at home, followed by a neutral site game in Rochester, New York against St. Bonaventure.   State finally gets a breather with some weaker opponents during the last two weeks of December and the first week of January.

@Stanford: Stanford returns everyone except its leading scorer from a team that finished near the bottom of the Pac-10 last season. The Cardinal relied on a bunch of freshman a year ago, and should be improved assuming a normal progression and development. This is Johnny Dawkins first head coaching gig, and so far it has been a struggle. It will be interesting to see what year four brings.

          Key Returning Players: Josh Owens, Anthony Brown, Dwight Powell, Jarrett Mann
          Key Losses: Jeremy Green
          Notable Newcomers: Chasson Randle
          Expectation: This will be the Pack's first true road game, and it's all the way across the country. Talent-wise, State looks better, but it would be overly optimistic to expect a victory in this situation. Realistically, it could go either way.

NC Central: Central is the trap game on State's 2011-12 schedule- it is sandwiched in between the Stanford and Syracuse games and takes place during exams. The Eagles lost their best player, C.J. Wilkerson, but return everyone else and add two Big 12 transfers.

          Key Returning Players: Landon Clement, Nick Chasten, Justin Leemow
          Key Losses:   C.J. Wilkerson, Dijon Manns
          Notable Newcomers: Dominque Sutton (transfer from K-State), Ray Willis (transfer from OU)
          Expectation:   If State isn't focused on this game, it could be a struggle. In the end, the Pack's talent will carry them.

Syracuse: The Orange are loaded and will strut in to Raleigh to send a message their new conference mates in the ACC. Syracuse returns everyone except Rick Jackson, who provided most of its muscle inside. If Fab Melo, Baye Moussa Keita or even James Southerland can give the Orange just a little production down low, the Cuse will meet expectations this season.

          Key Returning Players: Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, Fab Melo, Baye Moussa Keita, CJ Fair, Dion Waiters
          Key Losses: Rick Jackson
          Notable Newcomers: Rakeem Christmas, Michael Carter-Williams, Trevor Cooney
          Expectation: This is a measuring stick game for the Pack. Can State compete with the best teams in the nation? A reasonable expectation lies somewhere in the range of pulling the upset and keeping it respectable.

St. Bonaventure (neutral site): The Bonnies were a middle of the pack A-10 team last season, but are expected to improve on that effort. They lost their second leading scorer, and return the rest of their key players.

          Key Returning Players: Andrew Nicholson, Michael Davenport, Demitrius Conger, Da'Quan Cook
          Key Losses: Odo Adegboye
          Notable Newcomers: None
          Expectation: This feels more like a road game than a neutral site game, though Rochester is two hours from St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies will be a tough out for State who will be playing on two days rest following the Syracuse game. This is another toss up.

Northeastern: The Huskies had a losing record in the Colonial Athletic Conference in 2010-11. Northeastern returns most of its players except for leading scorer, rebound and distributor, Chaisson Allen. Well, State deserves a breather after the schedule it's played to date.

          Key Returning Players: Joel Smith, Jonathan Lee, Ryan Pierson, Alex Harris
          Key Losses:   Chaisson Allen
          Expectation: After a difficult schedule, State gets a gimme game right before Christmas. Go Pack.

Campbell: As usual, Campbell stunk last year and will be bad again. Apparently, the Camels just joined the Big South Conference- who knew? At least the top two scorers return.

          Key Returning Players: Eric Griffin, Lorne Merthie, Amir Celestin
          Key Losses: Junard Hartley, Preston Dodson
          Expectation: Blowout.

Western Carolina: WCU finished first in its division of the Southern Conference in 2010-11. However, the Catamounts' are picked third in their division this season as two of the top three scorers from last season are gone. State fans surely remember Coach Larry Hunter who helped Coach Sendek implement the Princeton offense in 2002.

          Key Returning Players: Trey Sumler, Harouna Mutombo, Brandon Boggs, Keaton Cole
          Key Losses: Mike Williams, Richie Gordon
          Expectation: Western Carolina will not be a terrible team, but State should win handily based on the talent disparity.

Delaware State: The Hornets were very bad a season ago, finishing 9-21 and near the bottom of the MEAC. Fortunately for DSU, most of the key contributors return so they should be at least a little better than last year.

          Key Returning Players: Casey Walker, Marques Oliver, Jay Threatt
          Key Losses: Desmond Washington, Terron Stowe
          Expectation:   In State's final tuneup before the "Sabotage" game, the Pack should roll.

State's non-conference schedule is nothing to sneeze at, particularly the first 2/3 of it. The Pack will need to get comfortable with the new system quickly to get through it with a good record.

TJ Warren Picks NC State, Bolsters Big Time Class for the Pack

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Mark Gottfried and his coaching staff have worked tirelessly this off-season to bring as much talent to Raleigh as possible, and the results are remarkable. State is one of only two programs that have signed more than one top 25 recruit. (Arizona has signed three.) The addition of TJ Warren bolsters an impressive recruiting class, with highly touted guards Rodney Purvis (top 25) and Tyler Lewis (top 50) having already committed.

According to Scout.com, the 6'7 forward is a "big-time scorer" and "can really shoot it from deep." Warren chose NC State over Georgetown, UNC and Florida.

NC State has let a ton of talent get out of the state in recent years, but the current coaching staff is making North Carolina a priority. So far, it is paying off in a big way, as Purvis, Lewis and Warren are all from this state.

Despite not having coached a game at NC State- and having been out of coaching for two years- Coach Gottfried has assembled a top 5 recruiting class for 2012. If a couple more dominoes fall, State could have one of the top two classes in the nation.

During State's coaching search, most college basketball experts claimed the State job is one of the toughest, and none of them seemed to be able to grasp the concept that State has almost always recruited well. While State isn't known for top 5 classes, top 20 classes are the norm. Coach Gottfried and staff should be commended for their efforts on the recruiting trail, where so far they have exceeded expectations.

Season Preview: State's Non-Conference Schedule- November

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:55:00 +0000

NC State plays a tough non-conference schedule in 2011-12.  I'll preview all of the non-conference opponents in two parts.  Today, State's November schedule:

While most teams like to start with a few cupcakes to get some wins under their belt, State will be tested early this season.

UNC-Asheville: Coach Gottfried's opener against former Wolfpack player and (assistant) coach, Eddie Biedenbach, is by no means a guaranteed win. UNCA was last year's Big South Champion, made the NCAA tourney and won its opening round game in Dayton. During the regular season, UNCA beat Auburn and lost by respectable margins to Carolina (11 points) and Georgetown (15 points). UNCA boasts a bunch of upperclassmen and returns its top five scorers and top rebounder.

Key Returning Players: Matt Dickey, JP Primm, Chris Stephenson, Jaron Lane, DJ Cunningham
          Key Losses:   John Williams
          Expectation: This game scares me, as the Pack is breaking in a new coach and new system, while UNCA returns most of its players from an NCAA tourney team. State should win its opener, but don't be surprised if we are sweating this one out.

Morehead State: Another tournament team from 2010-11, Ohio Valley Champion Morehead State knocked off Louisville in the NCAA Tournament in a thriller before ending its season with a loss to Richmond. The Eagles lost their top two scorers from a year ago, but return several important contributors.

          Key Returning Players: Terrance Hill, Ty Proffitt, Drew Kelly, Lamont Austin
          Key Losses: Kenneth Faried, Demonte Harper, Sam Goodman
          Expectation: Morehead State may struggle early this season as the Eagles adjust to the loss of Faried and Harper. State should be able to get a win.

Princeton: The Tigers were also a tournament team last season, and lost to Kentucky by two points in the round of 64. Princeton returns two of its four scorers double-digit scorers from 2010-11 and one of its top rebounders. Last season, Princeton won 26 games competing against a respectable schedule, so the Tigers are a capable bunch.

          Key Returning Players: Ian Hummer, Douglas Davis, Patrick Saunders
          Key Losses: Kareem Maddox, Dan Mavraides
          Expectation:   Princeton is likely to give the Pack fits. This one feels like a toss up.

Vanderbilt (Legends Classic): Vanderbilt is ranked #7 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Vandy returns basically everyone from last year's squad. The Commodores lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Richmond and finished 23-11 (9-7 SEC). This was a good, not great, team in 2010-11, but is expected to contend in the SEC this year.

          Key Returning Players:   John Jenkins, Jeffery Taylor, Festus Ezeli, Brad Tinsley, Lance Goulbourne
          Key Losses:   None
          Notable Newcomers:   Dai-Jon Parker, Kendren Johnson
          Expectation:   State will have its hands full in this one. I'm not sold on Vandy as a top 10 team, but it will be favored to win the Legends Classic. Realistically, if the Pack is competitive for 40 minutes, this game will be considered a success.

Oregon State (Legends Classic): Oregon State projects as the weakest team in the Legends Classic. The Beavers finished 11-20 last season in a weak Pac-10 and return five of the top seven contributors from that team.

          Key Returning Players:   Jared Cunningham, Ahmad Starks, Roberto Nelson, Joe Burton
          Key Losses:   Calvin Haynes, Omari Johnson
          Notable Newcomers:   None
          Expectation:   If State loses to Vandy, this will be a great opportunity to make sure the Pack doesn't leave New Jersey without a win. A loss to Oregon State would be disappointing to say the least.

Texas (Legends Classic): Another possible opponent for State, depending on how the tournament shakes out, is Rick Barnes' Texas Longhorns. The Horns are in a rebuilding mode this season and have brought in an excellent recruiting class, led by point guard Myck Kabongo. Texas finished 27-7 last year and lost to Arizona in the round of 32. The Horns only major returning contributor is J'Covan Brown, who averaged 10 points and 2 rebounds per game.

          Key Returning Players:   J'Covan Brown
          Key Losses:   Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson, Gary Johnson, Cory Joseph, Dogas Balbay, Jai Lucas
          Notable Newcomers:   Myck Kabongo, Jonathan Holmes, Sheldon McClellan, Julien Lewis
          Expectation: Texas is perhaps as big of a question mark as State. This matchup is unpredictable considering all of the freshman expected to play major roles for Texas, and State's new coach and system. At this point, the game is a toss up.

Elon:   Elon comes to Raleigh to (hopefully) give State a breather after a difficult opening stretch of games. The Phoenix finished 14-17 last year, but they relied on a substantial number of freshmen and sophomores. Elon lost only one contributor, leading scorer Chris Long. Expect Elon to be better this season than in 2010-11.

          Key Returning Players:   Drew Spradlin, Jack Isenbarger, Lucas Troutman, Roger Dugas
          Key Losses:   Chris Long
          Expectation: State should win this one easily.

Indiana (ACC-Big Ten Challenge): The Hoosiers have struggled to return to IU's historical level of success and time may be running out for Tom Crean. Indiana finished 12-20 last season and returns its top three scorers. Unfortunately, guard Maurice Creek is out for the season, certainly complicating things for the Hoosiers. IU has added Cody Zeller, but the rest of the recruiting class is mediocre.

          Key Returning Players:   Christian Watford, Verdell Jones III, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo
          Key Losses: Maurice Creek (injury)
          Notable Newcomers:   Cody Zeller
          Expectation:   There isn't much to like about Indiana. State wins this one.

If State can get through this portion of the schedule with two or less losses, Pack fans should be rejoicing. This is a tough way to open the season, particularly when breaking in a new coach and system.

Later this week, I'll preview the remainder of State's non-conference schedule.

Richard Howell's Tranformation

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Richard Howell has really slimmed down. He looks fit. Congrats to Howell on his hard work during the offseason. Hopefully, it will pay off for him on the court. From the N&O:

Compare to last season:

NC State's Tipoff Breakfast - News & Notes

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:06:00 +0000

NC State held a Tipoff Breakfast this morning at the RBC Center to mark the start of the 2011-12 season. The players served breakfast and ate with the fans, then AD Debbie Yow and Head Coach Mark Gottfried addressed the approximately 300 attendees.

I was fortunate to have Scott Wood at my table, and he was a pleasure to meet and speak with. I asked Scott which team he is looking forward to playing. His answer was Indiana, because he has played with and against most of the guys on that team. Scott said the difference in Coach Lowe's offense and Coach Gottfried's offense is that Gottfried's gets everyone involved, whereas Lowe's was more about getting the ball to the hot player. Perhaps this means less standing around on offense and more teamwork.

Debbie Yow addressed the crowd and made a few comments before introducing Coach Gottfried. First, she mentioned that we didn't have a Midnight Madness event because right now there is nothing to celebrate. She talked about getting the program back to where it belongs and to help do so, she is trying to give the program as much administrative support as possible. She said that $500,000 in upgrades have gone into the Dail Practice Facility and that an additional investment of $500,000 is needed to complete the upgrades.

Yow mentioned that Jim Harrick was in attendance and wanted us to show him what NC State is about. She invited CJ Williams up to lead us in the singing of the fight song and he gladly obliged.

Coach Gottfried introduced each of the players, who then left to get ready for the first of two practices today. Coach stated that a recruit (unnamed) would be at practice today. He talked about Jim Harrick, who was his guest this weekend. At UCLA, Harrick taught Coach Gottfried that he has three jobs- recruit, recruit and recruit. Gottfried has taken that to heart as he and his staff are putting in a solid effort in that area. He would like a four to five man class this year as long as he gets the right guys.

Coach Gottfried talked a few specifics about this year's team. He said that the coaches are trying to teach the kids how to work hard and compete everyday- something they aren't used to doing. He said you don't get better without competing. So far, the team is doing a nice job, but they have a long way to go. Coach made a point to say that we finished 10th last season, so no player is guaranteed anything. They haven't accomplished anything yet and have to earn their playing time. He mentioned that the schedule is really tough, and that is by design. Some contracts had to be broken to make the schedule work.

Finally, the most interesting information was with respect to future scheduling and tournaments. The Pack will be taking a trip to Spain next summer, and will play in San Juan next season. In 2013, State will return to the Old Spice Classic. Like many fans, I have always wanted State to play in the Maui Invitational, the premier early season tournament. Coach Gottfried said that the Pack is scheduled to play that event in 2014.

Overall, this was a great event. The players were great hosts and represented the school very well. Coach Gottfried impresses me each time I hear him talk, so I am really looking forward to seeing where he can take the program.

Season Preview: Coaching Outlook- Mark Gottfried

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Coach Mark Gottfried has already demonstrated that he has the energy, passion for the game and personality that resonates with Wolfpack fans. He sincerely believes the Pack can be great again. A brief glance at his resume indicates Coach Gottfried has the tools to be the best coach State has had since the late great Jim Valvano.

In his first season, Gottfried will have the challenge of implementing a new offense, improving the team's defense and instilling a new attitude within the program.

High Post Offense
State will run the High Post Offense, the same offense employed by the legendary John Wooden, which Gottfried learned while he was an assistant at UCLA under Jim Harrick. According to Coach Gottfried's interview today (courtesy of PackPride's Twitter feed), State will have a point guard, two wings and two post players. The two and three are basically the same as are the four and five.

ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla appears to be a big fan of the High Post Offense:

Look for @MarkGottfried to run "the greatest offense ever invented--the UCLA High Post Offense." It's won a lot of titles!

I am certainly no Xs and Os expert, so I thought I'd read a little bit about State's new offense. Fraschilla broke down the offense for ESPN in 2003:

This man-to-man offense is run out the 2-3 set (also known as a two-guard front). It brings the defense away from the basket, can be run to both sides of the court, and has a variety of options or "reads". In addition, the two-guard front keeps the pressure off a team's point guard from having the ball in his hands all the time. And, finally, it is an effective offense to post up a team's big guards.

...

The beauty of this offense is in its court balance, spacing and opportunity to involve all five players in the attack -- all things John Wooden preached.

State should be able to exploit some of the opportunities created by this offense. In particular, look for Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Williams to take advantage of their 6'5 frames to post up against smaller defenders. Richard Howell will be another player to watch in this offense. He is a good passer for a big man and will see substantial minutes in the high post where he can use those passing abilities to make plays for others.

Defense

Coach Gottfried wants to pick up the Pack's tempo this season, and the only way to do so is by creating turnovers and getting rebounds. The News & Observer's ACC blog, ACCNow, reports:

Gottfried said expectations are clear for players: Defense and rebounding equate to transition offense.

“Where we want to be is a team that absolutely puts pressure on teams to get back quickly and we want to score in the open floor and in the break,” Gottfried said. “Now we have to teach a team how to do that.”

Coach Lowe often talked about an uptempo game, but his teams forced few turnovers and were often weak on the boards. As a result, his teams never got out in transition consistently. In order for State to run, defensive intensity and awareness must improve.

Expect Gottfried to play primarily man-to-man defense. According to Backing the Pack, Coach Gottfried's teams at Alabama were less than stellar defensively. Let's hope he has found some ways to improve in this area during his two year hiatus, and that his talented coaching staff can help the Pack develop some solid defensive fundamentals.

A Second Chance
Gottfried left Alabama in 2009 amid controversy midway through a disappointing season. He then spent two years as an analyst with ESPN, where he had the opportunity to spend time watching how other coaches prepare for games, watch film and conduct practices. He seems re-energized for the daunting task of building NC State into a national power:

"I am extremely excited about this opportunity and challenge," said Gottfried. "I have always had great respect for the tradition of excellence here at State and I look forward to helping build this basketball program into a national contender."

I like Coach Gottfried's energy. State needs a guy like him with something to prove and with a chip on his shoulder. His passion and enthusiasm has really been lacking from the NC State program for years.

This is a big year for Coach Gottfried. The last two coaches at State all failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in their first five seasons. If Gottfried can get off to a quick start in his tenure at State and build on his early recruiting success, then good things can happen to the NC State program.

Season Preview: Roster Analysis- Forwards & Centers

noreply@blogger.com (JAB77) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:41:00 +0000

The Pack has an interesting mix of big men capable of contributing this season. Certain to be in the rotation at forward are Scott Wood, C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell, while DeShawn Painter and Jordan Vandenberg are expected to fight for minutes in the post. Newcomers include Tyler Harris, a wing-oriented forward from New York, and Thomas de Thaey, who has the look of a bruiser but in true European style, seems to play outside-in.

Scott Wood (6'6 JR.): Wood has started every game of his college career. He is a solid three-point shooter, shooting around 39% for his career. Wood was practically one-dimensional offensively in 2010-11, rarely scoring from inside the arc and rarely getting to the foul line. Wood is a decent defender, but often finds himself in foul trouble. He has the ability to play the shooting guard or small forward position and usually makes good decisions. Scott can really open up the offense by knocking down shots and forcing defenders to guard him far from the basket. He needs to improve on attacking the basket and cutting down on his foul rate.

C.J. Leslie (6'8 SO.): Leslie is a tremendous talent and a great athlete. He can be an effective scorer and rebounder. In fact, he led the Pack in rebounding last season. He simply needs the right coach to get the most out of him and to help him understand and accept his role within the team concept. Leslie can be the best player on the team and an All-ACC performer if he gets his mind right. He needs to improve his focus, effort and attitude. When Leslie is "on" he is fun to watch and has shown that he has the tools to be a star.

Richard Howell (6'8 JR.): Howell is a solid post player and probably the Pack's best rebounder. I would characterize Howell's game as a "below the rim power game" if that exists. Rarely will he finish with a dunk but he is able to use his strength to get the ball in the basket even in the presence of taller or more athletic players. Rumor has it that Howell has lost a good deal of weight this summer, which if true, could really help his finishing ability and stamina. I'd like to see him play 25 minutes per game and remain as effective as he has been in shorter periods of time. He needs to improve his consistency and ability to knock down open shots from 8-12 feet out.

DeShawn Painter (6'9 JR.): Painter has had moments where he has been productive, but has not solidified his place in the rotation. With Tracy Smith gone, Painter has a great opportunity to step up and play substantial minutes in 2011-12. DeShawn often struggles to finish around the basket, even after displaying a nice post move to get into position to score. State needs a big guy to have a breakout season, and if DeShawn can learn to finish then he could be that guy. He needs to improve his defense and footwork.

Jordan Vandenberg (7'1 JR.): Jordan's biggest strength is his shot blocking ability. At 7'1, Vandenberg is surprisingly coordinated and athletic. Like Painter, he has struggled to find his place in the rotation but has an opportunity to take on a big role with this year's team. I wouldn't mind seeing either Jordan or DeShawn redshirt this season, as there may only be room in the rotation for one of them. Vandenberg needs to improve his offensive effectiveness.

Tyler Harris (6'8 FR.): Harris reminds me of a skinny Brandon Costner in that he looks to be more of a shooter than a post player. Tyler will play the small forward position, but will surely get some minutes at power forward. Coach Gottfried will have the luxury of easing Harris into the lineup because of the presence of Scott Wood and C.J. Leslie. Harris comes from excellent basketball pedigree, as his older brother is Tobias Harris, a talented player for Tennessee drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.

Thomas de Thaey (6'8 FR.): de Thaey is a Belgian player who was added to the class late by Coach Gottfried. He is a big, strong forward that, from the one video I have seen, likes to play facing the basket. At first I thought of Ilian Evtimov, but then I saw de Thaey finish with a power dunk or two. I have no idea what to expect from him, but look forward to seeing him in action. Thomas is 20 so perhaps he will bring a bit more maturity than many freshmen.

Kendall Smith (6'8 SR.): Smith is probably State's most talented walkon. He has played some minutes at times when the game was in doubt. With all the depth at forward, I don't expect he will get the chance to play key minutes in 2011-12.