Pack Pounds Blue Devils 88-74

NC State delivered 40 full minutes of basketball feeding off the energy of the rowdy RBC crowd and an elevated defensive intensity that included a rare full court press to keep seventh-ranked Duke at arms length and finish with a resounding 88-74 upset.

While much praise will deservedly be directed on Tracy Smith’s and Dennis Horner’s fantastic performances; please do not underestimate the importance of Farnold Degand’s decision making and offensive production in the first half followed by Javi Gonzalez and Scott Wood’s contributions in the backcourt in the second half.

For the night, Smith was 10 of 11 from the field for 23 points and 5 rebounds. Horner hit clutch shots in the second half finishing with 20 on the night on 8 of 15 shooting from the field and 3 of 5 from the free throw line.

State was able to keep the Blue Devils at bay by converting 73% from the free throw line, shooting 19 of 26. Despite Duke playing from behind and having to intentionally foul State late in the game, it will surprise nobody who watches basketball that the Blue Devils still attempted seven MORE free throws than the Wolfpack despite State’s home court advantage (shooting 25 of 33).

Tonight’s victory was the Wolfpack’s second over a team ranked in the Top 25 after knocking off Florida State last week. State lost to Top 15 Clemson by only three points this weekend.

The confidence and credibility created by tonight’s win will serve the Wolfpack well in the ACC schedule, especially with the UNC-CH Tarheels coming to Raleigh next Tuesday night.

NC State Basketball Coach, Sidney Lowe turns 50 years old tomorrow and the Wolfpack’s Tracy Smith celebrated a birthday TODAY.

LINKS

News & Observer Article by JP Giglio

Link to WRAL story

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09-10 Basketball

92 Responses to Pack Pounds Blue Devils 88-74

  1. jamieinkorea 01/20/2010 at 11:09 PM #

    w00t! The Wolfpack gives me hope for the future! They played hard for 40 minutes!

  2. waxhaw 01/20/2010 at 11:10 PM #

    That was impressive. Duke looked flustered. Happy Birthday Tracy. Happy Birthday Sid.

  3. Class of 2009 01/20/2010 at 11:11 PM #

    The wife thought I was crazy biting my knuckles waiting for NC State to find a way to lose. After a FSU and DUKE win, it’s really hard not to be excited. NC State potentially redeeming itself for post-season play? What is NC State goes 3-0 against DUKE, UMd, and UNC? Votes in the polls?

    …Hard not to get taken away by it all. Let’s enjoy it and move on to business as usual for the next game and play like this game never happened.

  4. Sw0rdf1sh 01/20/2010 at 11:12 PM #

    That was straight up awesome! Way to prove the ACC is for whoever wants it the mnost1

  5. roanwolf 01/20/2010 at 11:12 PM #

    wooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! heading to hillsborough in my mind.

  6. ncsufan13 01/20/2010 at 11:13 PM #

    While our players will most definitely try to carry on like its business as usual, the fans certainly won’t. The RBC center is going to be a madhouse when Carolina comes to town next week.

  7. Wolfy__79 01/20/2010 at 11:15 PM #

    i am pleased!

  8. Class of 2009 01/20/2010 at 11:16 PM #

    Another note: the biggest leach on NC State this season has been that most fans feel our talent is simply not ACC level. Think of the possibilities with a team that knows how to produce like this then turns around and acquires potentially 3 or 4 ACC-caliber players.

    …I’m just saying.

  9. graywolf 01/20/2010 at 11:23 PM #

    Great win and game plan. Let’s keep this thing rolling!!!!

  10. tjfoose2 01/20/2010 at 11:26 PM #

    Did that really just happen?

  11. blpack 01/20/2010 at 11:26 PM #

    Fantastic win! I am very surprised and happy. Duke is a very good team and should have a terriffic season. We haven’t beaten them in the regular season since…? 2004? Finally saw 40 minutes of ball and makes all the difference. With a down league, if you go compete for the entire game most nights you will have a chance.

  12. Class of 2009 01/20/2010 at 11:27 PM #

    ^^^Yep. Now I’mma hop off here. As the SFN optimist, I think this win is about to give me diabetes. Good win for the team, Lowe, and the entire SFN!

  13. BamaPack 01/20/2010 at 11:28 PM #

    I actually think we wore Duke down in the 2nd half…and quite honestly I think Sid outcoached “the master” with a better gameplan and adjustments.

  14. packof81 01/20/2010 at 11:33 PM #

    Lordy mercy … the look on that pursed lipped Doohockey coach’s face was priceless.

    I didn’t expect this and neither did the Doohockeys. Well, they can just limp on back to Dur’m and lick their wounds. Sweet. I ‘spect it’ll be right quiet over that way for a few days. mmmmm hmmmmm.

  15. W.P. Red 01/20/2010 at 11:36 PM #

    Huge Wolfpack win + Huge UNC-CH loss = An Awesome Wednesday

  16. stejen 01/20/2010 at 11:37 PM #

    Even if you include the few hiccups in the game that occurred (and Nolan Smith’s ridiculous 3 pointer to end the half) this was the best 40 minutes of basketball NC State has played in I don’t know how long.

  17. JeremyH 01/20/2010 at 11:37 PM #

    is this what they refer to as a ‘signature win’ ?

  18. Rochester 01/20/2010 at 11:38 PM #

    Anyone else see progress tonight? Wow! That was awesome.

  19. JeremyH 01/20/2010 at 11:40 PM #

    a healthy degand, a healthy howell, a confident wood, javi and horner out of their slump…it seems to be all coming together

  20. Justin Gainey 01/20/2010 at 11:44 PM #

    i love my Pack!! Sidney Lowe proved he can coach tonight. With players that have heart, and dont give up, he proved to them and us that he is ready to coach in the acc. You Sidney Lowe haters(suck it), put it in to perspective. What NC State fan, alumni, ect do you know that is not die hard!? lOWE FEELS THE SAME WAY. He has passion for the game as us. If he didnt, do you think he would be wearing that red jacket! He made all the right calls, moves, sub changes, starting line up ect. The only thing that didnt happen tonight was Lowe getting dumped with gatorade! he coached the perfect game tonight! Go Wolfpack!

  21. SouthernWolf 01/20/2010 at 11:45 PM #

    I love how Sid exploited Duke’s defensive rotation and figured out how to get Horner matched up by the two guard in the low post four or five times. I also loved Scott Wood’s pump fake step inside take and make the two and his soft runner off the glass on the fast break. I loved Degand finally showing his penetration ability against quality defenders like Noland Smth. And I loved Tracy Smith putting on a clinic of why athleticism NOT height is more important in basketball.

  22. Master 01/20/2010 at 11:49 PM #

    Great win for the pack tonight. After the last 20 years I’m sure everyone was waiting for the Devils to turn up the heat and the Pack to wilt. Lowe kept his boys in the game mentally and had a great game plan. Good to see the Pack play a good all around game. Nice to see the free throws go in down the stretch as well.

    Better days ahead. Not a good time to be quittin the Wolfpack Club. Just sayin…

  23. dsgill87 01/20/2010 at 11:53 PM #

    I believe I was the first one to call this a day or two ago. Ive been telling people this team is better than they get credit: No real bad losses and no blowout losses. This team has ACC talent. This was Sids best coached game all year, and probably one of his top 5.

    The thing is Duke didn’t even play bad – they played ok and certainly didn’t beat themselves. We outplayed Duke, you know what that means? We can play with anybody when we’re on. This team is figuring it out, this isn’t a Les Robinson 1 upset a year special.. We have potential here guys. I’m really curious to see what the spread to the UNC game will be Tuesday. I expect a close game in College Park, hopefully it won’t be a letdown.

    Peace and great day for North Carolina (the state lol) Basketball!

  24. yosefederation 01/20/2010 at 11:56 PM #

    Great win for the Pack tonight. Not quite as impressive as when I was a fresh/soph. and road tripped down with my buddies from ASU to watch fire and Ice defeat a #2 ranked Duke in Reynolds, but still an impressive win considering the way you guys have struggled of late. Congrads.

  25. wolf2003 01/20/2010 at 11:56 PM #

    Great Win for the pack! A complete all around game. Sidney really got into Javi and Horner this week and brung them out of their slump. Got to give credit to him.

    I agree master. Not a goot time to be quitting. That money does pay scholarships for guys like wood and smith to play here and incoming guys like Harrow and Brown as well as for facilities. You quit the Club, you quit on the players in my book. IMO

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