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. jbpackfan 01/21/2010 at 10:20 AM #

    I thought it was quite humorous how Duke kept rotating bigs in there trying to stop Smith and not one of those All-Americans could do it.

  2. El Lobo Loco! 01/21/2010 at 10:27 AM #

    Now, does anyone know where can I get a decent wallpaper for my PC for this win?
    I’d love to rub it in….

  3. packbackr04 01/21/2010 at 10:44 AM #

    Farnold was playing out of his mind last night. great win for the team and Sid

  4. bradleyb123 01/21/2010 at 10:50 AM #

    Great win, Pack!!! Who’da thunk it!!!

    Is there any question now that we’re still improving? Just look at the last three games. We’re 2-1 against ranked opponents, and one head-fake from possibly being 3-0.

    I don’t expect this kind of success every game. We have a young team. We’re still going to be inconsistent sometimes. But what we’re seeing are flashes of what we’re capable of. This wasn’t just a lucky game for us. We dominated Duke from start to finish. We didn’t just grind out an ugly win. We actually LOOKED like a good team last night. WE looked like the ranked team last night.

    We’ll surely suffer a lapse or two. I’m sure there will be more head-scratching losses (hopefully not). But we’re proving to be much better than anyone predicted us to be. Sidney’s game plan was top notch last night. We pressed Duke (unexpectedly) early and forced turnovers. We didn’t just chunk up threes and hope for the best. We worked it inside. We played to our strengths. When Duke took away what we wanted to do, we were patient and took what they gave us. Wood didn’t even ATTEMPT a shot in the first half, as much as he probably wanted to. That’s a credit to our talented players, and to Sidney. How many true freshmen show that kind of patience?

    Here’s looking forward to the rest of the season. I’m actually nervous about the Carolina game because now I think we’re SUPPOSED to win that one. I wasn’t nervous until lately because I didn’t think we should beat Carolina. Now I feel like we have something to lose. Now I’m afraid they might come in here and UPSET us on Tuesday! But it’s a good feeling. I like this better than not being worried because I know we won’t win. I hope those days are behind us now.

  5. bradleyb123 01/21/2010 at 11:05 AM #

    From http://yetanotherncstatesportsblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/zomgwefuggingrule-duke-post.html

    “So thorough was the pantsing of Duke at one point in the game, Coach K had his men drop into a zone. Surprise, surprise: State ATTACKED it! And did so in such a convincing fashion with the aforementioned interior passing, along with a fantastic three from Scott Wood, K quickly abandoned the idea and went back to his staple man defense the rest of the way. I can’t recall the last time State attacked a zone that effectively AND dictated to a team of Duke’s caliber the way the game was to be played.”

    What can really be added. This sums up pretty much the entire game. Sidney out-coached Kaye, and Sid’s kids outplayed Kaye’s kids. This is the complete game we’ve been waiting for. If we could keep this up, we’ll win a LOT more games. But can we? It will be tough to match last night’s performance. Time will tell…

  6. ryebread 01/21/2010 at 11:31 AM #

    I’d said yesterday that while I’d be pulling hard for NC State, I didn’t think we’d win. I did say that I thought that the only way we’d win is by pressing. Looks like I was right on one and wrong on the other, but I’ll gladly eat crow.

    It was definitely our night. Duke missed more open looks than I remember them doing against us in a long time. We also had the ball bounce our way a few times in a way where it typically bounces to the other team. Horner played his best game in a NC State uniform and no one really had a bad game (except maybe CJW). We were playing at home in front of the loudest RBC center crowd in the last couple of years. I’ll take it though.

    I do think UNC will be extremely tough. They’re going to come in mad and I’m not sure we’ll have the obvious speed advantage that we did last night. I’ll be pretty surprised if we win that one.

    We’re going to be up and down this year. Young teams with less than elite guards typically are. We do have a high ceiling when we’re “on” though.

  7. coach13 01/21/2010 at 12:02 PM #

    I liked how we stayed aggressive. No sitting back trying to hold the lead…we went for the throat. Wood is getting his props early. One big game and all of a sudden Dook treated him like the MAN. I thought Singler’s effort to stick to Wood wore him down, slowed him on the offensive end, which in turn was a win situation too. Good job to all. Keep it up and GO PACK!

    Did anybody else get tired of the announcers?

  8. JeremyH 01/21/2010 at 12:08 PM #

    don’t usually listen to the announcers, i.e. mute

  9. WolftownVA81 01/21/2010 at 12:57 PM #

    So glad we didn’t have to endure Dicky V. last night. Great win for the Pack – players, coaches and fans at the game. I especially appreciate the David Horner chant when he fouled out. As much as we needed Tracy’s effort to win, I was kinda hoping Horner would be named player of the game. Definately a team effort win and I agree with most of the posts. We did however get our fair share of breaks and Javie’s three pointer at the end of the half was pretty miraculous. Hopefully these guys figured out good things can happen when you try to penetrate the zone and dish off. Two things I’d like to see is 1) Javie focus more on assisting than trying to make it happen himself and 2) Mays getting more assertive (he still looks tentative at times). We also did a great job of breaking the press. With the exception of one or two times, everyone was aware and came back to help a teammate in trouble. I haven’t enjoyed a game as much as that for 10 years. We were playing hard and having fun. Nice to have that feeling of pride again. Keep up the good work guys.

  10. Thinkpack17 01/21/2010 at 1:15 PM #

    Even though I went to the game I wish we could have gotten Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. They are great.

  11. wolfenstein 01/21/2010 at 2:43 PM #

    I will never erase this game from my DVR….EVER!

  12. rtpack24 01/21/2010 at 4:25 PM #

    Sid coached a great game last night against what I think is the best team in the conference. Kids played great and I like the way they keep fighting no matter what happens.

  13. MrPlywood 01/21/2010 at 4:27 PM #

    It’s the gift that keeps on giving. All day the sports stations mention State’s win over Dook and the fact that Dook and UNX lost on the same night. Love it.

  14. whope90 01/21/2010 at 7:28 PM #

    I knew the young guns would pull it out!! This team always comes back after a loss and wins or plays great! T.Smith, RHowell, S wood, Javi G and F Degand, with Horner Mayes, and V berg!! If this team just keeps hustling, fighting and working and giving it their all, it could turn the program around depsite the bad coaching!! Two wins vs UNC and this team can beat anyone but it has to show up. We will see alot sat at Maryland about this team! If they win that one, then the NCAA”S are a real possibliity, if not,
    it is 2007 all over again!
    GO PACK!!

    And what is with Coack K’s hair is he 70 or something? Not one grey hair, but that was before last night!!
    GO YOUNG Guns!!!!

  15. highstick 01/21/2010 at 9:38 PM #

    Certainly this an early “April Fools” joke! Just found out that we won from a Wisconsin friend of mine.

    Don’t get carried away, guys! The landing is hard! Been there, done that too many times. That’s why I keep saying, “Show me” and one is just one!

    Give Lee another free ride and we’ll never get over this! Now, to go read what happened!

    “You quit the Club, you quit on the players in my book. IMO”

    Talk to the AD, the BOT, and academics! Don’t ever throw that in my face, 2003! Were you even a gleam in your old man’s eye when this started! We’ve been fighting this battle for a long time and one win is just one win!

  16. highstick 01/21/2010 at 9:41 PM #

    “I’m actually nervous about the Carolina game because now I think we’re SUPPOSED to win that one. I wasn’t nervous until lately because I didn’t think we should beat Carolina. Now I feel like we have something to lose. Now I’m afraid they might come in here and UPSET us on Tuesday!”

    Hold on guys, get a grip! Youthful enthusiasm is one thing, but let’s get back to earth cause it can be painful to fall that far with that much optimism! Keep it under control until “winning is a tradition again and not just a “odd happening!!

  17. bradleyb123 01/22/2010 at 6:47 PM #

    highstick, I’ve conceded that we’re young, and with that youth will be inconsistency. We’ve already seen it (e.g., the first and second halves of the Clemson game).

    But we do have reason for cautious optimism. This team has been in pretty much every game this year. Nobody has blown us out. And we’re 2-1 in our last three games (and all were ranked opponents). We’re one head-fake away from possibly being 3-0 in that stretch. You say this was just one game, and you’re right. But we’ve been playing pretty solid ball for a handful of games now, first half of Clemson excluded. It’s not like we’ve been playing awful and just had one miracle game against Duke out of the blue.

    If we beat Maryland and then Carolina, which is entirely possible, this Duke win may end up viewed as the turning point in our season. Like the game where we “grew up” as a team.

    Then again, we could lose the next five and end up where we always seem to end up — near the bottom of the heap. But if we take down Maryland, I think our momentum will carry us far beyond that game.

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