N.C. State vs. Cincinnati – 4pm

N.C. State Wolfpack (10-3) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-3) – 4pm @ PNC Arena; TV: EspnU

Cincinnati team page ; GoPack game preview with links to game notes and stats

N.C. State was able to enjoy a nice Christmas break after rallying for an important win against Louisiana Tech last Tuesday. The Wolfpack will look to ring in the New Year in a similar manner, as they face the Cincinnati Bearcats today in the last non-conference game of the regular season. The Pack has an opportunity to close out their OOC schedule with a respectable 11-3 mark and a very workable RPI number (it sits at 56 entering today’s contest). From the N.C. State perspective, it’s a chance to add another Top 100 win (Cincy is currently at #70 and has a good chance to end up in the Top 100 RPI) and bolster its potential at-large resume.

Cincinnati enters today’s contest with a very good win over San Diego St. in tow and respectable losses to Ole Miss (neutral court), at Nebraska in double overtime, and versus VCU. Of course, the majority of Cincinnati’s 8-3 mark was built with head coach Mick Cronin on the sidelines. Unfortunately, the college basketball world was dealt a large dose of perspective with the recent news of Coach Cronin being diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm. Cronin missed the home loss to VCU and home win over Wagner, and will not be able to coach in today’s game versus the Wolfpack.  We of course wish the best for Mick Cronin in his treatment and hopeful recovery. Larry Davis, former head coach at Furman, is filling in during Cronin’s absence.

The Bearcats entered this season off of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, but lost quite a bit from last season’s squad. Given the roster turnover and unfortunate circumstances surrounding their head coach, this season’s squad is very much in flux. In true Cincinnati style though, they have been competitive by utilizing their trademark very physical defense to create turnovers and scoring opportunities. The Bearcat offense has not been great, but the majority of their games have been relatively low scoring, ‘slug it out’ affairs (ugly for the win) with a focus on generating offense from the paint. It could be a very interesting contrast of styles in today’s game. Hopefully, the Wolfpack can take care of the ball and put pressure on Cincinnati by scoring in transition off of rebounds/turnovers – as opposed to playing Cincy’s game of ‘we will out-grind and turn you over in the halfcourt’. Hitting (good) open shots helps as well … just sayin’ 🙂

As always, please share your thoughts on today’s contest, enjoy the game, and Go Pack!

(I really like the subtle use of the instrumental ‘Get Lucky’ in the background of this video)

 

 

About wufpup76

'99 grad. Abundant reservoir of useless knowledge and even more useless skills. Vehement believer in the individual voice and also that it will indeed all be over by Friday.

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Home Forums N.C. State vs. Cincinnati – 4pm

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 141 total)
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  • #67313
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    N.C. State Wolfpack (10-3) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-3) – 4pm @ PNC Arena; TV: EspnU Cincinnati team page ; GoPack game preview with links to game no
    [See the full post at: N.C. State vs. Cincinnati – 4pm]

    #67317
    Fastback68
    Participant

    I’d appreciate a few score updates during the game. Carriage ride/biltmore tour/dinner, just shoot me now. Go Pack!!

    #67319
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Will do, Fastback – enjoy your time at the Biltmore.

    You’ll miss out on ol’ Brad Daugherty calling the game … Hole or not, I’ve always enjoyed Daugherty’s enthusiastic commentary and true North Carolina drawl. He did a game during the ACC-B1G challenge and I saw him listed for today’s game, so I looked up his status and it turns out Brad is back to doing basketball on Espn while also focusing on his racing team.

    Anyway, we’ll make sure you’re covered 🙂

    #67321
    PapaJohn
    Participant

    Fastback … hey, that sounds like … well, you’ll just have to shoot yourself. But nice work playing the romance card – she’ll love it, but the timing is a little off.

    This is going to be a tough one lads and lasses. It is tough enough to get a good crowd during the holidays, but when you add in the 4:00 start, it’s going to be quiet. (but not in section 323!!!) Add in that they are one of those awkward teams that just play a frustrating game. Crowd support would really help. Very worrisome.

    Seeing as this is our last preseason game, wouldn’t it be nice to see some glimmer of hope from the inside guys? Another cumulative 25/25 game? (and no, I don’t mean 25 turnovers and 25 missed shots)

    #67323
    bill.onthebeach
    Participant

    ^F68 …

    You think you GOTT it bad…
    The BossMan called a “meeting” in the OFFICE today at 5:00pm…
    (I work remote, but I gotta go crosstown for this one )

    Who’s great idea was it to start a basketball at 4:00pm on a weekday, anyway ???

    So the rest of ya’ll will need to pick up some slack on the board here …

    I will be watching closely to see who’s on the floor with whom for the Pack at least until halftime…

    BOTB’s keys to the game…
    1. More Lacey running the offense will be good for us…
    2. Can Abu && KW give repeat performances of the last game ?
    3. Anya is always the ‘wildcard’…
    4. Is Anthony relaxed and dong the things he does best ?

    and
    5. Do we hold our own on the Defensive end of the court?

    #NCSU-North Carolina's #1 FOOTBALL school!
    #67324
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    I’ve got Rutgers-Northwestern on in the background as I work, and it is truly one of the ugliest games ever. Both teams went without a made field goal over about 10 minutes in the second half – that stretch came with 12 minutes to go in the game.

    This is HWSNBN led N.C. State @ Iowa levels of bad, for those of you unfortunate enough to remember that 45-42 masterpiece of basketball that Iowa won.

    #67325
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    This is HWSNBN led N.C. State @ Iowa levels of bad, for those of you unfortunate enough to remember that 45-42 masterpiece of basketball that Iowa won.

    Now I gotta get drunk in the middle of the day. Thanks.

    #67326
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    ^Haha I’m here to serve

    #67327
    13OT
    Participant

    That one was a road game. The Herb Home Games at the RBC that I remember most were the Saturday afternoon late-game meltdown vs Syracuse, the 2OT loss to BC, the 10th-season 95-73 blowout vs UNC, the Clemson loss, the Saturday night UVA loss, and the Princeton NIT loss at Reynolds.

    Then there were the road losses, including the Granddaddy of them all, the “Damon Thornton” loss at Maryland, not to mention the ACCT loss vs Duke when we blew a 15-point lead with 9 minutes to go. Just going to the game today and knowing Sendek won’t be on the sidelines will be heartwarming.

    I think we’ll win this one because the team knows by now how important these OOC games are, especially the ones in late December. If only they can get “up” for the oncoming avalanche of ACC games in January and February.

    But I agree with the time complaints. This one should have been played tomorrow at 4pm. I’m beginning to believe that if television told us to start it at midnight tonight, we’d comply. I’ll be there, and I predict a Pack victory.

    #67328
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    We must pay our respects to the ‘Damon Thornton’ call and game each season. A game which lives in infamy.

    #67329
    PackFamily
    Participant

    I’ll be there today, cheering on the Pack with my kids and the extended family. Hoping for a win

    #67330
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Speaking of Iowa, they’re currently trying to get the road upset in Columbus.
    VT already looking bruised and battered, but holding their own so far @WVU.

    #67331
    wolfpackdawg
    Participant

    On my way to the Belk bowl to freeze my ass off. Any recs for Bars/Eateries near the stadium?

    #67332
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    The ‘family’ must pull us through.

    Iowa’s about to nail this down. I gave up on VT-WVa early, good on the Hokies hanging in there.

    #67333
    MrPlywood
    Participant

    Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

    #67334
    1.21 Jigawatts
    Keymaster

    Today’s matchup against Cincy is WVU part Deux with a few differences:

    1. Cincinnati’s Offense is prone to turning the ball over.
    2. Cincinnati’s Defense is much better at keeping their opponents to low fg% inside the arc than WVU.
    3. Cincinnati’s Defense is decent at forcing TO’s but nothing like WVU.
    4. Cincinnati’s Defense is good about not sending their opponents to the FT line often unlike WVU who does it constantly.

    While Cincinnati plays tough defense they aren’t stupid about senseless fouling. As a result I think this plays into NC State’s favor, they won’t force TO’s which has hurt the Pack and won’t send the Pack to the FT line where they have trouble.

    If the Pack is looking for someone to draw a foul from that’s Freshman Guard Deshaun Morman (#1) who has an astounding 28% possessions but draws 7 fouls/40 minutes.

    Players to be aware of are #11 FR SF Gary Clark & #2 JR Octavius Ellis. Both are efficient shooters and rebounders on both ends. Ellis is great at blocking shots and getting to the FT line (though not very good at shooting them) but is a little TO prone.

    #67335
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    ^Good rundown. Thanks.

    #67336
    Rick
    Keymaster

    I am at work so updates will be nice. I hate we let Clark get out of Raleigh as I think he will end up being a great four year player.
    Is Cronin still out?

    #67337
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Is Cronin still out?

    Yup

    #67338
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Cronin is out. Also, WVa continues to be a thorn as we’ll miss the start of our game to finish watching WVa’s 30 point win over VT.

    #67339
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    Cronin is still out, AFAIK.

    VA Tech looking worse against the WVA pressure than we did. Their players look completely shell shocked.

    #67340
    Texpack
    Participant

    At work and can’t watch. Best wishes for a speedy resolution and recovery to Cronin. I had a friend die of a brain aneurysm when I was in Jr. High. That is a really scary situation. I’m glad they caught it when they did.

    #67341
    MrPlywood
    Participant

    If anyone can find a stream please let me know. Thx.

    #67342
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    VT/WVU announcers claim start of game on ESPNews…but it’s not.
    Tied 4-4 early FWIW.

    #67343
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Three early turnovers and an early foul on Anya … those of you at work fret not, we’re still watching WVa – VT. Cincy scoring early off of turnovers.

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