West Virginia 83 NC State 69 – Defense is the Difference

Before we get going, you need to know that the lead picture above^ was called a jump ball and not a foul. This kind of smothering defense and officiating helped create 23 turnovers for the Pack — basically turning the ball over 1 out of every 3 possessions.

 

No foul here!  A fore arm in the back.  Arms extended at 45 degree angles.  Momentum with the body pushing Barber off balance and forcing him to rush a play/pass.  This kind of 'defense' wears on you during a game.

No foul here! A fore arm in the back. Arms extended at 45 degree angles. Momentum with the body pushing Barber off balance and forcing him to rush a play/pass. This kind of ‘defense’ wears on you during a game.

 

Similarly, I think the following picture was from a possession where Trevor Lacey was actually called for a charge. No kidding.

 

It didn’t closely resemble a game of basketball. Unfortunately, I was ultimately relieved that I didn’t make the trip to the Big Apple despite planning on it for months.

The young Wolfpack’s weaknesses shone bright in Madison Square Garden — defense, defensive rebounding and free throw shooting (State shot only 60% on the night, missing 14 of 35 FTs)

I know that Mark Gottfried likes to use the phrase that “they have to stop us to” to help hide his historical record of having teams that play poor defense…but, there has rarely been a better example of the fallacy in that statement and the reverse of that last night. Other than turnovers, State couldn’t have played better offense as we shot 56% from the field and 57% from the three point line. How can you lose a game where you are that good on the offensive end of the floor?

The answer is easy — your defense allows the other team to 53% from the field and the three point line and doesn’t rebound or apply enough defensive pressure to create enough turnovers.

So, at the end of the day, the other team DOESN’T have to stop us if we can’t stop them.

The following are highlights from the game. Whenever you click and watch videos at SFN we get enhanced credit from our advertising partners as we try to figure out creative ways to reduce the number of ads at other places on the site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found some of these pictures from the game ‘amusing’. Look at these two pictures from Mountaineer OFFENSIVE possessions — they were SO ACCUSTOMED to having their hands attached to the Wolfpack that they were pushing on us even when they were shooting!

2014.12.20_MSG vs WVU_Kyle defense

2014.12.20_MSG vs WVU_Abu on Defense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home Forums West Virginia 83 NC State 69 – Defense is the Difference

Viewing 6 posts - 26 through 31 (of 31 total)
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  • #66287
    redcanine
    Participant

    I’m more upset about the loss to Wofford than to WV, fwiw.

    In a game as violent as the one Saturday night, it bothers me that we didn’t get into any shoving matches or scrums along the way. If we had, and still lost, I could say that we’d given it our best shot.

    Montrezl Harrell mixed it up against a little team like Eastern Kentucky. That’s what’s supposed to happen when you or your teammates gets violated. I’m not blessing his punch attempt (if that’s watcha call it), but I am applauding his court enforcement. He’s got a lot of Richard Howell in him. We’re missing that. And it doesn’t necessarily have to come from a post guy. Rondo plays point, and he doesn’t take any sh!t.

    I guess once the X&O’s become instinctive, our player’s minds can focus on what’s happening and react to it instead of worrying about where to stand.

    #66289
    coach13
    Participant

    The only complaint I have is the missed FT’s. other than that, I thought we DID play decent defense. Factor out the easy baskets for WV from turnovers. We were manhandled. I hate to be someone that blames refs, but damn, it was embarassing to call what WV did defense. Handchecking is supposed to be out. Not this game. the constant pushing, slapping, and yes, IMO the refs got tired of calling it. If they are going to foulf 40 times in a half then call 40 fouls. Refs get tired of Huggins screaming at them, and start thinking, gee, am I picking on them? We are not a physical team, and definitely not THAT physical. No team should be and still call it basketball. And you can’t just turn on that kind of physical play. We can’t bump, slap and push just to match the opponent. Doesn’t work that way. You either play that way or you don’t. I thought WVU was a crappy team and I still do. THE ONLY WAY that team is going to beat other quality teams, refs are going to have to “get tired” of calling fouls like they did against us.

    #66304
    Whiteshoes67
    Participant

    Everybody on here knows I hate complaining about officiating. I also find it hard to stomach watching college basketball because of the way it’s officiated, and the overall decline in quality of play. But you have to adapt, as coaches and players. Grow a sack, buy a mouth guard, and throw some elbows. You foul out, so be it. WE have plenty of depth to throw guys into a meat grinder game. We’ve got some guys with some toughness factor. I guarantee you some of those kids have played in rougher games than the WVU game.

    I was in the minority here after Gottfried’s first two seasons who said it was unlikely that he’d ever improve much over what was accomplished those two years. I still sit in that uncomfortable chair of pessimism. You are what you are. We aren’t very good. We haven’t improved notably on defense, and we’re lagging behind where we’ve been in years past on offense. Throw in 20+ turnovers, and you get a stinker performance.

    #66309
    patientwuf
    Participant

    Right on point with your assessment coach13.

    Whiteshoes our lack of physicality is product of ACC officiating and what they allow to happen on the court. What I witnessed Saturday night wasn’t basketball and it’s very disturbing to see that style of play get rewarded.

    I thought our team showed some toughness in the second half and displayed a tremendous amount of character when things could have gotten ugly.

    #66311
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Refs get tired of Huggins screaming …

    I don’t think there’s any doubt this had an impact on the game – specifically in the first half. WVa is almost in the double bonus within 8 minutes and Huggins began his tirades. The tenor of the first half – including calls – changed after that.

    I thought the refs did a pretty good job overall, but WVa should have had a couple of guys with 4 first half fouls (hell, Page should have fouled out in the first half) … if the stripes don’t get scorched earth from Huggins WVa would have had 20 first half fouls. Based on the way the first part of the half was called, I’m sure of it.

    I thought WVU was a crappy team and I still do.

    I agree. I thought we would win this game. Whoops. Doesn’t change my current opinion of WVa though. Weak skill team that needs a game to be called very loosely in order to be their “best”. If you can’t play, make sure they can’t either … or something like that.

    #66357
    Rick
    Keymaster

    Gardner Webb beat Purdue.

    Sigh

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