(Entry comprised of contributions from Alpha Wolf, Jeff, and other SFN author team. Moved to the top of the page on Saturday afternoon.)
We posted on Friday that we were hearing rumors Courtney Fells’ ankle continues to give him trouble and that he is questionable for Saturday’s key match-up against the Florida Gators. Then the following was made public -Lowe says Fells a game-time decision
Make no mistake about the significance of today’s basketball game – this game has become a key ‘inflection’ game in the Wolfpack’s 2008-2009 season.
(Presuming that State wins ten out of conference games by not tripping in our February 3rd game against North Carolina Central) It is this simple – if NC State wins today’s game in Gainesville then we can legitimately include discussions about a hopeful NCAA Tournament bid during the first 25% of the ACC schedule. If the Wolfpack cannot grab this unexpected road victory then all of our ‘hopeful projections’ for the rest of the season must be to be discussed against the context of trying to earn an NIT berth, not an NCAA berth.
- If Win – With the wide strength of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the significant difficulty of our ACC opponents, the Wolfpack would have a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid with an 8-8 conference record and a win against the Gators. This scenario would make the Pack 19-10 before the ACC Tournament with wins over a few NCAA Tournament foes including at Florida.
- If Loss – State would be battling uphill all season after losing three key out of conference games against solid competition. Marquette took down Villanova this week, making that loss all the more painful.
This Gator team is both young and talented and look to extend the success of the Gator program that is the third winningest program in college basketball in this decade. Their streak of nine consecutive NCAA bids was broken last season as their roster was comprised of the youngest team in all of college basketball; but the Gators rallied with an appearance in the NIT’s Final Four laying strong foundation for this season that has seen them start 11-2 which includes the following:
- currently riding a five game winning streak.
- losses to Syracuse and Florida State
- squeaked by Washington by two points on a neutral court.
For Wolfpack notes on the game you can click here. Some Florida-related notes on the game:
- Florida is holding its opponents to just 60.8 points per game during its five-game winning streak.
- Florida has held eight of 13 opponents to 60 points or less this season
- Florida has not trailed in 158:43 seconds, dating back to a 6-3 deficit against UCF on Dec. 20
- Florida has won 14 non-conference home games in a row and are 7-0 at home this season
Florida Probable Starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG/RPG
21 Dan Werner F 6-8 230 Jr. 10.5/5.0
25 Chandler Parsons F 6-9 213 So. 8.8/5.4
23 Alex Tyus C 6-8 220 So. 14.2/6.8
33 Nick Calathes G 6-6 194 So. 15.7/6.7a
15 Walter Hodge G 6-0 170 Sr. 8.2/2.5a
The following is a PDF download that includes everything else you might want to know about the Gators.
As always, Section Six has a great analysis of the game (click here).
Outside of Duke and Carolina, this might be the best offense we see all season, with the sort of good shooting/ball security combination that is very bad news for NC State. The Pack’s defense forces a turnover just 15.9 percent of the time (which ranks 339th nationally), and we can’t even force mistake-prone teams to make mistakes. Give a team that shoots this well the luxury of not having to worry about any sort of disruption from the opposition and, well… we are really screwed. (Jinx jinx jinx jinx.)
State fans will recall that starting Florida forward Dan Werner was originally committed to play for NC State but backed out when Herb Sendek resigned to take the Arizona State job. We said the following about Werner at the time:
Dan Werner
Looks like an Evtimov clone. He has a great basketball body and decent athletic ability. He has vey good shooting form and is an excellent passer. He will contribute immediately.
Werner would have probably started for the Wolfpack in his freshman year – Coach Lowe’s first season. In hindsight, his presence on that squad may have meant an NCAA Tournament bid for the Wolfpack.
The N&O/Charlotte Observer featured an article on Werner’s impact to the NC State program that can be seen by clicking here. We have an entire entry devoted to the topic that you should read by clicking here.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Definitely a winnable game, provided that Fells is able to play and be active on defense
Fells is a must have for tomorrow …
Florida is a decent team, and would likely be middle of the pack in the ACC – but we can beat them just as easily as they could beat us (I’ve seen them play a few times and there are plenty of areas to attack; being on the road won’t help us though – and it would be close to a miracle to win w/out Fells)
Fortunately for the Gators, they play in a pretty bad SEC this season which could open the door for them for a NCAA tourney birth … A win at their place would be huge if we’re able to do anything at all in our conference play
Let’s go Pack
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
This will be interesting, as we have a lack of guards/wings and UF is minus pretty much anything resembling a frontcourt.
Unfortunately, in college, guards rule– so we will be in for a long day unless Mays surprises me. He is the key.
The good Dr. will be in row 6… sporting a big red NC State hat. As it should be– the students wouldn’t dare give me crap, as I would fail them.
And, Happy New Year to All!
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Oh, as an aside… I am not sure about Adam Allen’s status, but if he is back he will be huge for UF. Not the most talented, not the tallest or strongest– but his motor does not stop.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
i heard that Javi might have failed out of school? any truth to this rumor and that being the reason he has not been playing? When discussing this, somone who was at the game said that now that they mentioned it, they didnt remember seeing Javi on the Bench for the Towson game. again this is hear say.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
“Previewing Florida; Fells Questionable”
Fells is ALWAYS questionable.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
^Javi was dressed for the Towson game, but DNP …
He did have an infection from the gash on his arm
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
In the last week or so we have seen rumors on this site that both Ferguson and now Javi are flunking out of school. These both seem hard to believe. Where do these come from?
SFN: You haven’t seen any ‘rumors on this site’. You have read comments in the comments section from community members. You can choose to believe what you want in light of the community members history of being accurate or inaccurate. When SFN confirms or disproves scuttlebutt then you will see it ‘on the site’
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
thanks Wufpup. again i had and have no first hand knowledge. just gym gossip amongst wolfpack fans.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
i thought fergie was about to graduate?
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Let Fells sit and rest because the ACC’s are what is most important. Certain key guys should have rested up more last year and that just added more poop to the pile by seasons end.
I want Horner to do one or both of the following.
Have a coming out game of high effiency scoring and passing.If guards are taking care of the ball more and getting it to guys who are open and ready to shoot then this is possible in our offense, no matter the defense.
Horner will have good looks from outside and will flash to the middle and try and get a mid range game going. I’m not thinking a Smith 31 point outburst but more like a 17 or 18 point day.
The other thing he should do is block a ball in the face of Dan Weener’s face, ala Meet the Parents.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
There’s another rumor that a couple of the experienced guys called a “Code Red” on Tracy Smith after the Towson game. Got to imagine he’s going to be wincing a bit getting up and down the floor if that’s true.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Will be there with 5 other Pack fans! I’d love nothing more than to pull out a big win over the Gators. I couldn’t stand them winning back-to-back — they were still a football school and probably always will be. Especially since I have my qualifiers coming up on the 12-16th and two of my committee members are avid gator bball fans — one of which got his PhD from NCSU — go figure. It’ll be a good game though. Students don’t start back until the 6th and with the BCSNCG in South FL I doubt many will be in town for the game. Lets go PACK!
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Javi will be available tomorrow.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
“The other thing he should do is block a ball in the face of Dan Weener’s face, ala Meet the Parents.”
I’ll second that one. Or, on the other hand, he could deliver a secretive punch to Dan Weener, ala Chris Paul.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I’m not sure if anyone thought this, but… what the shit? How are we so unlucky to have THIS injury:
Javi: Questionable because some dude lost some teeth gnawing on his arm.
I mean really, if your basketball team has freak accidents like that… where’s the positive? Maybe Javi took some of his powers and will now be lightning fast and will rain 3’s from the heavens.
This will be an interesting game. I don’t think Degand is going to work out, to be honest. Mays is showing flashes, and if he plays turnover free basketball we’ll have a pretty good chance. I’m always optimistic though, so I’m going with the wolfpack win by 8.
Fells will have to play, and will have to show up and play hard. If he doesn’t, I’m not so optimistic on the win.
Also, Smith needs 25 minutes at the least. I don’t care how he gets it, just give it to him. This Florida frontcourt is major weaksauce, and we know our guards suck, so lets play off our strengths.
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
^I wouldn’t classify their frontline as “weaksauce” (though I hope it is tomorrow), but we should have some advantages down there
The guys ordered a code red on Smith for what? Doing his job?
I too hope we can shut down Werner, but in the grand NC State tradition we’ll probably make a player who could’ve been on our team look like a superstar …
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Tysiac at the CO/N&O is reporting Javi has a bum ankle. http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/packs-fells-might-not-play-at-florida
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Eh…just take care of the ball…limit turnovers and do a decent job rebounding and we should be able to make a go of this game…
Be interesting to see how Costner comes out of the gate. He’s been huge a few times for us, keeping us in ball games early on, while the rest of the team struggled.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
As always, it comes down to the backcourt. I feel better about things knowing that Degand and Mays are improving.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I’m pretty sure Herb resigned to take the Arizona State job
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
just take care of the ball…limit turnovers and do a decent job rebounding and we should be able to make a go of this game…
What team have you been watching?
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I think the biggest issue for this team (and all of Lowe’s teams so far, actually) is their inability to defend a really good offense. And this Florida team has a really good offense. Check out the Section Six preview. This would be a nice chance for the team to show a real mean streak on defense.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
packbackr04….that’s what i hear.
Javi/Fersugson lose the Stupid Bowl.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 am
I’ll be shocked if we win this game. I’ll also be happy!
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:12 am
From Saturday morning’s N&O:
N.C. State is listing wing Courtney Fells as a game-day decision for today’s game at Florida as he continues to be bothered by an ankle injury.
“We’re hoping he’s going to be able to play,” coach Sidney Lowe said.
Lowe said Fells, who ranks third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game, may not be fully healthy until he gets time to rest and undergo lots of treatment. N.C. State has a week off after the Florida game to prepare for its
Although he has played in N.C. State’s last four games, Fells has been hampered by the injury he suffered Dec. 6 against Davidson, which caused him to miss two games.
Fells did not practice Friday, but Lowe said point guard Javi Gonzalez is back in practice after missing two games with an ankle injury.