Fishin’ for Wahoo: UVA Game Discussion & Who To Pull For
| UVA | (9-15) | 29 | 38 | 67 | |
| NCSU | (15-10) | 33 | 39 | 72 |
Today’s game against the University of Virginia is a “must win”, something many of our readers pointed out yesterday. With the ACC standings completely jumbled except for UNC on top and Georgia Tech at the bottom, it makes it difficult to figure out who NC State fans should be pulling for to increase our chances for an NCAA bid (unlikely) and an NIT bid (more likely). We discussed our prospects for the post-season earlier this week here.
Here is how the computers rank us going into today(movement since Thursday in parentheses):
-Sagarin (+1): #71
-Kenpom (-1): #70
-RPI (0): #88
ACC Standings:
School Conf., Overall
North Carolina 10-3, 24-3
Florida State 8-4, 21-6
Clemson 7-4, 21-4
Wake Forest 7-4, 20-4
Duke 7-4, 21-5
Boston College 7-6, 19-9
Virginia Tech 6-6, 16-10
Maryland 6-6, 17-9
NC State 5-7, 15-10
Miami 5-8, 16-10
Virginia 3-9, 9-14
Georgia Tech 1-11, 10-15
Games today:
BC @ Miami (noon, RSN): Miami still has a top 50 RPI ranking, but almost must win out sitting at 4-8 in the conference. Pull for BC so we can finish in front of Miami in the final standings.
UVa@ NC State(1 pm, Raycom): Go Pack!
UNC@ Maryland (3 pm, ABC): It is always tough to pull for UNC, but with a loss today Maryland would drop to 16-10, 5-7. They would still be higher in the RPI, but we have chance to jump ahead of Maryland with a home game against them coming up. Pull For UNC.
FSU@ VT (8 pm, RSN): I saw BJD95 argue earlier in the week that we want VT not to tank so that we have a better shot at an NIT bid. However VT has a very difficult schedule the rest of the way(Clemson, FSU, Duke, UNC, someone else), so I say pull against the Hokies because we could possibly still finish in front of them in the conference standings (maybe even at 8-8 in a multiple team tiebreaker).
Sunday schedule:
Clemson @ GT (1 pm, Raycom)
Wake @ Duke (7:30 pm, FSN)
If you want to take a deeper jump into ‘Bubbleland’ then you will really enjoy this entry at The Big Lead that looks at all the bubble teams and includes some great links to other sites. The following is ACC’s most obvious bubble team:
Miami (15-9, 4-7)
RPI: 49
SOS: 12Five ACC games left, three of them are on the road. The Hurricanes haven’t won a road game since Jan. 10. Why do SI and ESPN think the Canes are a lock? As hot-and-cold as the Canes have been, a loss at FSU tonight would mean the best Miami can do in the ACC would be 8-8. Miami might need two wins in the ACC tourney to get in.
Deciding who helps us the most depends on how you look at it. Do you want more ACC teams to play their way into the NCAA Tournament so that we have less competition from the league for an NIT bid? Or do you want other teams to tailspin giving the Pack a chance at a 7th NCAA bid for the ACC with a 6-2 finish. Tough call…
Just win, baby. If we finish strong things will work themselves out. I’d love to see us climb over Maryland and leave them and Miami behind. A 7th or 8th place finish in conference would be a definite step in the right direction.
I think one key to our improvement lately has been Sid settling on a more predictable (common sense) rotation. I’m sorry Julius Mays didn’t play himself into it, but if he’s not playing well enough in practice to beat out Javi and Degand, then that’s the way it should be. I think with a tighter rotation earlier in the year we win a couple of those games that just eluded us. But maybe this was a valuable lesson learned.
I say if you’re going to dream, DREAM BIG. I’m pulling for every bubble team to go in a tailspin, while we attempt to win our way in.
I agree with Rochester; just win, baby. Go out to win each game one at a time and check where we are at the end. We aren’t so good that we can do it any other way.
With every win, State takes a step towards the post-season, and with each win, that eventual fate is improved. A loss today, forget the NCAA’s without winning the ACCT.
The team can only play one game at a time, obviously, and their focus must be on a hot UVA team and letting the chips fall where they may after a win.
The difference for me is that I am expecting us to win every remaining game (although unlikely). Do that, and we might have a chance at an NCAA birth. I’m pulling for every bubble team to go into a tailspin!
Actually, if you look at from the perspective of always pulling for best case scenario, we need Miami to beat BC, which would still allow us a chance to finish in the 6th spot.
Now that I mention it, mathematically speaking, we could still finish in the 5th spot, but of course, no one is holding their breath. JUST WIN, BABY! JUST WIN! ! ! !
GO STATE!
Actually, I’d argue we should pull for Miami in the Miami BC game. We need Miami to stay in the Top 50 RPI if possible (or at least appear to be a legit squad.)
I’m still hoping for an NCAA bid – even though, yes it’s unlikely. In order to do this, we’ll need to go at least 8-8 and schools like BC to come back to us a little so we won’t have to play the heels until championship round.
Right now, we’re 9th place – I’d like to at least move up to 7th, so hopefully, BC, VaTech and UMd will come bak to us.
A win today will improve our RPI, Sagarin and Kenpom #, and even a loss at WF won’t hurt it – but an upset would be nice.
I’m torn. Of course I want us to be in the Big Dance, but I know it’s unlikely.
I’ve always held my allegiance to the ACC, and I think the conference has taken a hit. If both Maryland and Virginia Tech have weak finishes, they’re out (sorry again, Seth). Miami may already be out. So we’d be looking at only 6 bids.
I’m sorry, but for a league this strong, that sucks. But that will be the reality. The NCAA Selection Committee is not married to awarding the best conference a certain number of bids — it doesn’t work that way. Each team is considered on its merits, and right now VT, Maryland and Miami have very weak cases for consideration.
So if those teams aren’t going to get in, that means they would receive a higher NIT seeding over the Pack since I am assuming that each will finish above us — though that can be debated right now.
I guess it will all work it’s way out, but for the conference as a whole, I think we have some work to do.
Hope for the best but expect the worst. I am doubtful this team has a chance in hell of making the dance. It would be great if I’m wrong.
I suspect Lee will be at the game with all of this “fishing” information on the Wahoos that SFN has been publicizing! Wonder if there are any Wahoos in Lake Gaston?
I’d be happy with a run through the NIT.
Today’s game is a perfect test for our team to show it’s can handle a team with less talent and experience.
This is a statement game to go the postseason. If we do not win I am ready to write off this whole season as a failure because it would be a major setback to lose to UVa today.
IMO the NCAA appearance is only going to happen if we win out the regular season and make it to the ACC tourney championship game.
Is the game televised? if so, where? Looks like WRAL is showing UT vs. Kentucky.
“…I am expecting us to win every remaining game…”
I think it’s still too early to use any form of the word “expect” just yet.
I do believe that if the RBC crowd will wake up and get behind this team VERY EARLY ON TODAY (which would be a miracle in itself), and show some real appreciation for the progress that they have made over the recent weeks, that the Pack can control this game and walk away with a fairly convincing win.
That’s my prediction for today. Now, I just hope this limb doesn’t give way and leave me on sitting on my arse.
little sluggish today
Why was McCauley moving AWAY from the basket???
Javi somehow plays well but continues to turn the ball over. Evenutally one would think the TO would come down.
I think a couple of those Javi turnovers go away with more experience on actually connecting on some passes. He’s not on exactly the same wavelength with some of the guys receiving those passes. At least he’s being aggressive.
Fells bobbles the ball… McCauley goes towards the corner instead of directly to the basket, two chances to score or at least pick up the foul… missed
UVA sucks more than us!
degand has taken backsteps it seems since the wake forest game. Bigs playing well/
I just turned it on and five minutes into it UVA has not scored. The bad news is we only have 8.
I like that Smith is finally figuring out passing it out wil make it easier in the long run. He has improved by leaps and bounds.
Nice D on that UVA layup there Costner.
It sure looks like it so far, but this is a game where we DO NOT want to play down to the competition.
I really like CJ. big 3! McCaully cant be stoped right now on offense or gettin rebounds. defense stepping up
Justin TV doesn’t seem to be working and I can’t find any place to listen or see the game online. Any suggestions?