Playing the Preachers: Wake Forest Pre-Game Discussion
Tonight, the Wolfpack plays Wake Forest for the second time in a must-win game for both teams. State, for its part, needs to get another quality win to pad any potential NCAA-bid resume it may be hoping to assemble, and Wake, well, Wake needs to slow its recent skid and descent from the #1 position they held only last month.
Currently ranked #13, the Demon Deacons dropped a 101-91 decision in Durham against Duke last Sunday, despite Naismith-candidate point guard Jeff Teague’s 28 points and James Johnson’s 26.
State will not be able to sneak up on Wake (as Wake claimed they did) this time around, and the game will not be in the friendly confines of the RBC Center. In short, it will take (once again) State’s best effort of the year in order for the Pack to upset the Demon Deacons for the second time this season.
Here’s a link to Wake’s weekly game notes, for your persual. Go Pack doesn’t make State’s game notes very easy to find, so please post the link in the comments if you have it.
Please post your pre-game thoughts here.
We will win this game.
I don’t care what they claimed the first time around.
We are longshots to win. Winning this game would put us on the NCAA bubble though still out of the tournament, but with a great shot to play our way in.
We COULD win this game.
Keys to the game IMHO:
Stopping Teague – I think WF will be read for our “junk” D’s this time.
Minimize Turnovers
Break their press and attack the basket.
If we are fortunate to get a lead – coach needs to let the guys keep playing instead of trying to “sit on it”.
Need Fells, Costner, and McCauley to step up. We need at least two of them to have a big game.
I really wanted to play the Deacs coming off a big win against Duke. Wake’s achilles heel is having letdowns/focus problems following a big win.
NIT-ology has us up to a 7 seed now. Woo-hoo!
Would, could, won’t. Good to see the consensus forming. I thought we had no hope the first meeting, and we won. So, I am going with the no hope of winning position. I find, as a Pack fan, if I have no hope, we do better. Is there TV for this game? Go State from Alabama!
I would just like to point out that no Baptist preacher wears a clerical collar the way a Catholic or Episcopalian might.
Just sayin’…
Everett – I agree, if I expect nothing I might be surprised.
“NIT-ology has us up to a 7 seed now. Woo-hoo!”
SOLID!
I just like being confident every now and again … As a State fan, when do you ever really feel this way?
I felt this funny feeling late in the football season. I thought it might be confidence, but my wife told me it was indigestion.
Well, this is a game I don’t expect to win, but a win is possible, and gives a shot at something special.
If this team creeps into the tourney Sid’s done one heck of a job. Will need 4 wins to do that though.
On the bright side, we should be loose. This definitely counts as one of those “nothing to lose, everything to gain” kind of games. I just hope we at least play relatively well/smart, regardless of outcome. I want hope for a nice NIT run.
I wouldn’t say this is a “nothing to lose, everything to gain” kind of game. We have some great momentum, we’re playing well, and losing this game would be a dagger in our slim-to-none-and-slim-just-left-town NCAA chances. If we win this, I think we could possibly go on to win the rest of our games and play our way into the dance. Lose this game and our only prayer (probably) is to win the ACC tournament.
We are so far away from the bubble discussion (need 5 more ACC wins total), that I don’t think it feels like a “lost opportunity” if we lose this game. Instead, a win would be more like a springboard to start seriously thinking about having an outside chance to get in the discussion.
^I agree that we’re still a couple of consecutive victories away from serious bubble consideration.
Get this one, and then Maryland on Sunday night – then I can’t imagine how crazy this place would be.
A little off-topic, but ‘rush the court’ has a great look at Providence’s victory over #1 Pitt last night … They were at the game and even in the post game presser and have all sorts of really interesting first hand accounts on the pregame, in game, and post game goings on … It’s well worth a look in my opinion:
http://rushthecourt.net/2009/02/25/rtc-aftermath-providence-81-pittsburgh-73/
We are so far away from the bubble discussion (need 5 more ACC wins total), that I don’t think it feels like a “lost opportunity” if we lose this game.
BJD, I certainly agree with you on that count, but I also wonder if the team feels like it is in “Code Red” mode for the rest of the way in. Certainly, they have to have the NCAA’s as a season goal. They can only play one game at a time, of course, and they know that this willbe a stern test…but one that they really need to pass.
Realistically, I know you are right. I just hope that the team itself feels a sense of urgency that helps motivate our key players.
The students are on break starting friday
Historically, we’ve played pretty well over there when Wake has a nationally ranked team–remember CC Harrison hitting a controversial “3 pointer” (replays showed his foot was on the line) to beat a Tim Duncan team one year… Seem to remember another win over there when they had whatshisface, the guy who led them to the back to back ACC championships, but I may be mistaken…
Edit: we lost 72-70 to them the second year of their two year ACC championship run. Can’t remember if that was there or here…
Even if we don’t win, which I think we absolutely must do to have a shot at the Big Dance sans winning The Tournament, playing a very competitive game in a losing effort is important to keep what has to be a rather fragile psychie in tact for our remaining games. Our RPI has to improve by about 30-35 spots to enter the range that would cause me to not simply dismiss talk of the NCAA’s for the Pack. I’m not sure we can get that high without going 4-0. I’m mainly encouraged to see us getting better contributions from the underclassmen over the last couple of weeks. Their development is a positive sign, especially if it continues through the end of the season.
^A win in Winston Salem would provide a double-digit bump in the RPI standings … so that’s a start.
Rush the Court has a great, very long wrap up of the nationwide bubble status, broken down by conference. NC State is not even mentioned.
EverettBeez,
It’s on Raycom, doubt if you can get that down in Alabama. But Raycom has FREE streaming on its website http://www.RaycomSports.com for all PrimeTime telecasts. They say that it’s ONLY available to users in the states of ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, MD/DC, VA, NC, SC, GA & FL but there are of course ways around such restrictions if you are moderately computer savvy.
Or search on http://www.justin.tv –Alpha
A sweep of our games this week will get us to be part of the discussion.
I think there’s an outside chance (but it’s looking smaller and smaller w/ yesterday’s events) that we can secure an at large bid w/ a 7-9 or 8-8 record and a trip to the championship game. An 8-8 record and two wins and a loss in the ACC tourney, will likely lead to an interesting, but disappointing Selection Sunday…but I really think it will be important to see how these runs would impact our RPI, Sagarin, Kem Pom, etc…
As for the game itself – This game sets up for an interesting chess match.
Wake will probably want to press us – first off – it worked last time, and secondly, it
forces us to play a faster tempo, which is more to their liking, and is less advantageous to us.
They’ll be expecting another Mickey Mouse D from us. I’d be tempted to come out w/ it anway
to see how they’ve prepared to attack it. I really think that Teague is so explosive and
the team keys off him so much that we can’t afford to come out in a zone or w/out a good,
solid Man to man d, to let him go off.
We present a match up problem w/ Wake. Our size doesn’t allow them any obvious mismatches download, and we have a big guard in Fells who can give Teague fits. Also, their “6th” starter – Ish smith, minimizes the advantage many of our other opponents have on Javi defensively. Finally, we like a half court game, the Deacs thrive in a full court game.
I’ll give my 3 keys – 2 of which are obvious to anyone who is Wolfpack basketball fan:
1) Control the boards – we can’t afford to let Wake beat us badly on the boards. In our game vs. UNC, they got several key putbacks after misses. If we compete well on the boards, that really gives us a good shot at victory. (FWIW, in most cases this year, we’ve been a solid rebounding team.)
2) Limit TOs – Like I said earlier, expect Wake to bring pressure. How our team handles it will is the biggest factor in winning this game. If we have 15 TOs or less, we’ll be in this game at crunch (if not in total control of it.)
3) Keep the Deacs off the foul line – Wake is one of these teams that makes more foul shots than their opponent attempts. Teague, especially, is a very good foul shooter and is good at drawing contact. We need to keep him away from the 3 ball – and try to keep him off the line.
Players to watch:
Aminu: the most talented player on the court. However, he has been disappearing in key stretches in their losses. In our game, he fouled out w/ about 11 minutes left. Don’t be surprised tomorrow if he hacks and goes over the back as much or more but it’s not called. Such is life on the road in the ACC, especially when a high seed at stake!
I’d like to list out our key players – but here’s what we need from each player:
Fells – If he nuetralizes Teague or doesn’t let him take over the game, this is all we can ask. If he hits some big shots, well, that’s great, but his primary task is defensive and avoid lazy, careless passes that lead to easy Wake points.
McCauley – good rebounding, effective passing, bring Chas and Woods out of the post on offense.
Costner – good effort, about 15+ points. Him hitting from the perimeter will keep the Deacs from clogging the lane where they have great athletes who can block shots and give McCauley and Smith more room to operate.
Smith – continue great work on interior. This lineup will be bigger and more athletic than he’s used to, they’ll force him to alter shots, he’s going to need to go for dunks instead of cute finger rolls when he’s close to the basket. He also needs to do a good job on the foul line, we can’t afford for him to 3-10 from the line tomorrow night.
Gonzalez – avoid TOs. We need him to attack continue attacking the defense. His aggression on offense has really helped open things. Even if he doesn’t hit his shots against Wake – he’s made enough so that they’ll at least have to defend him.
Degand – It’s a good thing Javi is playing well, because Degand is losing confidence rapidly. I think he’s a real “X” factor this game. Wake is tall and quick – and so is Farnold. Like Javi – he needs to avoid TOs. He should take a cue from Javi and attack the basket more. An effective night from Degand really increases our shot at being in this game.
Williams – spell Fells at 2, and log some 3 time. He needs to do what he’s done the last 3 games.
Horner – Defense and rebounding. While the 3 ball from him is nice, his D tomorrow will be more important. His man can’t afford to dominate him and beat him to the boards – this has happened a few times. Oh yeah, and if we find ourselves clinging to a 2 point lead in the wanning seconds and he’s on the foul line – at least make 1 of 2.
Good thoughts, chop. I would add that getting Aminu in foul trouble (like we did in Raleigh) should be a point of emphasis.
“They’ll be expecting another Mickey Mouse D from us. I’d be tempted to come out w/ it anway
to see how they’ve prepared to attack it.”
^I would certainly hope we do. Not sure if you were at the game chop, but they *never* looked good / adjusted to our box and/or zone looks – the entire game. I’m not convinced they’ll have an answer for it this time.
Their comeback was a direct result of turnovers against the press, not attacking the press on some easy score opportunities, and sitting on the ball and hoisting a bad shot which would lead to a run out for them.
If we’re able to play well on the boards, make it a halfcourt game where they look lost and confused while Fells is shadowing Teague – HUGE advantage us. The last game against them was also the best we had looked in forcing turnovers and really taking it at an opponent. Farnold and Javi both were huge here.
^Am I expecting all of this to happen again just like that? Maybe not to that extent, but it certainly is a good recipe! … Of course it also helps when Costner is going off as well
Costner needs to break out of his funk. Ben needs to have a good passing/rebounding/scoring game.
Javi/Degand need to be as good as the last Wake game, because Wake will be brining it tonite.
This will be a tough one for us to win. Don’t expect it, actually, I expect them to beat us by 15.
Hopefully they will surprise me.