ACCT Gameday & State-Maryland pre-game Entry (Updated Noon)
For those people that want to interact and ‘converse’ more during the day – why don’t you give our chat function a try? Today appeears to be a good day for it. You can access it at the very top of the page at the link for “StateFansNation Chat”
BJD Comments
Well, it’s finally here. The ACC tournament (see our preview here). 12 teams in search of glory, redemption, or both – no matter how much Ol’ Roy pretends it doesn’t really matter, it does. 8 start today, kicking off with a pitched battle between desperate Miami and even more desperate Virginia Tech. Man, is the winner ever going to be disappointed (if not surprised) to see Ty Lawson in the starting lineup.
Good news for those you who have to pretend to work today – Raycom will stream the games live for those who live within its geographical territory.
Speaking of redemption, this morning’s N&O looks at the Wolfpack’s need for it after a sorry effort against the Terps a few weeks ago. Keep your fingers crossed, because it sounds like maybe that even got Courtney Fells’ attention. Friend of the blog J.P. Giglio also has his ACCT edition of Foul Shots out, complete with a shout out to Billy Packer. It’s nice to know someone will miss him this March other than me. The old crumudgeon probably isn’t even watching.
To get mentally prepared for a weekend of despair, my wife and I went to the Morrissey concert last night at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Great venue for a concert, and easily the best live performance I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended for any fans who live near one of the other stops on this brief American tour. I hope SFN commenter Girlfriend in a Coma made it there. If Morrissey lived here and gave a damn about college sports, he would definitely be a State fan.
Jeff’s Comments
- We discussed earlier in the week that State’s battle with Maryland helps commemorate the 35th anniversary of the greatest college basketball game ever played (Link for entry and video).
- And, nobody will forget that Sidney Lowe’s previous ACC Tournament appearance in Atlanta in 1983 resulted in a Championship.
- But, today’s opening round game against the Terps also helps commemorate the 20th anniversary of one of the league’s biggest upsets when Bob Wade’s 8th seeded Terrapins defeated the ACC’s regular season champion, NC State – also in a game played in Atlanta. (Ouch) The Wolfpack’s loss marked the first time that a #1 seed lost to an 8th seed on the first day of the ACC Tournament.
- I know it is a pipe dream, but the potential path that lies in front of NC State in Atlanta this weekend couldn’t be more ‘tradition-filled’. IF State were to run the table, the Wolfpack would probably battle the program’s four most prominent conference rivals in actual order of ‘prominence’ – (4) Maryland; (3) Wake Forest; (2) Duke; (1) UNC-CH. How memorable of a run would that be? Just an interesting observation.
- Pack Pride has posted the Sports Information Department’s “NoteBook” (bullet points) here.
Media Items
(1) Caulton Tudor picks the Wolfpack in the two and a half minute preview video below:
(2) WRAL’s focus on the Greivis Vasquez angle of today’s game:
(3) WRAL focuses on State’s search for a better ACC Tournament than last year’s miserable experience.
History
Our comments section included the following historical comments that deserved elevation:
1973: NC State beats Maryland in the ACCT finals. NC State completes the season 27-0, but stays home due to bullshit probation. Maryland goes to the NCAAs, representing the ACC.
1974: Really, nothing needs to said here. Greatest game in college basketball history.
1975: Maryland wins the Regular Season title, but NC State takes down the Terps in the ACCT semis.
1978: I think its still the only triple OT game in ACCT history. Maryland beats NC State 109-108.
1982: One of the ugliest ACCT games ever. NC State beats MD 40-28.
1984: Maryland beats NC State in in the first round on route to Lefty’s only ACC Tournament title.
1989: Hard to type this – NC State wins the ACC regular season, loses badly to a 1-13 Maryland team, 71-43. IMO, Jimmy V’s worst game as NC State coach.
1993: NC State’s first appearance in what would be labeled the “Les Robinson Invitational” – Maryland #8 beats #9 NC State.
1997: Herb’s magical run to the ACCT title game, NC State beats MD in the semi-finals.
2002: NC State beats #1 seed Maryland in the ACC semis. It would be MD’s last loss of the season, and they go on to win the National Title.
2004: Another hard one to type. NC State is crushing MD in the semis by 18 at the half and by as many as 21 in the game. A bizarre technical called by Larry Rose on the NC State towel boy who is wiping sweat off the floor in the backcourt while the ball is in play at the other end of the floor. Gilchrist goes crazy and MD comes back to beat State, and then beat Duke for the ACCT title. (Just as they did in 1984).
- One week later Sendek’s Wolfpack went on to collapse in a similarly unprecedented manner in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Vanderbilt. The loss was so egregious that it made this list of the Top 10 comebacks in NCAA Tournament history. (Link)
- For more on Rose you can click through this entry.
That Vazquez 3 could be the shot that wakes up the Pack for today’s game. It’s beyond bulletin-board material. Kind of reminds me of Chris Paul’s nut punch. I think even if Paul hadn’t been suspended we would have beaten Wake in the rematch. The Pack will be motivated tonight. I’m feeling pretty good about this one.
BJD – Very good point. That thought went through my mind as well – of course, it would have been better if Vasquez was suspended for the first round game like CP3 was.
Vaginez hopefully gets taken out and Maryland’s NCAAT bubble hopes get popped.
Maryland has no inside presence. Let Ben, Tracy, and BC attack the rim.
^I’m on board, Rochester. I feel good about a potential victory tonight, whereas I didn’t feel good at all about the last matchup. Not expecting – like a Hole fan always is – but I do like our chances. Of course, Maryland is once again fighting for their NCAA tournament lives – but, I’m expecting to see a different Pack tonight.
Both Williams and Vasquez provided plenty of motivational tools, so if the squad comes out lackadaisical I’d be more than surprised (something is pretty much wrong if that is the case). It’s also pretty clear that Williams thinks he owns us – so it’d be nice to show him something tonight. That guy was hugely condescending when … was here, and is even more so now. It doesn’t help that Sidney has yet to beat him.
Plus, it’s the ACC tournament. It’s your last shot at doing something really special this season. Your school hasn’t won one in 22 years. 22. Years. If that isn’t motivation enough, then you just don’t care.
Early open gameday thread. Sweet. As tradition would have it, I’m at home today and if anyone is interested I’ll provide score updates and goings on for those at work or who are otherwise unable to watch. Of course, you could get score updates anywhere, or possibly watch it online or listen to the radio – but stay here with me! I need the company … (This is all assuming that SFN / the community doesn’t want me to just shut-up and go away.)
BJD – Raycom is streaming the games live, but update and analyze with us anyway!
Happy ACC Tournament Thursday! And hey – we’re not playing in this afternoon’s 5-12 game!
For those traveling, please be safe and pull the Pack through once you get there! For the rest of us, let’s see if we can get some hometown mojo going … and that starts with a trip to the store for gameday snacks.
Vegas likes the Pack as well. MD opened as a 1.5 point favorite and it has moved to 2 pts. That line is begging people to take MD which is always a good position to be in if you are the other team. I’ll be in Atlanta by 6 pm tonight for the NCSU game. I am predicting upsets throughout this tournament, and I expect either GT, UVA or NCSU to win comfortably today (~10 pts). On the downside, I like the Heels to win this thing. Go Pack!
I’m not sure if you guys have talked about this, but it looks like Vasquez is declaring for the draft…according to the Washington Post
^I agree MA Wolfpack – this kind of has an eerie 2007 feel to me where we could plenty of the lower seeds advance.
I don’t necessarily think it will happen, but I wouldn’t be shocked if GT snips Clemson … I like Miami over VT, State has a great chance against Maryland, and Virginia will not be a push over for BC (if somebody besides Landesberg scores for UVa they could stand a really good shot).
I love this Holiday (even though I’m at work)! Somehow, I always feel like we can win it all. GO STATE ! !
Why on earth is our game the only one of the 4 today that WRAL is not showing? Is it some sort of contractual thing? Did they think we would win last Sat. and be in the noon game? Just seems mighty strange that the only one they’re not showing is their hometown market team.
Some bad news… Thomas still has issues with the knee. I suppose that’s part of the reason why he’s not getting any minutes. Check out the last picture of the pre-tournament practice pictures on news/observer… I would post a link but it WordPress always flags my post. He’s got a large bag of ice on it. Sucks. We could probably use a 9 man rotation if we’re really planning to win this 4-day party and Thomas would be the perfect injection.
GO STATE
^zahadum, you are correct in saying it is contractual.
This game (the 7pm timeslot 7-10 game) is always covered exclusively by Espn2. Even State-Duke in ’07 was only on Espn2. For those worried about potential blackouts should the game run a little long, I think we should be ok … That State-Duke game went into overtime and there were no problems with the blackouts or time overlaps; of course now that I’ve said that …
Anyway, full day coverage for Raycom doesn’t start until tomorrow.
^^That is unfortunate Trip and we would undoubtedly need to go a little deeper if we were to go 4-in-4.
Thankfully we’ve got guys with a little experience such as Mays, Fergs, Harris, and Thomas if he’s able to go at all.
“It’s Tournamenttime” – Everett Case
My Dad said that any time Coach Case was quoted in the paper “Tournamenttime” was written as one word. The twelve team tournament with 6 teams already “locks” for the NCAA’s will never match the intensity and emotion of the sudden death / must win tournaments of yesteryear. Winning on Thursday was necessary in order to get to the semi-finals where TV coverage picked up with a doubleheader on Friday night. I just hope my Dad gets to see us win at least one more ACC Tournament so I can make the congratulatory phone call. He’s 80, so the ‘Pack had better get busy.
bigwood, I could see Vazquez coming back after he learns he won’t be picked. Of course, if he leaves, Maryland will suck next year. He’s pretty much their whole team.
By the way, what’s with the rug burns on his face?
Vasquez made sure to make even more bulletin board material in his presser
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college_basketball/video/4714865/
What. A. Jerk.
Does anyone know of an ACC Pick’em online (simliar to all of the NCAA boards). I would be interested to see a Pick’em challenge for posters on this board – there’s a lot of knowledge here.
I love the perennial belief that some real or perceived slight will “wake up the Pack”… “get their attention”… of something along the lines of motivating them to give a shit.
Really. I do.
I would be afraid to go to a Morrissey show for fear of being the only straight person within a mile.
^ Morrissey used to be pretty popular with a lot of straight women. I never really was a big fan of The Smiths save for “How Soon Is Now” — they used to play that every night at Barry’s II back when it was a happy hunting ground. Anyways, the wimmens loved him.
Then again, I could tell you the story of how one of my buddies spent thirty minutes trying to pick up an absolutely stunning tranny that you simply couldn’t tell was a guy unless you know that women don’t have Adam’s Apples. Seriously, s/he was a knockout, except for she was a wolf in a sheep’s 5″ heels. Still makes me shiver to think about.
I was really torn watching that go down…should I let him find out later that night or spring him right then and there? I chose to let him know that his intended girl had a little surprise for him, instead of letting him find out later. I still bust his chops about that, twelve years later.
BJD, you and your wife weren’t the ones jumping on stage going after Morrissey were you? I don’t know if you happened to see but at the end of the show one of the offensive lineman looking security guards literally picked up and threw a 100 pound college girl off of the stage. Exciting stuff.
BJD – Nope that wasn’t us. We weren’t too far back, though – so we had a good view of it. I think the bouncer guy finally had enough at the end. Earlier forays onto the stage were much more successful. I was impressed that a fat, grey-haired 50 year old was able to hold up the one woman who dangled from his neck with her legs wrapped around him. He didn’t even seem to mind!
You would be surprised – it was a quasi-normal looking crowd. Mostly middle-aged nerds like me with their wives (and a decent number of twenty-somethings). I did feel a bit out of place for not wearing black, though. At least 5 different women made it onto the stage and flung their arms around him.
After being the oldest people at a Ween concert and the youngest at a James Taylor concert last year, it was as in place as I’ve felt at a concert in a long time.
And this is the state of Wolfpack basketball: it’s ACC tournament time, hours before tipoff, and folks are talking about friggin’ Morrissey, James Taylor and trannies.
Some memorable NC State/MD ACCT games:
1973: NC State beats Maryland in the ACCT finals. NC State completes the season 27-0, but stays home due to bullshit probation. Maryland goes to the NCAAs, representing the ACC.
1974: Really, nothing needs to said here. Greatest game in college basketball history.
1975: Maryland wins the Regular Season title, but NC State takes down the Terps in the ACCT semis.
1978: I think its still the only triple OT game in ACCT history. Maryland beats NC State 109-108.
1982: One of the ugliest ACCT games ever. NC State beats MD 40-28.
1984: Maryland beats NC State in in the first round on route to Lefty’s only ACCT title
1989: Hard to type this. NC State wins the ACC regular season, loses to a 1-13 Maryland team, badly, 71-43. IMO, Jimmy V’s worst game as a NC State coach.
1993: NC State’s first appearance in what would be labeled the “Les Robinson Invitational” – Maryland #8 beats #9 NC State.
1997: Herb’s magical run to the ACCT title game, NC State beats MD in the semis.
2002: NC State beats #1 seed Maryland in the ACC semis. It would be MD’s last loss of the season, and they go on to win the National Title.
2004: Another hard one to type. NC State is crushing MD in the semis by 18 at the half. A bizarre technical is called on the NC State towel boy. Gilchrest goes crazy and MD comes back to beat us, and then beat Duke for the ACCT title.
Fells seemed pretty pissed still about the last second 3 point shot by Vazquez. In his interview he talked about how upset he was at his poor def all game. One of my favorite quotes by him was,”I thought that was disrespectful, I mean, if that’s what you want to do, fine, but I’ll remember that.”
Im more convident after reading this that we will come out with more fire. hey it could be worse we could play the noon game and forget to start playing til the second half.
I dont think theres one player on our team that doesnt wanta knock vazquez’ head off.
Lastly, Trip, I wouldnt put to much stock into a picture of Thomas icing his knee after practice. My friend is a team manager and he tells me Thomas has better days than others but that is to be expected a year after major knee surgery. Having experience with injurys and having to practice through them, icing the problem area is standard w/ anything. Im not 100% convinced even if his knee was perfect he would get multi mins in a big game. He will be huge for us next year i hope, but let him learn our style of game, continue to heal, and im not sure we need a big man right now with the way horner has been playing. we already run McCaully, Smith, Costner, and Horner consistant mins im not sure another big man is what we are missing esp with fells returning.
I’m very unhappy about this game not being on Raycom. It’s pretty ridiculous. Espn and Raycom both broadcast the rest of the tournament, not having the 7pm game done that way simply doesn’t make sense. I’m surprised that Raycom has put up with it.
You’re screwed if you don’t have cable or satellite in Raleigh (can’t watch ESPN360 on Road Runner). I guess I’ll be using the choppy transmission from Justin.tv if I don’t want to go out to a bar (I hate watching games in bars or restaurants, frankly it’s just more money than I want to spend).
Who would make an uglier tranny, Len Elmore, Steve Blake, or Greivis Vasquez?
You’re welcome for the nightmare fuel.