My original title for this entry was going to be, “Taking Care of Business” and was designed to focus on how nice it was to exert complete control and beat the ACC’s last place team like we should.
So much for that idea.
State led by 22 points in the second half only to escape with a 70-64 win after failing to score a basket in the final 6:19 of the game. The Pack was able to hold off the Hokies by sinking 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute, including 8-for-8 by Cam Bennerman. Recap here.
Despite the collapse, the Wolfpack’s record improves to a GREAT 21-5, 10-3!!! Regardless of schedule difficulty, NC State hasn’t compiled this kind of regular season record since the nationally dominant teams of the mid 1970’s.
The Wolfpack is now only 3 conference wins away from the 13-3 record that mean, negative, & unhappy ME projected for the team prior to the ACC regular season began. The lone road game remaining on the Wolfpack’s schedule is at 12th place, Wake Forest. (Interestingly, I was bombarded with criticism by most of Herb Sendek’s biggest fans for expecting/wanting/projecting such a record. Yet…I am the ‘negative’ fan? Figure that one out.)
As much as we all are enjoying this season, we all know that a “very good” season cannot be complete until State beats Carolina in Raleigh on Wednesday night. That is just part of being a Wolfpacker (or any sports fan…just ask John Cooper). If you don’t like it, or agree with the emphasis placed on beating rivals, then adopt a local church league team’s booster club to donate to.
A couple of quick hits:
* Analyzing NC State couldn’t be any more simple. How we shoot the three will tell you if we are going to win or lose any game. It really isn’t much more complicated than that.
* Tony Bethel and Cameron Bennerman have really developed into quite a dangerous tandem this season. Cam had 26 points today, more than a third of the Wolfpack’s total, after Bethel led the Pack to a big lead with great first half play and finished with 19 points.
* As we all know, guard play is key to success in college basketball…so, as long as these two continue their strong play this team can continue to build a great season. I want to stress the need/desire to maximize what we can this season since both of these guys are seniors.
* How is it that NC State has our best offensive team in the Herb Sendek era at the exact same time that we have undoubtedly worst defensive team of the Sendek era? It’s just like the ebbs and flows of our football program in the last six years — as our offense has sucked our defense has been great (and vice versa).
* Cedric Simmons attempted only seven field goal attempts for the game on Saturday. I don’t think he got more than 2 or 3 attempts in the second half when we were struggling to do anything right.
* The relatively unknown officiating crew of Gary Maxwell, Manny Upton, Ray Natili deserve credit for calling a pretty good game.
* I got a little perterbed at the ABC Broadcast near the end of the game when they suddenly started positioning the importance of Ilian Evitmov to the Wolfpack. Evtimov didn’t seem very important when the Pack dominated the first 30 minutes of the game and built a 22 point lead. Somehow, he became amazingly important to Steve Lavin when things weren’t going well.
* I honestly thought that we were witnessing the end of the Herb Sendek era LAST YEAR in Blacksburg when State lost an 11 point lead in an inexcusable loss. Kudos for avoiding the complete collapse this year.
