Curry 32-Footer Sinks Pack

WRAL Sports: Curry Drops 44 Points, Davidson 72 – NC State 67

Overall, I was really pleased with State’s performance and Sid’s gameplan. Without Curry’s prayer, State would have had the ball at the end shooting for the win (with OT as worst-case scenario). The effort was there, and the defense was much better. Until the last 8 minutes, the rebounding was solid (thus my only critique – would have liked to see more of Tracy Smith in the second half). Other thoughts:

– If Johnny Thomas was healthy, I’d like to see Courtney Fells thrown off the team. Kudos to Sid for benching him for most of the second half, even with 11 seconds left and State down three. What a waste. He should watch Trevor Ferguson out there busting his ass and hang his head in shame. NOTE: Radio guys are claiming Fells hurt his shoulder during the game. If that were true, it still doesn’t explain how he started the game in a fog. I also never saw him getting treatment (on the bench or going to locker room). Sorry, don’t buy it.

– The chip is back on Costner’s shoulder, and I mean that in a good way.

– CJ Williams is much better than I expected. Ladies and gentleman, meet your “glue guy.”

– NC State can be a middle-of-the-pack ACC team. If we had just one healthy PG that didn’t suck out loud, we could contend for an NCAA berth.

– I don’t think Farnold Degand is ever going to be right again. And without his lateral quickness, he can’t contribute at all. Very sad.

– Davidson sure has some douchebag fans, chanting for the asshole who got ejected after almost decapitating Trevor.

– I went a little nuys yelling at the TV at the end. Mike Gminski is such a dumbass, noting “The Davidson people don’t consider this an upset!” Well, no shit, Sherlock. Davidson made the Elite Eight last year, and return the best player in college basketball. NC State finished dead last in the ACC, and lost it’s best player. The game is played in Charlotte. Only a complete fucking moron would have considered it anything other than a huge upset if NC State had won the game!

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

08-09 Basketball

173 Responses to Curry 32-Footer Sinks Pack

  1. Wulfpack 12/06/2008 at 7:36 PM #

    “the team that lost to the National Champions in the tournament by 2 points last year.”

    Davidson is not that team, not this year. They lost one of the best point guards in the college game last year and a whole lot more — McKillop has admitted as much in newspaper reports. Davidson was also without their best defensive player and floor leader the majority of the game.

    The reason we blog is because we desire an NC State team that is going to grow up and begin winning games that it should. We stunk it up today. If you’re happy with it, great. But we’ll get drilled by 30 if we play like that against a couple of schools we see five times this year.

  2. cWOhLFrPAiCKs 12/06/2008 at 7:37 PM #

    It’s amazing how the tone of this message board changes from Football to Basketball season…so much negativity! I watched the game today and thought the first half went about as well as expected, though I think we should have had a bigger lead than 4 with Curry missing as much as he was. But the truth of the matter is, every single one of you new that the second half would be Curry’s and that there wasn’t much the Pack would be able to do about it. Every time I saw help-defense, I saw Curry feeding his wing guys, who drained several of their wide open shots at the outset of the second half.

    Rebounding: If you’re big guys are constantly having to step out and play “Help-Defense” then chances are they’re going to be out of position for the rebound. Not only that, but A LOT of Davidson’s second chance points came off long offensive rebounds.

    Fells can and should sit the rest of the year. If there were a way to take his scholarship away and give it to someone else, I wish we could do that. I have never been impressed with his play nor his attitude and I can’t wait until he’s gone.

    Overall I think we should have won this game, but didn’t the legs at the end to finish the game. Chasing the best basketball player in the NCAA and having your “Star” athlete take a seat early will do that to you. If we can learn from this game and be ready to play much better defense come Conference time, I say we can compete for a middle-ranged seat in the ACCT. I’m looking for improvement and growth over the year, not death and destruction to the team and it’s morale like I saw last year. As long as they keep getting better, I’ll keep watching.

  3. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 8:01 PM #

    BJD, not that you don’t always, but you’ve made some particularly good sense on this thread. I just posted on the other thread that if COLLEGE kids/BB players, can’t figure out ON THEIR OWN, that when rebound after rebound is going to shorter opposition right UNDER THEIR OWN noses, and that it’s up to them to stop it from happening again ON THEIR OWN, then there is not much a coach can do to change that lack of mental awareness, lack of determination, lack of desire,… or whatever you wish to label it.

    I could stand it if Curry scored 58 points, he’s a BB freak and an outstanding player. But I cannot tolerate the rebounding and interior scoring deficits. Once again, I’ll say that I believe Lowe should start, and play, only the players who are willing to try to fulfill EVERY responsibility that THEIR PERSONAL positions on the court require. I don’t care if they can’t do it if they’re out trying hard and setting an example. He should have already done it, but Lowe should only play the kids who play hard, and smart as they can, regardless of their skill level and regardless of whether he has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning another game. He is pass due in sending this very clear message, and to me, that is most disappointing aspect I have observed involving Sidney Lowe thus far.

  4. vtpackfan 12/06/2008 at 8:01 PM #

    When you are a good executing team, no one ever mentions whether the rebounds were long, short, air ball ect. When your in man you turn and box out. If we are whining about screens and our big man being away from the basket then it means we better hope upcoming teams stop with these “gimmicky” plays like pick and rolls and screens. Why dont’ they just play like real men, miss and have the rebound land right next to the hoop.

  5. Ed89 12/06/2008 at 8:13 PM #

    Hball57 and Howlie, good posts…

    Wulfpack, you evidently don’t know much about basketball…I guess that’s why you blog…either that or you are a sheep in wolf’s clothing…or are you just an eternal pessimist??

    This was NOT a “bad” loss. No loss is “good,” but Curry played great, Fells did NOT. They rebounded well, mainly because of points mentioned early about bigs helping and long rebounds as a result of attempted 3’s. We do need to improve at the 1/2, but Big Ben and c]Costner played well. I would’ve liked to see a little more of T.Smith, though.

  6. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 8:23 PM #

    Huh, I have been on Courtney Fell’s case since just about day one I guess, and while I did not see the game today, I did listen to it. He must have really stunk it up today, I have never heard anything close to this consensus of negativity about him the past, except coming from myself of course. I’m ALMOST feeling sorry for hthe guy after reading this stuff, but then again, I wasn’t able to watch the game today. I’d probably be leading the charge if I had.

    What a waste of God given ability.

  7. PackMagic83 12/06/2008 at 8:33 PM #

    Before everyone gives up on Fells, think about this:

    Fells has been one of the leading scorers in previous games this season.

    Fells was given the primary responsibility of guarding Curry.

    After a first half of nearly futile efforts to stop Curry and fighting through screens, maybe it took it toll on Fells physically and emotionally.

    I don’t know the rest of the story. I wasn’t in the locker room at halftime. I’m willing to give Fells another chance to redeem himself in the Marquette game.

  8. old13 12/06/2008 at 8:35 PM #

    In all fairness, it was reported during the broadcast that Fells was taken to the locker room and emerged with an ice pack on his left shoulder.

  9. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 8:38 PM #

    hball57, I understand what you’re trying to say, but the reports are that our interior players weren’t working hard enough to effectively help out on, or stop, dribble penetration. And the stats prove that they weren’t in position to rebound against a smaller team either.

    So, where were they?

  10. vtpackfan 12/06/2008 at 8:39 PM #

    I thought Fells might have slightly dislocated his shoulder since they ran him towards the locker room and back so fast that you could kind of imagine a swift shot by the trainers hand type of thing. I mean he was in and out of the locker room fast.

    Moving him to the three was suppossed to be a huge bolster to rebounding so even with him not at his best offensively he still could contribute in that capacity. Horner is garbage at rebounding and others Sid through out there at the 3 Harris and Fergueson couldn’t rebound a lick either.

    Degand got hurt about a year ago now, he must have just blown it out because it’s not looking too good. On the bright side Mays looks like if/when he gets used to the speed that we might have atleast two avg PG’s at some point this season. That would be huge progress over what we have seen.

  11. crackdog 12/06/2008 at 8:44 PM #

    Rebounding killed us. If we give other teams 10 more possessions that we have to score, we will lose a lot of games that we would otherwise win.

  12. PackMagic83 12/06/2008 at 8:45 PM #

    I went back to check and Fells scored over 20 points in the High Point and the UNCG games, and was the highest scoring NCSU player in those games. Not exactly against great opponents, but at least there is some sign of progress this year.

    I just hope that Fells is not seriously injured. His defensive contributions have not been fully appreciated by some fans in the past.

  13. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 8:53 PM #

    I am down on Fells only because I know I he could be a very good BB player. I’d love nothing more than for him to hear something, read something, or anything that might make him redirect his thinking and become the college basketball player that he is capable of being.

    Also, I stand corrected about Fell’s defensive assignment today. I did think about the impact that that would have on CF’s all-around game earlier in the week and before the game, but I have kind of jumped on the bash wagon without thinking much about it this evening. Not very smart of me.

    My apologies to Courtney Fells in this instance.

  14. Ed89 12/06/2008 at 9:10 PM #

    ourtney was injured – He WAS looking for his shot earlier in the game. He was assigned to Curry for a large part of the game. I do think he should have tried to either post up or take Curry off the dribble when Curry was guarding him. I remember a few instances when he had these opportunities. I thought Fergs and Williams botgh played a good game trying to defend Curry. I’m not sure why we didn’t simply deny Curry the ball with Javi more often. Courtney can and WILL be a huge part of this team. We can be a good team, if they decide to play like one. Ben and BC are playing better. We need some PG production. Is there a very good one in Raleigh that is a H.S. senior???

  15. highstick 12/06/2008 at 9:15 PM #

    It’s “more than high time” we held the folks responsible for letting NC State basketball to ever get in this shape accountable!

    I rode the light rail up today to the game and it was the Wolfpack Express coming and going. I talked to some younger Wolfpack alum and asked them if they’d ever known when N C State had a winning tradition. The answer was a resounding “NO”!

    It’s really sad that we are where we are and I don’t know what it’s going to take to not accept this mediocrity. Maybe it’ll never happen in the rest of my lifetime, but it is really sad to see this!

  16. b 12/06/2008 at 9:17 PM #

    Off topic but germaine nonetheless. Troy is crushing Ark St, ASU up on Ariz. We only need one of ’em at this point.

    The real problem on this team is there is no go to guy. McCauley needs to set others up from the post, and everyone else needs to be set up. GG filled that void to a degree, Fells cannot. WTNY.

  17. cowdog 12/06/2008 at 9:22 PM #

    Hey no one is quitting here. We’re bitching, yes. For good reason…we care. I swear that I mean no offense to other opinions expressed here, but the first G#D DAMN thing you do after your man hoists a shot is block his ass OUT! A minimum of 5 offensive rebounds today came to the shooter doing what shooter should do…follow the shot. So, please spare us the long shot theory or the chase the All-American excuse. There is absolutely no friggin’
    explanation on God’s basketball earth to give up 23 2nd chance (and that’s not counting 3rd chance)points other than an individual not getting it done.

    Unfortunately, this has been the M.O of this team sans Atsur. It’s the truth and that’s just reality. Someone posted that if we had made a few shots down the stretch, we win. Well, yes…but we didn’t and quite frankly, the ball doesn’t drop for every team all the time. We are and have been a poor shooting squad. Hence, every potential possession is vital and that means every opponents miss is just as critical. Rebounds are the name of the game folks. I’m at a complete loss to understand why this bunch don’t seem to get it.

    As the BB season progresses and you watch other competitors, try and keep track of teams that win giving up the rebound advantage, especially on the D end.

    Rant over, I care and I don’t quit on the Pack.

  18. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 9:25 PM #

    “It is high time this guy is held accountable.”

    I’m confused, are you talking Sidney Lowe right now, or what Herb Sendek didn’t do earlier?

    ky, why don’t you lube up your sneakers, or whatever you move around on, and just go away.

  19. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 9:47 PM #

    PackMagic83, I haven’t seen all of the games this season, and admittedly didn’t see this one today, but I do know that Fells has been credited for good defense many times in the past, when it wasn’t good defense at all. Just because a player is constantly moving and close to his man, doesn’t mean he is in the right position to stop his man, shut down his passing lanes, or cut off his man’s ability to make his teammates better. I have seen Fell’s running around and within eight inches of his man, but with his body so far out of position that it looked like he was defending against the player making a cut to the halfcourt circle, instead of the basket.

    Just like what should be an interior player’s innate desire to get rebounds and block his man off the boards, it’s just another of those things that I cannot figure out about this group of upperclassmen.

  20. wolfpack74ms 12/06/2008 at 9:47 PM #

    We have a mediocre coach. Sid was a good college player but he doesn’t have what it takes to be upper level colege coach. A coach is responsible for players that don’t know how to position themselves for rebounding. This is learned in practice.

    Game plan? What game plan? Our players stood around and watched Curry singlehandedly whip our butts.

  21. kyjelly 12/06/2008 at 9:52 PM #

    redfred2 Yes you are quite confused I do agree with you finally. But I will give you another year or two to be very confused.

  22. ktoh 12/06/2008 at 9:58 PM #

    What has happened to this program? Where was the staff shakeup? Curry is the best but Davidson is not as strong of a team as they were last year. I hear some talk like this was a morale victory? Am I the only one who thought perhaps we needed a point guard still? And a Big man?
    Will Sid tell all now about that plan he had to stop Curry? Perhaps redfred knows?

  23. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 10:04 PM #

    Fair enough ky. Look, I’m not happy with the way this thing is working out either. But I do think that Lowe believes that his upperclassmen give him the best chance to win ballgames, so do the fans, and it’s true. So he’s in a catch-22. If he doesn’t play them in order to make the point that aren’t playing well enough to earn that right, and he loses the game, then the fans will be in an uproar. The other scenario, well, it’s on exhibit, right here, right now.

  24. Wulfpack 12/06/2008 at 10:04 PM #

    Ed, don’t insult my intelligence. If you don’t agree with me then that’s fine. But do it on points and not cheap shots. This is a blog and we should expect differing opinions. But don’t throw that weak shit at me. I’ve played the game for a hell of a long time, coached the game, and watch my fair share. That game today was there for the taking, we were in control the first half, and shitted it away like we have so many times in recent years by not playing fundamentally sound basketball. If you don’t think we should be able to beat a one-man show of a team like what we saw today, where the other four Davidson players on the floor couldn’t throw it in an open barrel if their lives depended on it, well then your standards for N.C. State basketball really are quite low. Shoot me for expecting better.

  25. redfred2 12/06/2008 at 10:18 PM #

    “I talked to some younger Wolfpack alum and asked them if they’d ever known when N C State had a winning tradition. The answer was a resounding “NO”!”

    highstick, that is a product of an administration’s inability to see the importance of tradition, or for that matter, athletics in general. It’s a sad STATE affairs, but like I’ve said many times in the past, if there was ever a university that shuns, and acts totally ashamed of everything that made it what it is today, that would be NC State University.

    Just think about it in general. I don’t even need to enter sports into the equation, to make that statement.

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