Wag of the Tail, Tip of the Tooth

11-12 Basketball College Basketball32

Hello Nation (StatefansNation, that is).  As anyone who isn’t living under the proverbial rock knows by now, there is once again a Wolfpack on the hunt in the NCAA Tournament.  When the Pack is hungry, prey would do well to stay out of the Pack’s path lest they become dinner.

So with all due respect (and sincerest apologies) to Stephen Colbert, I give you….

Wag of the Tail, Tip of the Tooth

NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen Edition

 Wag of the Tail to….Baylor sophomore Brady Heslip, who sank nine 3-pointers to help lift the Bears to victory over Colorado. His 27 points ties a school NCAA tournament game record. For the past five games (3 Big 12 Tourney, 2 NCAA Tourney), Heslip is 24/43 from beyond the arc (55.8%). Heslip had originally signed an LOI to play at Boston College, but was granted his release when head coach Al Skinner was let go after the ’09-’10 season. We’re very happy that Heslip had a career night against Colorado….instead of against us.

 Tip of the Tooth to….the Missouri Tigers, who lost in their opening round contest to the Norfolk State Spartans, 86-84. Now, I know the Spartans are actually a pretty darned good ballclub, but you were the number two seed Mizzou! I mean c’mon. A first round scare? Fine. Not covering the spread? It could happen to anybody. But a first round loss? I hope you realize you busted the crap outta my bracket.

 Wag of the Tail to….the Syracuse Orange, who have advanced to the sweet sixteen with relative ease despite losing star center Fab Melo for undisclosed academic reasons the day before the team’s NCAA tournament opener. Betting lines shifted and office prognosticators everywhere raced to change their brackets before the deadline. Bad for them. Syracuse has played good team ball so far and are looking every bit the number one seed, even without their big man anchoring things in the paint. This bodes well for the Orange….when they get to the ACC, they’re going to need to be accustomed to playing without their big men for long stretches. Just ask Richard Howell.

 Tip of the tooth to….Gregg Marshall and his Wichita State Shockers. Not because they lost to a 12 seed, but because they lost to VCU. The Rams are a fine ballclub, but I’m just tired of hearing about Shaka Smart. I got enough of that last year. Thanks to the Indiana Hoosiers for ending the suffering.

 Wag of the tail to….the Creighton Blue Jays. Despite being eliminated by the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Jays put up a valiant effort Sunday night, not backing down and playing hard throughout. Their aggressive defense, including daring to make physical contact with John Henson’s wrist, frustrated Henson and caused him to lose his composure and draw a technical foul. While it wasn’t nearly enough to turn the tide in the Jays’ favor, it did showcase to a national audience what we ACC fans already knew. Henson is a crybaby who expects preferential treatment. It’s called making a play on the ball, John, and if you’re going to play you need to expect it. If you can’t take it then…..well just sack up already, dude.

 Tip of the tooth to….the Duke Blue Devils, Austin Rivers (sorta) and Jay Bilas. See Missouri above. Also, flopping isn’t defense guys, no matter what Messrs Clougherty and Swofford would have you believe. And while Austin Rivers probably should have dialed down his comments a bit in the post game presser after his team’s loss to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the first round (keep that stuff behind closed doors in the locker room, Austin), he was correct when he said they got outworked and implied his teammates had no heart. Duke alumnus, analyst extraordinaire and perennial pain in the ass Jay Bilas had opined that the spontaneous NC State celebration which erupted upon the team learning it had received an 11 seed in the NCAA tournament, could very well mean they might be just happy to be there. Instead, it was Duke which looked complacent and uncaring, though not very happy at all to be there.

 Wag of the tail to…..Hubert Davis. One of the few Tar Heels I can truly stomach (past or present). Plus I think he’s one of the more knowledgeable analysts in the business today. Hubert has had the Pack’s back at every turn so far during the NCAA Tournament, picking them as winners in both games thus far. He has already picked us over Kansas on Friday, and has even said he thinks we have the talent and team chemistry now to make the final four. Whether he’s right or not, to pick us in spite of a probable would-be regional final tilt against his own alma mater says a lot.

 Tip of the tooth to….Karl Hess (you knew it was coming). Not content with the fifteen minutes of fame he received from giving Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta the boot, Herr Karl attempted to overrule another official’s call from the opposite side of the court during the Syracuse/K-State game. His attempted overrule was promptly overruled by his officiating crew mate, who reportedly told him, “Don’t you ever overrule me from the other side of the court again”.  Small wag of the tail for the ref who put his foot down. When asked to comment, John Swofford reportedly said that while Hess was well within his duties to try to overrule a call he couldn’t see clearly, he did not follow the proper procedure to do so. And don’t be too hard on yourself, Karl. We all have off days and it can get depressing sometimes when it seems as if everyone dislikes you. If you need a therapist, I know a guy.

 And last but by no means least….

A BIG Wag of the Tail to….Athletics Director Debbie Yow, Coach Mark Gottfried and the ’11-’12 NC State Wolfpack. I think I speak for nearly everyone when I say that we’re all proud of you. In the face of yet another adverse coaching search, Dr. Yow followed her own plan, and her gut. No matter the opinion one might hold of the search or the professionalism thereof, one cannot argue with the results thus far. All things considered, Coach Gottfried and staff have done a masterful job at bringing this team and program along even more quickly than even the most optimistic of us thought possible. And not to be outdone, the players have bought into their new coaches and the program, have become mentally tough and have gelled as a team before our very eyes over the past three weeks. There are no easy games on our horizon, but as a very wise man recently said…..They gotta guard us too!

Good luck against the Jayhawks, gentlemen.

**Please be sure to check out the diversity of topics and all of the great conversations going on over in the SFN forums and be sure to add your own perspectives.  You won’t find better fans or better information anywhere.  Do yourself a favor and get over there.

About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

11-12 Basketball College Basketball

32 Responses to Wag of the Tail, Tip of the Tooth

  1. wolfpackdawg 03/20/2012 at 6:15 AM #

    Awesome Wuf. Thank you.

  2. LRM 03/20/2012 at 6:38 AM #

    No sleep ’til Bourbon Street.

  3. BJD95 03/20/2012 at 7:13 AM #

    I like the fact that, no matter what, we should be the last ACC team standing. Because the Holes play the early game Friday night.

    I expect an especially pitched battle between Kansas and NC State, seeing that the only other obstacles in their Final Four path is the Ohio Bobcats. Not that Ohio couldn’t still beat the Jayhawks or the Pack. They most certainly could.

    But the late night energy will be incredible. I can hardly wait!

  4. logarithm 03/20/2012 at 7:20 AM #

    Be proud with your wallet and donate to the Wolfpack Club!

  5. Prowling Woofie 03/20/2012 at 7:53 AM #

    Nice, Wuf… Wag of the Tail to you !

  6. howlie 03/20/2012 at 7:56 AM #

    Nice article Mr Wuf

  7. wilmwolf80 03/20/2012 at 8:00 AM #

    The wonderful thing about this run is that it truly has been a team effort. The administration, the coaches, the players, and we “unreasonable” fans have all come together to make this possible. Also, despite what the pundits may have you believe, the fact that the administration did not back down on the reffing issue is a big deal too. It showed the players that we all have their backs, and that has to help with confidence. I am happy beyond words with this team. Everything from this point is icing on the cake, but there is always room for more icing.

  8. ganymebe 03/20/2012 at 8:21 AM #

    Nice read. Well written.

  9. GAWolf 03/20/2012 at 8:31 AM #

    Pretty work, right there. Thanks!

  10. Wolfpack93 03/20/2012 at 8:42 AM #

    Does anyone know where to find a list of officials per game in the tourney? I can’t help but wonder if we will be side-swiped by an unfavorable officiating crew who was scheduled for a game no one thought we would wind up in…

  11. Hawkeye Whitney 03/20/2012 at 9:03 AM #

    I would give another wag of the tail to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, who for a total of about 55 minutes in this tournament played hard enough to beat anybody. They also deserve a nod for the courage to wear so much brown and for putting their full-figured coeds in cheerleading uniforms

  12. Clarksa 03/20/2012 at 11:19 AM #

    I would also give a wag of the tail to Chancellor Woodson who followed his own plan and gut to hire Yow…he basically thumbed his nose at the search committee and hired who he wanted into the AD job.

  13. WolftownVA81 03/20/2012 at 11:28 AM #

    Very nice. Thanks

  14. Mike 03/20/2012 at 11:45 AM #

    Haha Hawkeye on the Lehigh cheerleaders. Some of them looked like Hawkeye. I had the same thoughts and was really funny when a friend of mine made the same comment in conversation.

    We wondered if maybe that was a PE class for all to take and they ended up with the luck of the draw. We wondered if they turned anyone down for cheerleading.

  15. lupus occidit arietem 03/20/2012 at 11:57 AM #

    As i told my wife it looks like the LMH cheerleaders dorm has a 24 hour all you can eat buffet. Bad showing there, but a great one on the court.

    Great read. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Hungwolf 03/20/2012 at 12:27 PM #

    fun Stuff! I’ll give a Wag the Tail to NCSU professors! Years ago you could out up and down Hillborough Street after a Wolfpack win and have a cold one and find professors dong the same whom were known to buy a round or two. You could even find them at “The Keg” and “My Apartment Lounge.”

  17. BJD95 03/20/2012 at 12:31 PM #

    And a Wag of the Tail to caffeine, for allowing us all to enjoy Friday’s festivities! 🙂

  18. rtpack24 03/20/2012 at 1:37 PM #

    Cuse should have lost to UNCA but were bailed out by the refs. UNCA mignt have lost anyway but to have the game taken from you by the officials is a damn shame. I really like the fact that in the Georgetown game we shot poorly from the floor and still led at the half and once again were bad at the free throw line and still one. Coach Gott seems to have a really good feel for how to keep these guys on track during the game. We owe Kansas from ’88. Go Pacl!

  19. MrPlywood 03/20/2012 at 2:21 PM #

    Say what you will about the Lehigh cheerleaders, but they evidently outcheered the skinny Dook cheerleaders 🙂

  20. WolfBlood 03/20/2012 at 2:26 PM #

    Does anyone else feel like the ejection of Corchiani and Gugliotta was like a spark/turning point in the season?

    Maybe we should thank Karl.

  21. Hawkeye Whitney 03/20/2012 at 2:38 PM #

    Revenge on Georgetown, Kansas from’88. This tournament is like exorcising the demons and bad karma of the past. If we beat UNC, I swear we will be just a couple steps away from achieving world peace.

  22. BJD95 03/20/2012 at 3:07 PM #

    I believe it was 86 when Rock Chalk beat us in the Regional finals. I kicked in my bedroom closet door during their late run. Ah, the folly of youth.

  23. MP 03/20/2012 at 5:35 PM #

    Ha, I did that 2 weekends ago in the ACCT semifinals. And I’m not young.

  24. Wufpacker 03/20/2012 at 5:52 PM #

    So you were a hot head even then, huh BJD? I’m right there with you. I’ve never kicked anything in, though I have been close a couple of times. But Lord help the television if I have anything in my hand that has any mass and/or aerodynamic qualities. Remarkably, I’ve never actually broken a TV screen, but I have had to clean quite a few. Not to mention floors and/or furniture.

    Thanks for the kind words about the OP everyone.

  25. ancsu87 03/20/2012 at 6:22 PM #

    Great Post and loved that we independently came to to same conclusion regarding Henson’s attitude in the Creighton game (see my rants on it relating to the Barry Jacobs article linked in Tuesday’s musings).

    It was 1986 that we lost to KU (we are 1-10 against them) in the Regional Final. He is some more info on that game:

    We owe KU some payback too. As a #6 seed we lost to #1 seed KU in the Regional Final played in Kansas City, Kansas. They was when Valvano said “by the time Shack finished explaining to Wash what Rock Chalk JayHawk meant we had lost the game” in referring to the home court advantage KU had. Don’t quote me on that quote however – it was something to that effect.

    This was from an article about Nate McMillan:
    http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/021010aab.html
    In two years, he helped the Wolfpack make it to the Final Eight twice, losing to St. John’s his first year and to Kansas his second.

    “We were a game away each of my two years from reaching the Final Four,” McMillan said. “If we are not playing Kansas in Kansas City, we would have probably gone to the Final Four (in 1986).

    “Do you recall the officiating in the second half of that game?”

    In fact, it was a hard thing to forget for a young student reporter who was covering the NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Wolfpack was leading the Jayhawks 57-52 with nine minutes to play, with ACC free-throw champion Ernie Myers on the line. Myers missed the opportunity for a three-point play, McMillan charged into Greg Dreiling on a questionable call and Danny Manning scored 12 consecutive points for the Jayhawks. Those things combined to set off a “”Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk” rally in Kemper Arena that doomed the Wolfpack’s return to the Final Four.

    They will again, I imagine, have the advantage in fan numbers but not in fan heart, appreciation or passion!!!! We own them also.

1 2

Leave a Reply