NC STATE BASKETBALL
Joe Giglio (N&O)
In a surprising spot at ACC tournament, NC State addresses expectations
There have been concrete problems, specifically on defense and with rebounding, but there have also been intangible issues, such as chemistry and lack of focus.
The latter has been prevalent, even in the Wolfpack’s signature wins.
“We had some stretches where we looked like the best team in the country,” freshman Tyler Lewsi said. “And we’ve had some stretches where we didn’t look like the best team in the country.”
Gottfried said the biggest issue was team chemistry. The coach said the team has solved some of its problems but it has taken longer than it did last season and longer than he anticipated.
“It took us until six or eight games ago to really begin to play with the type of chemistry, and guys accepting certain roles, to become a real unit,” Gottfried said.
That turning point in team chemistry, a 71-67 loss at Florida State not withstanding, has coincided with the team’s uptick on defense.
One of the best, most efficient offensive teams in the country, the Wolfpack has struggled on the defensive end. There are multiple defensive metrics to illustrate the Wolfpack’s problems, but the simplest is points allowed.
When N.C. State allows fewer than 70 points, it’s 6-2 in ACC play this season and 13-4 under Gottfried, including last year’s ACC tournament. When ACC teams hit the 70-point mark, State’s record is 9-11.
The Pack closed the ACC schedule 6-2 – in both losses it gave up more than 70 points.
“There should never be games where you don’t play good defense,” Howell said. “That’s something we have picked up the last couple of games and something we need to pick up if we want to go far in the tournament.”
Rebounding issues, which are related to the problems on defense, have also cost the Wolfpack.
N.C. State has allowed 13 offensive rebounds in 18 games, including eight in ACC play. State went 5-3 in those games, including Saturday’s loss at Florida State.
“We have relied on Richard too much and that has kind of hurt us,” junior guard Lorenzo Brown said.
Luke DeCock (N&O)
N.C. State has much to win – or lose – at ACC tournament
The hopes and dreams of an entire season rest in these four – four, if all goes well – games. The regular season did not go as planned for N.C. State. Not by a long shot.
“If you asked anybody in that locker room, they’d be lying to you if they didn’t expect to win the conference,†N.C. State forward Scott Wood said. “We’ve got some things to prove. We’d like to go home with a ring, whether it’s the regular-season title or the tournament title. We’re going to go out there and play hard. At the end of the day, hopefully we’ll have success.â€
Compared to everyone else, the Wolfpack has far more at stake. Miami already has a banner to hang. Duke always takes the tournament with the utmost sincerity, but is almost certainly headed to Philadelphia as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. A tournament win would offer some legitimacy for North Carolina, but Roy Williams has always been more concerned about peaking in the NCAA tournament.
Virginia, unlike N.C. State and like the rest of the ACC, needs to play its way into the NCAA tournament, but never faced the expectations the Wolfpack faced from the beginning of the season. So far, N.C. State has done little to live up to them, which is why the Wolfpack was even in the building Wednesday, but that could change in a matter of hours this week.
That door swings both ways. While justification for its entire season is out there for the taking, an early exit would be yet another disappointment, yet another hurdle at which N.C. State fell short, yet another example of how the Wolfpack failed to recapture the magic that launched it not only into the NCAA tournament last spring but all the way to the Sweet 16.
It’s all out there for the taking, good and bad alike.
Bret Strelow (FayObserver.com)
Wolfpack making earlier-than-expected tourney debut
Level of urgency
Needing an impressive showing, the Wolfpack routed Boston College, picked up a signature win against Virginia and nearly upset North Carolina at last year’s tournament. It’s critical for N.C. State to recapture the same level of urgency that carried it through the 2012 postseason but has been missing at times in 2013.Gottfried said it’s taken longer for the current group to come together. Three McDonald’s All-Americans have replaced veterans who filled important roles, and freshman T.J. Warren replaced classmate Rodney Purvis in the starting lineup with six games left in the regular season. Point guard Lorenzo Brown returned from an ankle injury with eight games remaining, and the Wolfpack finished 6-2.
“I think this particular team, it took us a while to get our chemistry right,” Gottfried said. “I don’t think it was the defense or rebounding. Those things could always be better, but I think this team, it took us until six or eight games ago to really begin to play with a tight chemistry, guys accepting certain roles and becoming a real unit.”
When the Wolfpack plays with focus and composure, allowing it to create transition offense with effective defense, it’s capable of beating anyone in Greensboro. Defensive lapses and emotional outbursts lead to disappointing results, like the tough-to-swallow loss at Florida State in the regular-season finale.
The inconsistency makes it difficult to predict which N.C. State team, the “good” or “bad” one, will show up.
“I always think it’s the good one,” senior Scott Wood said. “There are times I feel like we’re not playing with the intensity that we need. It’s crunch time; if we’re not ready to play now, we’re not working hard enough.”
HISTORY AS A NO. 5 SEED: The Wolfpack was in the same spot last year, when it beat Boston College and picked up a crucial win against Virginia before losing 69-67 in a controversial semifinal against North Carolina. The No. 5 seed, with title-game appearances in 1978 (Wake Forest), 1990 (Virginia) and 2005 (Georgia Tech), has never won the ACC tournament. The No. 6 seed has even claimed five titles, beating the No. 1 seed in the final each time.
Matt Carter and Jacey Zembal (TheWolfpacker.com)
ACC notebook: CJ Leslie on center stage
NC State needs Leslie at his best
NC State never anticipated the question of whether C.J. Leslie or Calvin Leslie would be playing this week for the Wolfpack – 31 games into his junior season.
NCSU coach Mark Gottfried started calling Leslie by his given name of Calvin Leslie Jr. last year in an attempt to give him a clean break from the past. The notion has created the vibe of when Leslie plays well, he is Calvin, and he when he doesn’t, he’s C.J.
Leslie struggled in the regular season finale loss against Florida State last Saturday. He had five points and three rebounds in 18-foul plagued minutes, which included a costly first-half technical.
Gottfried and Leslie met following the game to try and get back on track.
“Your play has to do your talking,” Gottfried said. “He and I have talked about that this week. He needs to step his game up.”
Leslie is averaging 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, and shooting 53.1 percent from the field. The road might have bumpy at times this season – he earned third-team All-ACC – but a strong push from Leslie could help define the Wolfpack’s season.
“Definitely Calvin,” said NCSU freshman shooting guard Rodney Purvis on which version of Leslie will show up this week. “He’s a big-time player. He definitely will show up this week. I can promise you that. He’s been working harder and pushing himself more. He’s always been a good worker and a good teammate.”
Leslie averaged 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and shot 70 percent from the field (23 of 33) during last year’s ACC Tournament. The strong finish last year in the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament helped Leslie be picked the preseason ACC Player of the Year by both the coaches and media.
“He knows he is a big piece of our puzzle,” NC State senior wing Scott Wood said. “Any time he is playing well, we are moving [forward]. It’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but at the same time, he’s a great player and is very capable of doing it.”
Senior center Richard Howell, who is Leslie’s roommate, and junior point guard Lorenzo Brown have been teammates with Leslie dating back when he was a sophomore in high school with the Worldwide Renegades traveling team. Few trios in college basketball have as extensive history with each other.
“It’s coach’s and our jobs,” said Brown on keep Leslie focused. “He is like family to us and we try to keep his head focused as much as possible.
“We need him 100 percent these four games if we get that far.”
Howell, who only uses the name Calvin to get underneath his teammates’ skin, knows Leslie’s impact is needed for the team to live up to its potential.
“We know the talent he has, the ability he has and I feel like there isn’t a kid in the country that can stop him when he goes to the basket,” Howell said. “That is something he has to show when he’s on the court.”
Bobby Lutz’s impact felt
One of the chief men behind the scenes for NC State is assistant coach Bobby Lutz. The former long-time Charlotte head coach is often seen frantically shouting out instructions from the Wolfpack bench.
Leslie noted that he has become the go-to guy for the players.
“His knowledge of the game, he’s studied this game so hard,” Leslie noted. “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone more motivated than he is as far as knowing his staff. You can ask him anything and he can give you anything at the snap of the finger in any situation. That’s big. He’s taught me a lot this year.”
Gottfried concurred that Lutz is “a great basketball guy” and a “great coach.” Gottfried also noted that Lutz’s approach to his position has helped, especially considering Lutz was a successful head coach.
“Some [former head coaches] have a hard time being assistant,” Gottfried stated. “He’s a guy that has no ego. He pours everything he’s got into our team. He’s been a huge valuable asset to us.”
Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
Wolfpack prepared for a fresh start and long ACC tournament stay
Lorenzo Brown, like many of his N.C. State basketball teammates, spent last Sunday evening in front of a television watching Maryland play Virginia in the final game of the ACC’s regular season.
The Wolfpack had a vested interested in the outcome, and Brown’s emotional swings reflected it.
He got his hopes up when the Terrapins sprinted out to an early 17-point lead, then watched nervously as the Cavaliers rallied back to tie the game late in regulation. Anticipation eventually turned to resignation as UVa held on to win the game in overtime to steal the fourth and final first-round ACC tournament bye away from State.
“I wanted to be fourth place and get a bye,†Brown said Wednesday. “But at the same time you can’t root for either of them.â€
The implication is that the Wolfpack had no business being in the position of having to rely on someone else to get the job done for it. But that’s the way it turned out after it squandered an opportunity to clinch the bye a day earlier with a loss at Florida State.
All that is ancient history now that coach Mark Gottfried and his team have arrived in Greensboro to begin preparations for what they hope will be an extended ACC tournament stay.
“For us, this is kind of a new start. It’s a time to start fresh and look forward,†Gottfried said. . “It’s about how we finish now, from here forward. That’s going to be important for us.â€
Ken Medlin (WRALSportsfan.com)
The time is now for NC State
STOPPING VIRGINIA TECH’S ERICK GREEN
Lorenzo Brown isn’t one to back down from a challenge, even if that challenge is stopping the player that leads the nation in scoring.
“I mean we are basketball players so if you can’t guard a man one way you aren’t supposed to be out there,” said Brown.Brown will be guarding Virginia Tech star Erick Green, the conference Player of the Year and the first ACC Player to lead the nation in scoring in 56 years.
“I don’t know I’m not too much worried about it,” said Brown. “I’ve guarded a lot of guys, I mean he’s probably the best guy I’ve played against this year. He’s crafty, he can shoot. So I just have to prepared.”
“Me and Zo are really good friends. He’s a great defender, great point guard, great player overall so it’s going to be a great match-up. You konw he’s tall, he’s athletic. Zo is going to give me a little problems, he’s going to stay in front of me.”
And if State needs a reminder of what Erick Green can do to a team, the Pack only needs to look at their last meeting against Virginia Tech, when Green dropped 29 points on the Wolfpack in Raleigh.
“Well I learned that he’s a great player and a hard player to guard one-on-one. The team has to do a good job having an awareness of where he is, helping on ball screens, helping his penetration making every shot difficult,” said Gottfried.
“I mean we all feel like he’s going to score that’s just what he does. We definitely got a new scheme to shake him up a little bit, throw a few different guys on him,” said Purvis.
“Make him take tough ones,” said Wood. “He’s a good player he’s going to knock down some contested shots. We just have to make sure that when we can we have a hand in his face and play good solid sound defense.”
PackInsider.com
A Closer Look at NC State’s ACC Tournament Draw
Coming into the season there was almost no doubt that when March rolled around, NC State would have a first round ACC Tournament bye. They’d probably be the one seed, or if they got unlucky, maybe a two.
But things didn’t go quite the way Wolfpack fans had hoped. There was the Lorenzo Brown injury, the lack of defense, and the glaring lack of a true vocal leader. Now NC State has to limp into the tournament as a 5th seed and face off against Virginia Tech on Thursday.
Don’t get too down though, Wolfpack fans. This team is still one of the most talented teams, man for man, in the conference and can beat any team on any night, especially when you’re talking about games on a neutral court. It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see them make a late season spirited run and be playing on Sunday.
With that said, let’s break down their draw….
Thursday: (5) NC State vs. (11) Virginia Tech
The last place team in the ACC is also the team that took the Pack into overtime on their home floor. The Hokies have one premier player in Erick Green and a bunch of mediocre roles players. NC State is going to come into this game two ways. Either they’re going to respect VT, bring their A game and dominate them from the tip, or they’re going to once again coast against them, look ahead to the Friday and have Erick Green sneak up on them and keep the game close. Green did drop 29 on them last time out, but State’s defense was about as bad as it gets in this one. Jarrell Eddie (who averages 12ppg) dropped 17 points and freshman Marshall Wood finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds (this is a guy who averages 4 points and 4 boards per game). The Pack has to step up the defensive intensity in this tournament if they want to make any sort of run, and it’s going to have to start against VT.Friday: (5) NC State vs. (4) Virginia
Now, we know we’re getting ahead of our ourselves here, but if State does get the win, they’ll be playing against UVA on Friday. This is a team that NC State did not get on their home floor, and in their only matchup at UVA, lost by 3. Virginia isn’t a great offensive team, but they’ve proved that strong defense and one decent scorer can put you in the top 4 of the ACC. Virginia isn’t very athletic and they can’t really shoot it, but they’re holding the 4 seed in this tournament. That’s a real shame to me, because NC State is so much more talented, so much bigger and stronger, yet they’d find themselves as the underdogs in this one. It’s all about effort. Virginia constantly was more physical, more hungry and gave more effort than the Wolfpack. You just have to admit it. There’s no reason, other than mental focus and effort that UVA should be a higher seed than the Pack. Now, with that said, NC State has the firepower to beat the Cavs and beat them good, but they’ll have to want it, they’ll have to be hungrier, more focused and they’ll have to even make it to this game for any of this to matter.
Bob Sutton (gastongazette.com)
Wolfpack optimistic heading into ACC tourney
Gottfried said the Wolfpack had to learn how to deal with the new attention and outside expectations.
“I think we’re getting better,†Gottfried said. “I’m not sure we handled that early in the season, being in a different position than any of our players have ever been in, where we were the hunter (in the past) and not the hunted.â€
Of course, today the opponent is an upset-minded team. Gottfried said the regular-season meeting with Virginia Tech wasn’t a case of only Erick Green, the country’s scoring leader, having a good game. It was other Hokies playing well, too.
That first encounter was one of the tight games that ended up in N.C. State’s favor. Those types of situations might have helped the Wolfpack develop in certain areas.
“There was a lot of close games,†freshman forward T.J. Warren said. “Panic wins.â€
And there were some outcomes that ended up in the other direction.
“We have to focus on finishing out the games,†forward C.J. Leslie said.Yet there’s something else out there that keeps the Wolfpack in the mix to turn the season into something special.
“Whenever we get it rolling,†Leslie said.
Bill Cole (Winston-Salem Journal)
Wolfpack has gone from favorite to long shot
N.C. State, the preseason favorite in the ACC, faces a long, hard road to the conference’s lone automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
To win the ACC Tournament title for the first time since 1987, the Wolfpack will have to win four games in four days — something no team has done since the ACC went to a four-day format in 1992.
State will play Virginia Tech in its opener at 2:30 today at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Coach Mark Gottfried said that after a regular season in which his team didn’t reach the level it wanted, the task ahead is a chance to get going but not impossible.
“There’s always a first,†Gottfried said Wednesday. “I think for us, the most important thing is to concentrate on one game. We’ve got to do that with Virginia Tech.
“And if you’re fortunate enough to get by that one, you go (on). You just keep going. I don’t think four games in four days is an issue. By the time you get to Sunday, if you’re lucky enough to get to Sunday, the other team (will be playing a third game). You’ve played four, so who cares?â€
Only three teams have played all four days and reached the title game — N.C. State in 1997 and 2007 and Georgia Tech in 2010 — and all three fell short on championship Sunday.
Senior Scott Wood has played in three ACC Tournaments and knows how demanding the event can be, but he sees no reason why the Wolfpack can’t survive the marathon.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest,†Wood said. “You’re going to have to win games anyway to win it all, so why not win one extra?â€
If there’s one team among the eight that will play today that appears capable of making the four-day run, it is N.C. State.
ACC BASKETBALL
FayObserver.com
ACC tournament countdown
5 TEAMS THAT CAN WIN IT
Miami
The Hurricanes (24-6) finished first in the regular season and should come into Greensboro with the motivation of proving that it wasn’t a fluke.Duke
With its full complement of weapons, the Blue Devils (27-4), ranked second in the nation, look to be regaining the dominant form they flashed earlier this season.North Carolina
Despite a loss to Duke on senior night, the Tar Heels (22-9) finished the season on the upswing and could get a rematch with the Blue Devils on Saturday.Virginia
The Cavaliers (21-10) own wins against several of the other league heavyweights and could use a solid showing to end any lingering NCAA tournament bubble drama.N.C. State
After being picked as the preseason favorite, the Wolfpack (22-9), despite their ups and downs, have the talent to cut down the nets Sunday.4 PLAYERS WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT
C.J. Leslie, N.C. State
Perhaps no player in the league is as polarizing as the Wolfpack’s junior forward. If Leslie shows up in Greensboro with the fire and focus he displayed toward the end of last season, he could power the Wolfpack to a deep run. If not, he will draw more criticism.3 HEADLINE-GRABBING POTENTIAL UPSETS
Thursday: No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 5 N.C. State
The Wolfpack needed overtime to beat the last-place Hokies at home in mid-February, although an illegal tip tied the score late in regulation. Erick Green did his customary damage, but N.C. State was also hurt by the 3-point shooting of Marshall Wood and Jarell Eddie. In seven ACC tournaments since Boston College became the league’s 12th member, the No. 12 seed defeated the No. 5 seed in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
Drink up and savor this ‘Cocktail Party,’ because after this one it won’t be the same
There’s a sense of melancholy surrounding this year’s Big East basketball tournament in New York.
For good reason.
This will be the event’s last hurrah because of the breakoff of the Catholic Seven and league’s imminent demise.
By comparison, there isn’t nearly as much nostalgia floating around Greensboro Coliseum this week as the ACC convenes for the 60th anniversary of its annual postseason soiree.
But there should be.
Because while the nation’s best, most-tradition laden tournament will continue on – at least in name – once the deck of conference realignment is officially reshuffled this summer, it will never be the same again.
With 15 teams, an extra day of games and very little at stake other than the trophy that’s handed out at the end, future ACC tournaments will look and feel more like a gathering of strangers than the family reunion it once was.
There are those who will argue that the event North Carolina coach Roy Williams likes to call “that big cocktail party†has already been irreparably harmed by the evolution that has taken place since the first round of league expansion nearly a decade ago.
Where once ticket books were so scarce and valuable that they were bequeathed to family members in wills and sold on the secondary market at the equivalent of a week’s salary, now there are so many empty seats that the service charge on StubHub was more than the actual ticket price for first-round games last year in Atlanta.
A big part of the problem is the addition of apathetic fan bases at Boston College and Miami, schools whose alumni have no emotional ties to the ACC or its tournament, and are located too far away to make the trip worth the time or effort. It’s a situation that will only become more exaggerated once – tradition be damned – three more new teams arrive next season and charter member Maryland leaves in 2014.
Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
Handicapping an unpredictable ACC tournament
THURSDAY
No. 8 Boston College vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech, noon: The young Eagles have grown up as the season has progressed and come into the tournament on a three-game winning streak. One of those wins was against the Yellow Jackets last Saturday. Led by ACC Rookie of the Year Olivier Hanlan and third-team all-league selection Ryan Anderson, BC should get it done again. BC 66, Tech 61.
No. 5 N.C. State vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech, 2:30 p.m.: This is a dangerous opener for the Wolfpack, who had to survive overtime against the last-place Hokies during the regular season. Coach Mark Gottfried’s team will have its hands full containing ACC Player of the Year Erick Green, but as long as C.J. Leslie decides to show up, State will survive and advance. State 77, Tech 69.
FRIDAY
No. 1 Miami vs. Boston College, noon: Miami will still have a hangover from cutting down the regular season nets last weekend, and the early starting time won’t help either. This one will be closer than it should be, but BC just won’t have the firepower to pull of the upset. Miami 57, BC 53.
No. 4 Virginia vs. N.C. State, 2:30 p.m.: This has the potential to be the best game of the tournament. Joe Harris and the Cavaliers desperately need a win to solidify their NCAA resume while the Wolfpack desperately needs this one to prove that it’s better than it showed at times during the regular season. UVa won the first meeting between these teams, but State’s Lorenzo Brown didn’t play the final 30 minutes. He’ll be on the court Friday. State 72, UVa 69.
SATURDAY
Miami vs. N.C. State, 1 p.m.: Remember that hangover I mentioned. Well, the hungry Wolfpack is just the kind of team that can take advantage of it. State needs and wants it more than the Hurricanes, who get caught looking ahead to the NCAA tourney. State 86, Miami 84.
SUNDAY
Duke vs. N.C. State, 1 p.m.: The Wolfpack runs out of gas in its fourth game in four days while the Blue Devils provide the usual result while rolling into the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and a favorite to cut down the nets again in Atlanta on April 8. Duke 87, N.C. State 79.
Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
Everything you need to know (and then some) about the ACC tournament field
1. Miami
Record: 24-6, 15-3 ACC
The High: The dominating victory over Duke on Jan. 23 started a skyrocket in the rankings and national spotlight for Miami. From receiving votes the week before to the top 10 in less than a month, Miami went nearly nine weeks without a loss.
The Low: With a chance to clinch the ACC regular-season title at home, the Canes grabbed a big early lead against Georgia Tech – then watched the freshman-dominated Jackets storm back for a win in Miami. The Canes got their title the next time out, but it was a shocking result.
You know these guys: Shane Larkin, Durand Scott, Kenny Kadji
But remember this guy: Trey McKinney Jones
Coming into Greensboro: It’s been a fight for the Hurricanes since their demolition of North Carolina on Feb. 9 in front of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Upset losses to Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and a couple of scares against Clemson have dented their reputation.
What they need leaving town: To regain their swagger. Reggie Johnson has been on the border of invisible in the last three games, and it’s putting extra pressure on the rest of the team. Regaining the balance that led them to the top of the ACC is paramount this week in Greensboro.2. Duke
Record: 27-4, 14-4 ACC
The High: Even with all the non-conference wins, the return of Ryan Kelly was the stuff of legend on an early Saturday evening against Miami. Thirty-six points and more “Can you believe itâ€s than anyone thought possible, the Blue Devils found themselves again.
The Low: When you’re called out by the perpetually positive Dick Vitale, you know it’s a bad day. Duke doesn’t have many of them, but the Devils sure did that awful Wednesday night in Miami.
You know these guys: Mason Plumlee, Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly
But remember this guy: Josh Hairston
Coming into Greensboro: The Devils have to be soaring after a clinical dismantling of archrival North Carolina on Saturday night in Chapel Hill.
What they need leaving town: Win or lose, continuing to merge Ryan Kelly back into the rotation is the key. In their past three games, Duke’s had two surreal shooting performances by an individual (Kelly vs. Miami) and as a team (at UNC). What happens when things level out?3. North Carolina
Record: 22-9, 12-6 ACC
The High: NC State had just scrambled into a lead midway through the second half at the Dean Dome before the Heels righted the ship on both ends of the floor and pulled away for a 76-65 win on Feb. 23 that pushed the Heels into the ACC’s top four to stay.
The Low: Some might say the loss at Miami, but getting the doors blown off at a once-in-a-generation-bad Texas team just before Christmas was pretty ugly.
You know these guys: James Michael McAdoo, Reggie Bullock, PJ Hairston
But remember this guy: Dexter Strickland
Coming into Greensboro: Well, the Heels thought they had everything figured out, then Duke ambushed them in the regular-season finale, Roy Williams’ first loss ever on Senior Day.
What they need leaving town: To be competitive. Carolina is 12-4 in its last 16 games, but three of the four losses have been blowouts (save a five-minute stretch of shooting late at NC State). Win or lose this week, Roy’s Boys don’t need another dud heading into the NCAAs.4. Virginia
Record: 21-10, 11-7 ACC
The High: Joe Harris vaulted onto the national scene and the ACC Player of the Year race when the Cavs beat Duke at home less than two weeks ago and seemed to be all the Cavs needed to get into the NCAA tournament.
The Low: Of course, then they went and blew their next two games on the road at Boston College and Florida State in gut-wrenching fashion to take old rival Virginia Tech’s perpetual spot on the bubble.
You know these guys: Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell, Jontel Evans
But remember this guy: Justin Anderson
Coming into Greensboro: Which Virginia team will we see? The one inspired by home games against Duke, UNC and NC State, or the one that got pounded at Clemson and couldn’t be three CAA teams.
What they need leaving town: Wins, as many as they can get.5. NC State
Record: 21-10, 11-7 ACC
The High: On Jan. 12, the nation looked on as NC State erased a demon against Duke, CJ Leslie saved a wheelchair-bound student from injury in a court-storming, and it was a great day to be a Wolfie.
The Low: Goodness, which heart-crushing, jaw-dropping, head-scratching loss would you like to choose? Maryland’s tip-in at the buzzer? Miami’s tip-in at the buzzer? Saturday’s fold at Florida State? State’s list of bizarre losses might top the league.
You know these guys: CJ Leslie, Lorenzo Brown, Richard Howell
But remember this guy: Rodney Purvis
Coming into Greensboro: The Wolfpack looked to have the ship righted with six wins in seven games, but a late-game collapse at Florida State brought up all the old bugaboos about heart, effort and organization at NC State.
What they need leaving town: NC State set its bar high after sterling ACC and NCAA tournaments and then didn’t live up to them with an above-average regular season. The bright lights are about to shine again. Will the Pack melt under them?12. Virginia Tech
Records: 13-18, 4-14 ACC
The High: The week after Thanksgiving, the Hokies beat Iowa in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge and then dominated an Oklahoma State team that dismantled NC State in the Caribbean to go to 7-0 on the season and thrust scoring machine Erick Green into the national spotlight.
The Low: Two weeks later, the Hokies lost to Georgia Southern – at home – and things never really were the same.
You know these guys: Erick Green, Erick Green and … Erick Green
But remember this guy: Cadarian Raines (but don’t forget about Erick Green)
Coming into Greensboro: Green’s swansong for the Hokies will likely be Thursday afternoon vs. NC State, but considering how the Wolfpack play defense sometimes, it might be a heck of a finale. The nation’s leading scorer has been simply amazing. Even if Green had only produced at a 90 percent level of what he’s done this year, Tech likely only would have won a handful games this season.
What they need leaving town: To go recruit and find someone that can score. Green’s load of the points will have to be replaced somehow moving forward.
Lauren Brownlow (accsports.com)
2013 ACC Tournament Preview
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Seed: 5
Record: 22-9, 11-7 ACC
Starters: G Lorenzo Brown (12.5 ppg, 6.6 apg), G/F Scott Wood (12.1 ppg, 42.4% 3-pt), F T.J. Warren (12.2 ppg, 61.3% FG), F C.J. Leslie (14.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg), F/C Richard Howell (12.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg)
Top Reserves: G Rodney Purvis (9.0 ppg, 39.5% 3-pt), G Tyler Lewis (3.6 ppg)
Chances Of Winning It All:
According to N.C. State, it’s all but a lock:
In all seriousness, N.C. State’s chances are as good as anyone’s. And as bad. Everyone has said all year that “when this team plays to its potential…â€, but that “when†has become an “ifâ€, especially after the loss at FSU to end the season. Can N.C. State win? Of course. The Wolfpack nearly beat Virginia without Lorenzo Brown for most of that game, and it matches up pretty well with a flailing Miami team. Depth is a problem, of course. But N.C. State is good enough. Will N.C. State win? How am I supposed to know? What do I look like? If I were that good at this, I would be living in a mansion in Las Vegas.
What N.C. State Must Avoid:
Foul trouble. The Wolfpack just doesn’t have the depth to sustain that, and it’s been a problem that has plagued this team in all of its losses. A thin roster + four games in a row + a seven-man rotation + foul trouble = loss. It’s science.
Record In Past ACC Tournaments: 65-49
ACC Tournament Titles: 10VIRGINIA
Seed: 4
Record: 21-10, 11-7 ACC
Starters: G Jontel Evans (4.4 ppg, 4.9 apg), G Paul Jesperson (5.1 ppg, 38.8% 3-pt), G Joe Harris (17.0 ppg, 44.4% 3-pt), G/F Justin Anderson (6.6 ppg, 2.2 apg), F Akil Mitchell (13.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg)
Top Reserves: F Mike Tobey (6.5 ppg), G/F Evan Nolte (6.0 ppg, 39.2% 3-pt, F Darion Atkins (5.2 ppg), G Teven Jones (2.7 ppg)
Chances Of Winning It All:
This is probably best summed up with a song from Cabaret. (Yes, I’m a musical nerd. Deal with it.) Maybe this time, the Cavaliers will close out games and take advantage of a bracket which sets up well for them. They beat N.C. State at home earlier this year and gave Miami a great game at Miami not too long ago. They can get to the finals, and if they do, they won’t be sweating out Selection Sunday. Lose in the quarters to N.C. State or Virginia Tech (especially the latter)? Yeah. (This is where I should also mention that UVa hasn’t played on Saturday in the ACC Tournament since 1995. So … yeah, again.)
What Virginia Must Avoid:
Long scoring droughts. Virginia is a much better offensive team than it was a year ago, but the Cavaliers are still prone to going for long stretches without scoring much, if at all. For nearly eight and a half minutes against Maryland at home on Sunday, the Cavaliers hit just one field goal. One. And they went nearly six minutes without any field goals, period. The drought allowed Maryland to take a 17-point lead, and Virginia just barely managed to climb out of that hole. It’s not a new problem for the Hoos, especially when Joe Harris isn’t hitting. And he can’t hit every shot.
Record In Past ACC Tournaments: 31-58
ACC Tournament Titles: 1VIRGINIA TECH
Seed: 12
Record: 13-18, 4-14 ACC
Starters: G Erick Green (25.4 ppg, 39.2% 3-pt, 3.9 apg), G Robert Brown (8.5 ppg), G/F Jarell Eddie (12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), F C.J. Barksdale (5.7 ppg), F Cadarian Raines (6.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Top Reserves: F Marshall Wood (3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg), F Joey van Zegeren (3.5 ppg), G Marquis Rankin (3.2 ppg), G Will Johnston (2.1 ppg, 36.2% 3-pt).
Chances Of Winning It All:
With all due respect to ACC Player of the Year Erick Green (yes, I voted for him), no. Just….no.
What Virginia Tech Must Avoid:
You know, that thing Virginia Tech does where Erick Green shows up and has a great game and all of his teammates are MIA? Don’t do that.
Record In Past ACC Tournaments: 6-8
ACC Tournament Titles: 0
Ben Swain (accsports.com)
ACCross The Web, March 14
One aspect of the format cannot be tinkered with, and that’s the inclusion of all 15 teams. The ACC Tournament has always been all-inclusive and it should remain that way until the end of the time. The tournament is the one time each year in which fans of all ACC schools can come together as one to sell their tickets to Duke and UNC fans, and that’s what makes the event so special. Any proposal that doesn’t include all ACC members should be immediately tossed in the trash.
Next … location. Sure, Greensboro is the ACC’s home, but it’s freaking Greensboro. Let’s be honest here, Stamey’s isn’t even good barbecue, and that’s the major draw to the Coliseum area. New York? Played out. Atlanta? Meh. Charlotte? Lame.
Atlantis? Ohhhh yeah. Let’s move this thing to the Bahamas. It’s kind of in the ACC footprint, right? Just have the tournament over Spring Break at the Atlantis resort. Boom.
That’s right, get all 15 ACC schools to coordinate their Spring Break calendars so each school’s students can attend and just have one big party. Forget ESPN, let’s get MTV to televise this thing. See what happens when 15 student bodies live together on an island, stop being polite, and start getting real. The ACC Tournament – that’s what happens.And since you’ve got the full week, use the full week. Top three seeds get byes, and the remaining 12 teams are blind-drawn into three pools of four teams each. Monday through Wednesday are round-robin games to determine a winner of each of the pools, and two wild-card teams are picked based on record, point differential, and fewest points allowed, leaving eight teams remaining in the tournament while the other teams get to kick it poolside for the rest of the week.
Ben Swain (sbnation.com)
ACC Tournament preview: Once more for old time’s sake
Adam Gold (WRALSportsfan.com)
Why local teams can or won’t win ACC tourney
With that said, we have three of the top five seeded teams in the 60th renewal of the very best dadgum conference basketball tournament in the world, so let’s examine why each of the three “can” and “won’t” cut down the nets Sunday afternoon.
North Carolina State had either a very good, disappointing regular season, or a very disappointing, good first phase of the year. It really depends on your perspective. It’s not like the Wolfpack went 7-11, you know. And, the die-hards will remind you that three of those losses came without Lorenzo Brown on the floor, so if you adjusted the record to reflect that, State was 11-4 with their full compliment on the court.
N.C. State can win it because, in all honesty, this is still the most talented roster in the league. For that reason, they’re still a team that can be the last one standing come Sunday afternoon.
When the mood strikes, Calvin Leslie can be the most dynamic player in the ACC. Lorenzo Brown is one of the best point guards in the country. And, with the likes of Richard Howell inside and Scott Wood outside, it’s hard to imagine this team being as beatable as they’ve been for the last four months. At some point, it becomes about the players, and if State ever reaches that point it will be an absolute joy to behold.
I said it during their game against Connecticut in New York; if this team committed to playing hard defensively and unselfish offensively, they have the makings of a national championship contender.
Unfortunately, the spring equinox and the positioning of Saturn in the western sky aren’t aligned enough to expect this group to do something they haven’t done all year; win four consecutive ACC games. And, considering they have to win four in a row to win this tournament, I’m going to say emphatically that it’s not going to happen for this group. Could it happen? I guess. But so far, this has proven to be a team that simply can’t handle success. Every significant victory in conference play was followed up with a loss and a period of less-than-inspiring play.
It’s too easy to lay the blame at the feet of Leslie, who seems to be the barometer for how this team is feeling on a day-to-day basis. But, let me ask this question: What are the expectations for this team –for this program? All great programs have a certain standard of performance that is demanded.
Whether it’s Duke, North Carolina, Michigan State, Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida or VCU, it doesn’t matter. A certain level of performance – which, in my view, differs from success – is not only expected, but demanded. When that standard isn’t met there are consequences.
I could be wrong, but either the standard isn’t high enough, or it’s been ignored. Regardless, that’s a failure of leadership, and until that improves it’s hard to fathom the team or this program reaching the levels that Wolfpack fans desire and deserve.
Joe Ovies (WRALSportsfan.com)
How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday
Much like vinyl and mobile phones that simply make voice calls, the ACC Tournament is never going to make a real comeback. The glory days of playing hooky on Friday and jaunting off to Greensboro have given way to a diluted affair old-timers love to ridicule.
The ACC Tournament will be forced to stretch out even further with the additions of Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh for the 2013-14 season. Throw in Louisville as Maryland’s replacement the following year and the tournament will be at 15 teams for the foreseeable future.
As fans and media, we have two options: hope that the ACC scraps the traditional tournament format for something fresh or find a way to get over the nostalgia and just have fun with what we’ve got.
The chances of the first option are slim to none because the ACC dangled the spectacle of the tournament as a carrot to entice defecting Big East schools. Since everybody is showing up to the cocktail party, there’s really only one format that can squeeze in all the action over five days. Teams seeded No. 10 through No. 15 would play on Wednesday while the 8th and 9th seeds would open up play on Thursday. Seeds No. 5 through No. 7 would await the winners of Wednesday’s action on Thursday and the top four seeds would get a double-bye to Friday.
No. 5 NC State vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech
What to expect: The Wolfpack needed overtime to beat the Hokies at PNC Arena. Erick Green is going to get his, so NC State has to do a better job of making sure Jarrell Eddie doesn’t add another 17 points in this meeting.#goacc quotient: Extremely high just for NC State “stuff” alone. For bonus giggles, there will be plenty of “Wood” in this game thanks to Scott Wood and Marshall Wood.
MULTIMEDIA/PODCASTS
GoPack.com
Pack Opens Play In The 60th ACC Tournament Thursday
NC State opens play in the 60th ACC Tournament Thursday at the Greensboro Coliseum against Virginia Tech at 2 p.m.
State head coach Mark Gottfried took time to discuss the challenges of trying to play four games in four days and facing a Virginia Tech team that boasts the nation’s top scorer, Erick Green.
No. 5 NC State (22-9, 11-7 ACC) vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech (13-18, 4-14 ACC)
2 p.m. | Greensboro, N.C.
Greensboro Coliseum (23,745)
NC State in the ACC Tournament
Overall: 65-49 (.570)
In Greensboro: 21-21 (.500)
Under Gottfried 2-1 (.667)
As a No. 5 seed: 5-6 (.455)
Vs. No. 12 seed: 1-1 (.500)
Vs. Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament: 1-0 (1.000)
GoPack.com
Howell, Wood Savor Final ACC Tournament
Seniors Richard Howell and Scott Wood will play their third ACC Tournament on the Greensboro Coliseum court starting tomorrow afternoon. Today, the Pack took part in an open practice and media session in Greensboro, and GoPack.com followed the Pack’s seniors.
Matt Carter and Jacey Zembal (TheWolfpacker.com)
NC State aiming for four straight at ACC Tourney (Video/Audio Interviews)
WRALSportsfan.com
Wood: Now’s the time more than ever
NC State’s Scott Wood said that now’s the time more than ever to play well.
WRALSportsfan.com
Purvis: We’re kind of fed up
The Wolfpack’s Rodney Purvis said the team is kind of fed up with what everyone is saying and they’re ready to play.
WRALSportsfan.com
Brown: That made us more hungry
NC State guard Lorenzo Brown said the close loses during the season made them more hungry coming into the ACC tournament.
WRALSportsfan.com
Leslie: We’re capable of doing more
NC State’s C.J. Leslie said the team is capable of doing more than they have and that they haven’t played their best yet.
WRALSportsfan.com
Green: You gotta come to play
Virginia Tech’s Erick Green said the team has to come to play and their overtime loss to NC State has made them more confident coming into Thursday’s game.
WRALSportsfan.com
Wolfpack prep to face nation’s leading scorer
After falling to the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament, the North Carolina State Wolfpack have been prepping to face Erick Green, who leads both the conference and the country in scoring.
WRALSportsfan.com
Medlin: NC State still has much to prove in Greensboro
Thanks to a disappointing regular season, NC State heads to Greensboro looking to prove its doubters wrong as the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament.
CONFERENCE EXPANSION
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Are you faster?
The ACC is not the college basketball speed demon it once was–five seasons ago, for example, the league ranked second among all conferences in tempo, and this year it ranks 13th. That represents a decrease of more than four possessions per 40 minutes in the average conference game. Maryland, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Clemson pumped the brakes following recent coaching changes, which explains in part why the league is slower these days.
So what about the new guys? They gonna give us a boost in the tempo department? Well… no. Below I’ve charted each team’s adjusted tempo over the last five years, with national ranking in parentheses.
[snip]
There are a lot of factors that can affect a team’s tempo in any given season, but as things stand right now, it doesn’t look like the ACC’s new additions are going to provide a boost in pace. The Irish and Panthers are playing at a Virginia-esque pace this season. All three are outstanding programs and improve ACC basketball significantly, mind you; they just may not seduce you with their transition games.
NCAA
Jay Coleman, Mike DuMond, & Allen Lynch
NCAA Tournament “Dance Card”
Below are rankings of all NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams through the games of Tuesday, March 12, 2013, according to the “Dance Card” formula developed by Jay Coleman of the University of North Florida, Mike DuMond of Charles River Associates, and Allen Lynch of Mercer University.
Rank… Team…….. Chance of Bid
2…… Duke…….. 100.00%
8…… Miami….. 100.00%
10….. Michigan……. 100.00%
20….. Oklahoma St…… 100.00%
28….. UNC……… 99.99%
31….. NC State…. 99.92%
50….. Kentucky……… 66.80%
THE BUBBLE BURST HERE
51….. Virginia… 55.09%
57….. Stanford…. 20.82%
65….. UMass….. 0.59%
68….. Arizona State…. 0.08%
71….. Florida State…. 0.05%
TeamRankings.com
Bracketology 2013
N.C. State Wolfpack NCAA Tournament Bracketology Projection
Make Tournament: 95.2%
Prediction Seed: 8 or 9 (18.0% each)NCAA Tournament Odds To Advance By Round
Round of 32: 48.7%
Sweet 16: 18.8%
Elite 8: 7.6%
Final Four: 2.8%
Final: 0.9%
Champion: 0.3%
RealTimeRPI.com
Bracket Projections – Men’s Basketball (2012-2013)
Last update: 2013-03-13 11:44
Duke (1), Miami (1), UNC (5), NCSU (8)
Bracketproject.50webs.com
The 2013 Bracket Matrix
Matrix Last Updated: 3/13/13 11:06 PM
Seed… Avg Seed… # of Brackets… Team
1……… 1.00………… 98……………… Duke
3……… 2.54………… 98……………… Michigan
2……… 2.50………… 98……………… Miami
4……… 4.35………… 98……………… Oklahoma State
7……… 7.15………… 98……………… North Carolina
8……… 8.13………… 98……………… NC State
OUT…….. 11.74……….. 23……………… Virginia
Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com)
2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament Prediction
Bracket updated on: Wed Mar 13 22:15
Duke (1), Miami (3), North Carolina (8), NC State (9)
Jeff Borzello (CBSSports.com)
Poppin’ Bubbles: Teams ahead of cutline begin to separate
Bubble teams have only days to make an impression, and Wednesday has several meaningful games. Some teams on the cutline need to win in order to feel safe, while others need deep runs in the conference tournament to get a bid. An early exit for any of these bubble teams could mean they are sweating until Selection Sunday.
Note: This page will be updated throughout the day with bubble discussion and analysis.
Winners
San Diego State: The Aztecs were in good shape heading into the Mountain West tournament, but a loss to Boise State in the quarterfinals wouldn’t have been great news. However, they avenged a season finale loss to the Broncos by making plays down the stretch and getting the win. As a result, they should be in the field of 68. They have very solid computer numbers and five wins against the top 40 of the RPI. Moreover, they don’t have a single loss outside the top 100. They may be fourth in the Mountain West pecking order, but they will be dancing.
Colorado: Essentially cemented itself into the NCAA tournament by beating Oregon last week, but the Buffaloes followed that up with a home loss to Oregon State to end the season. Had they lost to Oregon State again in the first game of the Pac-12 tournament, they might have had some nervous nights until Selection Sunday. However, the return of Andre Roberson propelled Colorado to a victory, and now the Buffaloes should be headed to the NCAA tournament. Their RPI took a hit with the loss to Oregon State last week, but their computer numbers and SOS are still very solid. A 9-8 record against the top 100 — including wins over Arizona and Colorado State — is also good.
Arizona State: It’s not even close to enough, but at least Arizona State is keeping its at-large hopes alive. The Sun Devils held on to beat Stanford in overtime, buoyed by Jahii Carson’s 34 points, and advance to face UCLA in Thursday’s quarterfinals. They still need to make a run to the title game — and even that might not be enough. The RPI is in the 90s and the non-conference SOS is hovering around the 300 mark. Arizona State does have two wins over Colorado, as well as victories against California and UCLA. A couple more key wins could get the Sun Devils back into the discussion. As of now, they are still a distance away.
Losers
Stanford: Back-to-back wins to end the regular season — including a road win at California — put Stanford on the outskirts of the bubble, but the Cardinal needed a deep run in the Pac-12 tournament. That won’t be happening, as a late comeback fell short. As it stands, Stanford simply doesn’t have the resume to get a bid. There is a sweep of California and a win over Oregon, but that’s basically it. They are 2-9 against the top 50 and 6-12 against the top 100, with two sub-100 losses. It’s a young roster, though, so Stanford should be able to improve next year.
Joe Lunardi (ESPN.com)
Bracketology
Updated March 13, 2013
Duke (1), Miami (2), North Carolina (7), NC State (8), Virginia (11)
HUMOR
Gamedayr (gamedayr.com)
The Simpsons re-create the ACC teams based on characters and stereotypes [Photo]
What school did you go to?
It doesn’t matter, because The Simpsons have plenty of characters at this point (it’s been on TV for 20-jillion years, after all) to make fun of your institution.
One of Reddit’s many community members used The Simpsons to stereotype each of the ACC schools and we have to say it’s pretty on point.
