Random Fact that may only interest me

11-12 Basketball 12-13 Basketball College Basketball Mark Gottfried NC State NCS Basketball NCSU Sports History Stat of the Day16

Taking a title that is used in Peter King’s weekly MMQB column on SI.com, I see a pattern when it comes to NC State and the NCAA Tournament. It seems like every time this century when the Wolfpack makes the tournament they wind up playing the first game of the day. State has been to the dance now 7 times this century. Let’s see what the start times have been:

2002: Michigan State Friday at 12:15 PM
2003: California Thursday at 12:15 PM
2004: Louisiana-Lafayette Friday at 12:15 PM
2005: Charlotte Friday at 12:15 PM
2006: California Friday at 7:20 PM
2012: San Diego State Friday at 12:40 PM
2013: Temple Friday at 1:40 PM

Number of times State has played the first game of the day at the site: 6 out of 7
Number of times State has played on Friday: 6 out of 7
Number of times State has played the first game of the afternoon or evening session: 7 out of 7

What does all this mean? Nothing really. Just some interesting factoids that I have noticed. I could give probabilities but it is too early in the morning for those.

About ruffles31

1996 NC State graduate who is still waiting on his first ACC conference championship in any of the four main revenue sports (football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and baseball) since enrolling. All I want is a ACC Champions t-shirt.

11-12 Basketball 12-13 Basketball College Basketball Mark Gottfried NC State NCS Basketball NCSU Sports History Stat of the Day

16 Responses to Random Fact that may only interest me

  1. rdjennin 03/21/2013 at 8:40 AM #

    What it says, is that we are not worth of being a later matchup. If we were later in the day then more important games would be happening earlier in the day and people would have to take off work to watch them.

    I kind of like being early, get it done and rest up.

  2. JohnGalt78 03/21/2013 at 8:49 AM #

    Would be interesting to see the same numbers for the blues. Perhaps we could start another conspiracy.

  3. timswar 03/21/2013 at 8:56 AM #

    I have no doubt that, were he still at NCSU, this would infuriate TOB.

    As it is, I kinda like it that the team is able to get their first game done with early in the day so if they win they’ve got plenty of time to rest up for their next game.

  4. Khan 03/21/2013 at 9:08 AM #

    Over 6 of those 7 tournaments, we are also 100% effective at avoiding the final game. I doubt there’s any correlation to the stat you mentioned, but it’s one that I’d like to see a decrease in after this tournament. 🙂

  5. WV Wolf 03/21/2013 at 9:43 AM #

    Thanks for the info, good stuff.

    I remember it sucked in 03 when we were the very first game of the tourney and lost. 2 hours into March Madness, majority of the field haven’t even laced up the sneakers yet and State was already eliminated.

  6. JEOH2 03/21/2013 at 9:53 AM #

    Not even so much the physical rest factor but mentally…playing early gives no time to stew around and pysch yourself out waiting for a late game…also prevents you from scoreboard watching…you wake up, get breakfast, warm-up, and just play…

  7. NCSU84 03/21/2013 at 10:24 AM #

    I agree with what has been stated. It is all about television ratings and who can attract the largest audience during prime time. Obviously, we do not measure up – yet. Hopefully, that is about to change. I mean who really wanted to see the boring Princeton style offense we had (2002 – 2006)? Everyone (except HWSNBN) knows that style of play will never win a championship.

  8. FergusWolf 03/21/2013 at 10:46 AM #

    To the opposite, I was thinking how fortunate we were not to have to play until Friday.

    This year in particular with the injury to Richard “The Beast” Howell, the extra means a lot.

    In a few of those other cases, there were ACC tourney games on Saturday or Sunday. I’ll take the rest.

    Personally, I like the excuse to leave work early a couple days a year, so the early game is fine with me!

  9. howlie 03/21/2013 at 11:31 AM #

    I guess I would wonder [in this year’s case, for example] if the empty bracket schedule already had the start times shown before the Selection Committee did its work; or,
    if this was done by the TV networks–determining which game they wanted televised according to ratings?

    IF the later, it does show we have a way to go to reclaim what was stolen from us by the UNC-system BoG almost 30 years ago

  10. Mike 03/21/2013 at 11:34 AM #

    The early game does have advantages, both mentally and physically. Also, if we win Friday, we will be matched against Indiana, most likely in the 1 PM game, which should be the main Sunday early game matchup and a large TV audience.

  11. Mike 03/21/2013 at 11:37 AM #

    Howlie, the times are determined by the networks in conjunction with regions. While it is not possible to account for every team and every game with no overlap, the networks do try to spread out the games in a region.

    For example, NCSU, Dook, and UNX all play at different times on Friday so our area can watch each of the games without choice. Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State etc would be a similar example.

    Having said that, it does not always work out that way but we do get the early game so UNX and Dook can get the coveted night slots for higher ratings.

  12. STLPack01 03/21/2013 at 3:24 PM #

    Network execs know that we are loyal and will watch our team any time of day. It’s an easy programming decision on their part.

  13. maverick_ncsu 03/21/2013 at 3:29 PM #

    Personally, I really like playing before Indiana so that when we beat Temple, our guys can focus on watching their next opponent. If Indiana played first, coach should not and would not let them watch it live. And it’s not like it is a 12:15 tip. It’s closer to 2 and so it’s not very early.

    Plus, this year I would take an early Friday game over a later Thursday game because of the needed rest for our team.

  14. 13OT 03/21/2013 at 4:06 PM #

    I think it’s the NRFPT thingie.

  15. PoppaJohn 03/21/2013 at 7:01 PM #

    Another factoid? In none of those years did we win the tourney!
    Coincidence? I think so.

  16. Alpha Wolf 03/22/2013 at 12:28 AM #

    Neither has New Mexico, Harvard, Colorado or a few others.

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