*State-Villanova was everything that’s great about March Madness. It was a physical, hard-fought game between two good teams that remained either’s to win until the final seconds. It’s fair to say Villanova got a tough draw with a physical — albeit, unpredictable — State team that probably would’ve been a five or six seed with wins over Wake Forest and/or Boston College.
*For Villanova’s part, all speed bumps aside, Jay Wright and his team were nothing but a class act after the game.
Good luck to @Mark_Gottfried and @PackMensBball the rest of the way. A hard fought, great college basketball game
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) March 22, 2015
*It’s also fair to say that State can beat anyone left in the East Region. That’s not saying we will, but State has beaten teams as good (Louisville, Carolina), or better (Duke), than Villanova this season. And State took conference champion Notre Dame and two-seed Virginia to the wire in Raleigh.
NC State is the 4th school to beat a 1 seed in the Round of 32 in the last 5 years.
The previous 3 teams all reached the Final Four.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 22, 2015
*Lacey, Cat and Abu have been reliable as usual. The difference has been other guys stepping up when needed: Kyle and Beejay late Thursday against LSU; against Villanova, Freeman with 11 points and 12 boards in 27 mins; Turner with four late free throws; and Des is playing on both ends like a guy who doesn’t want his career to end.
*Two minutes that changed the game: with 1:48 left in the first half and Villanova leading 28-25, Caleb completed a four-point play then boarded a Villanova miss, then at 0:04 Beejay blocked a shot that forced a held ball and a possession arrow turnover, and then Lacey drained a long three as time expired, and the Pack took 7-0 run and a 32-28 lead into the half. State never trailed again, but only won by three.
*It’s a scary/exciting thought that State hasn’t played to its full potential since the Pittsburgh game in the ACC Tournament. But we’ll probably need some perimeter shots to start falling to advance past Friday.
*It’s fun winning in March, and for those of us who cut our teeth in the late 80s and then endured the 90s, we’re enjoying it, because it’s only our third Sweet 16 since 1989 (2005, 2012).
*Old MacDonald had a farm. Survive and advance.
