[ncsu1987]

^Ok, that made me laugh.

[ncsu1987]

For the love of pete can we stop with the “Gott haters”, if you cannot have a disagreement with someone without calling them a “hater” then this site is probably not for you.

Rick, that’s a fair criticism, and I acknowledge the poor wording.

[ncsu1987]

^ OMG, this!

[ncsu1987]

So rather than add to the opinion-based arguments…

Oh, come on. Jump in like the rest of us! Facts, schmacts, who needs ’em. Step outside your comfort zone!

LOL, thanks for the level-set, Va. I react emotionally to nonfactual posts by posting one of my own. Nice. You don’t miss much, do ya?

[ncsu1987]

After this past weekend’s games, my view on this has solidified. As I see it, there are two possibilities:

1) I have no idea what constitutes a charge vs. a block vs. a no-call; or
2) The NCAA officials have no idea of the same

My best first-approximation says that it is likely both.

I’m 50 years old, and I’ve been watching basketball religiously for about 42 of them. We’ve almost reached the point where, for me, it’s truly unwatchable. Not sure why (other than blind loyalty) I keep coming back.

A strong symptom of this is the fact that once NCSU was bounced from the tourney, I rapidly lost interest. Ten years ago, that would have been unthinkable. But it’s a trend that gets worse every year. I can tell myself that it’s my age, it’s my busy schedule, it’s this and it’s that. But I have a strong suspicion that this thread hits closer to the mark.

Unpredictable and utterly inconsistent officiating is killing my favorite sport in the world.

I’d be interested to know if there’s even one person on this thread who believes that they understand the details and who also believes that officials are consistently interpreting a sane rule book?

[ncsu1987]

I don’t get the logic that says “we have transfers” therefore “the program is in trouble” or “we need a new coach”. Transfers are a normal part of the process for a program on the rise. I see it as a very healthy forward-looking indicator of the positive trajectory of our nascent program.

Oh, sure, I get it for the perennial Gott haters – it’s a convenient hook on which to hang their hat. Between 3 consecutive NCAA appearances and 70 wins in those 3 years, there’s precious little else for them.

I will miss Tyler Lewis, because I have enjoyed watching him play. I wish him the absolute best of luck, and thank him for his time with the Wolfpack. As to the why, despite what some of you seem to think, it really is ok that he gets to make the call, and we don’t get to know exactly why.

[ncsu1987]

Nice find. Given the overall philosophy of expectations, accountability and aggressive growth since the hire of our new AD, I’m not even a little bit surprised to know that we’re on a rather steep upward trajectory.

I am absolutely shocked, however, that we’re 12th overall. Makes me wonder what our ceiling might be if, as you say, the on-the-court performance could catch up.

[ncsu1987]

Thanks for the comments, folks. The score I can see anytime, but the comments help with the non-visual suffering. I must say, “seeing” the game f’d up vicariously through these comments is somehow MORE infuriating than watching at home.

Keep em coming, pls, tho, it’s all I got. And it beats the hell out of worrying over consolidated project plans.

[ncsu1987]

If anybody gets a free second, is there a game update for us working stiffs?

[ncsu1987]

What is it about this game that drags me back in? Every time I go through this, I swear I have to give it up, that I won’t let it tear the heart out of me. And yet there I was, again, last night – my figurative bowl in hand, figuratively asking the fates “Please, sir, may I have another….”

One of the earlier posts (Ms. Wuffette, perhaps?) rang true for me: you can’t look at aggregate stats to adjudicate the impact of officials. Just because the number of fouls called on both teams was the same doesn’t have anything to do with the impact of an individual call. In three games this year, we’ve had calls with game-changing impact and all three have gone against NC State.

There’s merit to the argument that we had opportunities outside those calls in every game. I 100% agree. In all three, I think, we could have won the game from the free throw line, but we didn’t. So yes, on the missed opportunities.

Why can’t both be true?

And I’m really, really tired of the argument that calling out the refs is “whining” because they should have just executed or “made the play.” That phrase in particular grates on me. Because I counter that with “We DID make the play you’re asking for, it was just taken away.” Wake game: defender DID make the play you wanted, he made the guard change direction and pick up dribble to create the turnover – it just wasn’t called. Syracuse: Kyle and TJ DID make the play you wanted – it was just taken away. UNC: the team DID make the plays at the end of regulation and in OT – they worked the ball into the hands of the ACC’s leading scorer (just like it was drawn up) to put themselves in position to win – it was just taken away. So, in the end, are you really saying “Well, so they should have made one MORE play…?”

When young teams play more talented, more experienced teams, the margin for error from a win perspective is near zero. In games like that, bad calls DO alter the outcome. Yes, one more well executed play or made free throw could have won the game. But when so many good plays WERE made, we shouldn’t be asking for “one more” because of incompetency.

So proud that the staff is able to keep the team playing at this level, even after all the adversity. So proud of the team for responding with such an amazing effort and game. People will be talking about this one for a long time.

[ncsu1987]

So here’s my beef with the call, and subsequent analysis. If your end-all, be-all is the rule book, then yes, technically Stuart made the right call, as far as I know. My problem is, it’s almost NEVER called this way. Why pick that time, that situation to inexplicably rediscover your rule book?

Does anybody on this board doubt that any Orange player gets that call, situations reversed? Does anybody have the slightest doubt that any player in a blue uniform gets this call home or away? If you disagree with this, consider this question: can you imagine any other situation where an all-ACC player, leading the league in scoring, doesn’t get this call?

Ok, so maybe you still think I’m crazy. Still think I’m in fringe territory. If so, pick up your precious rule book and answer me this: where the **** was your rule book when the WF guard took his three steps earlier this year? You can’t have it both ways.

EDIT: Oh, and I agree with btown from page 2 – we should stop saying the guys should have made this play or that play. When you’re unranked and hungry, playing #1 at home, the margin is near zero. KW and TJ MADE the play you’re asking for.

[ncsu1987]

Although I am greatly enjoying the national exposure, I believe much of this is precursor to a giant shift away from “UNC the corrupt, win at all costs diploma factory” to “national crisis UNC as poster child for victimized university admins.”

I’m too old, and too jaded to expect anything of substance to be laid at their feet.

I should be happy with the demise of the “Carolina Way”. Been a good while since anybody had the balls to say that in my presence.

But I’m not satisfied. I want them punished for the unprecedented wholesale disregard for the rules. Unlike most, I don’t want the banners to come down. I want them forced to modify the banners with a giant x-mark or enormous asterisk, forced to acknowledge these ill gotten gains, and have the athletic programs punished commensurate to the scale of their transgressions.

At the end of the day, it’s not going to happen. But I’m still watching.

[ncsu1987]

“Sail with the Pilot,…”

Great analysis, as always. Opportunity to make the Dance, I think, but close to zero margin for error.

Love the take on the Twerps’ schedule, hadn’t seen that called out before.

[ncsu1987]

Feels like a loss, but credit to the guys to pull it out.

Buckets will face head games the REST of the season. That’s a head scratcher. Don’t think he did himself any favors tonight, from a college or pro perspective. Really want to know what happened there.

Guys, I felt ok after Missouri, but this feels like serious regression.

[ncsu1987]

Is it just me, or does the team look tired AGAIN?

[ncsu1987]

Wow, this is starting to look really familiar.

[ncsu1987]

^great post, Alpha.

[ncsu1987]

“Hmm. So haith is the bad coach here?”

What precisely is the basis for this comment?

[ncsu1987]

This team is fun to watch. Tigers got nearly every break, bounce and call to end the half, but Pack still leads by two. Gott squeezed most of the half protecting Barber after the quick two fouls. WBS with quality time. I like where we sit.

[ncsu1987]

Great opportunity for the young team.

[ncsu1987]

Looks great, guys. Kudos on the new WP theme. First light on my new iPad Air, everything seems to work flawlessly. Font choice is excellent, razor sharp on the display. Somebody on the team knows his WP themes…

If my avatar is correct on this post, it might confirm Wuf’s post re: gravatar. Love the new layout. I will test on iPhone 5 later to give any feedback on the responsive design.

[ncsu1987]

“Yes, I did have to use google to find out who this is.”

Me, too, but I’m glad I did.

I understand the challenges associated with staging such a game in the old barn, but the environment and experience were singular. It’s worth some hard work to make it happen.

[Author]

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