Slow News Day

Undoubtedly, you noticed that we didn’t post any news yesterday afternoon. That’s because…there isn’t much to tell. This phenomenon is not limited to us – just take a look at this article from the N&O. It seems to be the primary focus of message board traffic this morning, and it tells you…basically nothing. If anything, it should make you feel much better about Chris Wright. Based on his mother’s comments, it seems like he definitely liked the whole NC State package – not just the coaching staff.

The only other new front is the Tubby Smith rumblings. As far rumors go, we can confirm (based on SFN’s own sources) that this is legitimate, and has been since Sunday. It’s still very unclear how deep and/or mutual this interest may be.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

Alums General Media NCS Basketball

116 Responses to Slow News Day

  1. Mike 04/05/2006 at 8:24 AM #

    Chris Wright may still come. We can hope so. Given a choice however, of Sendek/Wright or a coach and Wright elsewhere, I will take the right coach without Wright.

  2. Waxhaw 04/05/2006 at 8:27 AM #

    I agree Mike. I don’t understand why people think one player is worth more than the coach and potentially the entire program. I want Chris Wright badly, as long as he is a good fit with the new coach and their system. If he is, I think we have a good shot at keeping him.

  3. BJD95 04/05/2006 at 8:28 AM #

    Agree with both of you. But all things being equal, I’d rather have a point guard than not! 🙂

  4. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 8:37 AM #

    Slow news day — aaaaargh!

    Someone give me the no-news-is-good-news scenario. I’m a State fan who lived through the 90s, so I fear the other shoe dropping. However, I *am* a State fan from the ’80s, so I know about hope.

  5. yannes 04/05/2006 at 8:38 AM #

    Mothers mean a lot and State will need a PG, badly. I think that Wright really wanted to come to a good ACC team to compete and show off his stuff. He saw that State would have no one at the point in 2007, and took the opportunity to (most likely) become a starter as a freshman. He probably also liked that Herb was smart and a nice guy (I believe that Chris Wright has a 4.0 high school GPA).

    If we get a decent coach, he should be back. If on the off chance we get Wright or Beilein, then we shouldn’t lose a single recruit.

  6. wopacker1980 04/05/2006 at 8:40 AM #

    If you get the right coach then the PG thing will take care of itself.

  7. Rick 04/05/2006 at 8:42 AM #

    I have seen him play and am convinced he will be a great player. I hope he comes here but given only two options I would rather lose Wright if it meant keeping Herb.

    And I hope no news is good news but I am going nuts with this stuff.

  8. Sam '92 04/05/2006 at 8:42 AM #

    the promising thing about the Barnes possibility is that his true motivation for coming to n.c. state would be to outperform Duke and UNC, or be on their level, anyway.

    ok, maybe he wants to be back in N.C., but i can’t imagine that feeling is so strong since he has such a good thing going at Texas. Texas will probably match the money, and he has outstanding job security there, great facilities, etc.

    so, he must be thinking about what we’ve got that Texas doesn’t — the most competitive basketball scenario in the country — and wanting it, which is exactly the way we want our next coach to think

    grab the ring Rick!

  9. Mr O 04/05/2006 at 8:46 AM #

    Normally, one player is not worth more than a coach. I agree there. But it also can depend on the current status of the program and how much of an impact that player might have.

    You could certainly look back a mere 5 years ago and look at Julius Hodge to see what type of impact 1 player can have on a program. Prior to Julius Hodge arriving at NC State – 13 straight years and not a single NCAA tournament bid.

    After Julius Hodge arrived at NC State – 5 straight NCAA tournament bids, one of the best ACC records in conference play, two ACC finals appearances, a Sweet 16 and 3 rounds of 32. Our program’s image overall has improved tremendously (proof being all the flack we get from other fans and media who think we should be happy with these results).

    At the time, our program was at a point where 1 player could make a huge impact because we were so bad at the time. However, this time around it appears unlikely that a single player can impact our program like Julius Hodge did because we are already pretty good.

    Looking back, retaining Sendek to not lose Julius Hodge worked out pretty well. Our program is much, much stronger overall and maybe in a position where we can lure a big name coach. So in that case it could be argued that making a decision based on 1 player was a smart move by the administration.

    I think we will have a great shot at Chris Wright in the end.

  10. Clarksa 04/05/2006 at 8:52 AM #

    Hey Beo…no news is good news!

    Everyone should be ready for the implosion if Barnes really says no…

  11. Mike 04/05/2006 at 8:54 AM #

    Agreed O, but again, putting all eggs on one player in this day and age is risky. If you told me that one player would be DT or MJ, maybe. In today’s game, we plan on Wright for WTNNY, and he stays one year…..what have we gained except one year? Give me the coach to develop players any day.

  12. Trout 04/05/2006 at 8:57 AM #

    “13 straight years and not a single NCAA tournament bid.”

    Actually 10.

  13. Trout 04/05/2006 at 8:57 AM #

    “Everyone should be ready for the implosion if Barnes really says no…”

    Then start preparing for the implosion

  14. BJD95 04/05/2006 at 9:00 AM #

    I don’t think it’s unreasonable for no news to be good news.

  15. Cardiff Giant 04/05/2006 at 9:01 AM #

    If Barnes comes here, great. Some have speculated that the longer he remains on the radar the better it is for us. Who knows? It’s beyond my control anyway.

    I do know that as of this moment – 10:11 AM April 5 – he has not said no, and is still a contender for the job. So I am not going to join the sulkers just yet.

  16. Trout 04/05/2006 at 9:02 AM #

    ^ Agree. I do think NC State fans should be prepared for a Plan B scenario thbough (Plan B meaning no Barnes, Cal or Wright, etc)

  17. RAW 04/05/2006 at 9:06 AM #

    I am still betting ( hoping! ) that State hires Tubby or Pitino.

  18. yannes 04/05/2006 at 9:09 AM #

    Cardiff et al.:

    I find it interesting that Barnes has said no to everyone, but NC State. I do not know if Lee Fowler has asked Barnes directly and officially yet, but apparently he hasn’t said no in an officialy capacity. The N&O asked RB’s brother, who apparently was told by RB that he wasn’t interested in the NC State job.

    Anyone knows what all of this means?

  19. beowolf 04/05/2006 at 9:09 AM #

    I’ll be sorely disappointed if/when he does turn us down, no doubt. It concerns me that Trout just posted that. But Barnes is just one of the big fish we’re trying to hook. Just about every “name” coach we’ve talked — the prospect of seeing any of them coach in Raleigh about excites me.

  20. JeremyHyatt 04/05/2006 at 9:10 AM #

    Um, does Archie Miller and the rest of the coaching staff go with Sendek or is that still up in the air. Did Sendek ask if he could bring them along, does he have a coaching staff allowance? I don’t know how that works in this situation. If i was them i would probably go; Arizona has almost no humidity, even when its hot, its like dry heat. And its a great place if you have allergies.

    That’s nice that Chris Wright’s mom said that, but it doesn’t mean much astthis point. Let’s see who we get and who tries to woe (sp?) him.

    No news is crappy news; i dunno, i was thinking this will either be resolved very soon or not for several weeks. I don’t know about these reports that Barnes loves Texas, of course he does, but that doesn’t mean he is not open to a possibility at State. A potential reason things are quiet is that he is waiting for UT to restructure his contract before he gives the official no. That would be sad.

  21. jeff_c 04/05/2006 at 9:11 AM #

    I will not be imploading until Fowler is introducing some guy I’ve never heard of as the new coach. Even then, as long as the guy is not scared of his own shadow, shows some disipline and a desire to win, I’ll get over my disapointment the he’s not Barnes or Wright or Calipari. Just some damn fire would be a major improvement.

  22. Mr O 04/05/2006 at 9:13 AM #

    Trout: Thanks for the correction.

    On Barnes saying no, there shouldn’t be an implosion. There should have been an implosion if we didn’t make him say no before going to someone else.

    It was unliklely he would jump going into this thing. If he gets a big pay raise out of this, then IMO that legitimizes our run at him.

  23. Trout 04/05/2006 at 9:14 AM #

    beowolf: my comments should not concern you at all. Many people running this blog are FAR, FAR more connected that I am. I just think Barnes will stay at Texas, Wright at Nova, etc. Just my opinion, that’s all.

  24. JTO 04/05/2006 at 9:15 AM #

    Worst selection possible would be Tubby – let’s hope we don’t go after him. Mediocrity at a high price. He’ll be the most interested as he’s getting the Herb treatment at Kentucky…

  25. choppack 04/05/2006 at 9:20 AM #

    JTO – I agree 100%.

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