NC State 64, ECU 57 (whew) [Updated 11pm]

06-07 Basketball General72

Here’s the recap. The Pack dodged a very embarrassing bullet (unlike BC, who fell to Duquesne). Ferguson missed the game with the flu, depriving us yet again of witnessing a robust 7-man rotation.

Please discuss below, especially if you were there tonight.

The following are some quick bytes from Jeff:

* Playing ECU in basketball couldn’t be more strange. State people could seriously care less about beating the Pirates but would consider it a half-step away from Armageddon if the Pack ever lost to the Pirates.

* Tonight’s win makes it 17-0 vs the Pirates with an average margin of victory over 22 points per game. And, tonight represents the closest that ECU may ever get to the Pack in the foreseeable future.

* Dear Lee Fowler- just like football, there are LOTS of reasons that this game hasn’t been scheduled since 1982. What the *#*@ do you think that you know that the five Athletics Directors before you didn’t know? Tonight’s game should have NEVER been scheduled for this season (Coach Lowe’s first year). What’s worse is how it still has not been made public – despite lots of attention on this website – that Lee Fowler may have signed NC State up to actually travel TO Greenville in future years to play basketball in Greenville. We will continue to wait and see.

* What I do know is that Terry Holland is powerful in the world of college athletics and Lee Fowler would never do anything to be in conflict with someone like Holland. Doesn’t matter that NC State hasn’t scheduled ECU in over 23 years. Doesn’t matter that no ACC school of stature has ever traveled to Greenville for a basketball game. Only matters how Lee can make someone powerful happy in the event he ever needs a reference.

* Ben McCauley saved the Pack in the first half. Brandon Costner saved the Pack in the second half. And Courtney Fells played one of his most complete games of the season. It is very nice to see him continue to evolve into the kind of player that he can be. Dennis Horner won’t be mentioned by a lot of folks, but the kid started and contributed important minutes (and shots) for us.

* Is it acceptable yet to whisper just a little criticism about Gavin Grant’s play? Having to suck it up for the team and play point guard has little to do with many of his bad decisions some of the listless play that results in unforced turnovers that are puzzling.

* It was a littler hard to notice because ECU did us a little bit of a favor by playing zone in the second half, but Coach Lowe deserves a TON of credit for taking the ball out of Grant’s hands in the second half and shifting Courtney Fells to the ‘point’ of our offensive attack. State only turned the ball over twice in the entire second half after the move.

* Stat of the game: State shot 31 free throws to the ECU’s 9.

* State ended up at almost 68% from the free throw line…but, it sure didn’t feel that good. (Not that 68% is necessarily good free throw shooting).

* The Wolfpack now is past the half-way mark for wins required to get an NIT bid (15). State still has two out of conference games that should be wins and will hopefully boost us to ten before conference play begins in earnest on January 6th vs Boston College.

* Have you looked at our schedule until the middle of January? HOME GAMES GALORE vs the likes of Boston College, Virginia, Clemson and Duke after UNC-G and UNC-W and before having to hit the road in the conference. Simply put – the next three weeks will be the deciding factor on postseason play for the Wolfpack.

* Engin Atsur’s health will be talked about a lot in the coming weeks. With him the Pack could make a mini-run that would set us up nicely for the NIT and at least position us to dream about some upsets and an NCAA Tournament berth. Without him we will have to claw for everything we can get to keep momentum towards 15 wins and the NIT. This team has shown that they can do it.

* Did you know that the NC State-ECU football series was halted because of a fight between the teams in 1987? I was at the 1987 game and don’t recall seeing NC State players take part in a fight. I recall ECU’s fans storming NC State’s field to destroy property (on a more grand scale than they had after 1985 and the warning’s from NC State the followed 1985). You learn something new from ESPN(U) every time you turn on the television.

* Speaking of the announcing, Doug Gottlieb made some real jackass remarks during the game that were pretty embarassing. As Gottlieb literally was sitting UNDER TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS and TEN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS, he was chirping away about NC State’s fanbase being “totally unrealistic” in wanting to win National Championships. Considering that there are only five (out of 320) basketball programs in America to win more National Titles than NC State then I wonder who the hell should expect to try to win titles?

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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.

06-07 Basketball General

72 Responses to NC State 64, ECU 57 (whew) [Updated 11pm]

  1. Texpack 12/28/2006 at 10:44 PM #

    I watched on the U. ESPNU more than made up for having Bob Valvano call the Cincy game with the clowns who announced tonight.

    The key move in the game by Sidney was moving Fells to the point of the zone, like Norm Sloan used to do with Hawkeye, and parking Grant on the wing. The entry passes were better and everybody seemed to get better looks as a result.

    Costner is brutal at the high post with his back to the basket. He was much more effective on the perimeter. Finding the open man from the post is not usually one of the first skills a big man developes. It’s just tough when he has to play 35+ minutes a game.

    McCauley needs to get serious consideration for All-ACC if he plays like this through the conference schedule.

  2. DRW 12/28/2006 at 10:58 PM #

    The team played in the first half like they didn’t want to play. They seemed to sleepwalk through it, and woke up in the 2nd. If Big Ben hadn’t come to play in the 1st half, we would have lost.

  3. Rochester 12/28/2006 at 11:16 PM #

    I agree on all points. The announcers were awful. It was like they were auditioning for a morning radio show, cracking lame jokes for two hours while displaying only a rudimentary knowledge of our team. According to them, two nonscholarship players logged big minutes for us tonight. Um, Nieman had 10, everything else came from our iron five. And, yeah, we get it, there were a lot of good point guards on the coaching staffs. You don’t have to tell us five times.

    The first half was horrible. Aside from McCauley, no one showed up to play. With about two minutes left in the half we finally figured out that we needed to actually put forth some effort in order to have a chance.

    I noticed Fells bringing the ball up, which worked out well, perhaps in part to ECU’s decision not to press. I think we had only two of our 13 turnovers in the second half, so something clicked there. Not that the turnovers were really Grant’s fault tonight. There weren’t that many and they were random stupid things all the way around.

    With Atsur this game would have been a much different story, because he might have been able to shut Ingram down. Unfortunately, without him we don’t have anyone close to a lockdown defender and Ingram went off. Sad to see us so susceptible to a guy who couldn’t cut it at Wake.

    Big relief that we came back to win this, but it should never have been such a challenge in the first place. We need to come out of the locker room as if we care on Saturday.

  4. PurplePeopleEaters 12/28/2006 at 11:28 PM #

    Good win. I saw we switched to the man which worked really well in containing their PG in the 2nd half. The switch at point from Grant to Fells was such a relief. Great play overall by Fells at point especially on D.

    Costner needs to get out on the perimeter even more than he is now. He has a stroke from 3 (that turnaround was hilarious) and needs to be getting the ball more for 3.

    Grant looked a lot more natural at the 2 guard. We need atsur back big time. 6 deep is not working for us. With atsur back we would be, what, 8 deep?

    Does anyone know when Atsur is coming back? and did I miss why Ferguson was out? I didn’t even catch him on the sideline in a tie or something when i was looking at the bench during TV timeouts..

  5. Woof Wolf 12/28/2006 at 11:54 PM #

    Trevor has the flu, puking and everything. He was not at the game. Sid told me last night that Engin may play a few minutes tonight. But said it was a game time decision. After the shoot around today, it was decided he wouldn’t dress for tonight.

  6. xphoenix87 12/29/2006 at 12:26 AM #

    It’s kind of sad that I looked at the box score, saw that Gavin had only 3 turnovers, and thought “that’s really good for him”. If he doesn’t score a point all year, we need Engin simply as a floor leader, cause Gavin doesn’t cut it. I didn’t watch the game, so I can’t comment on Fells at the point, but I love that Sid switched it up some to move Gavin off the ball.

    If you look back over the comments from the previous games this year, you see a lot of “Ben saved us, he showed up to play.” I keep thinking he’s going to get tired and have a bad game, but he just doesn’t ever let up. I think he’s a legit All-ACC post. In the games against Michigan, Bama, and Cinci he averaged 22 and 7. Unbelievable. No one could have seen this coming into the season. At this point, I don’t think there’s another post in the ACC I’d take over him. We’ll see as the season progresses, but he’s got great post moves, passes exceptionally well, and has a great motor. We’d be so sunk without him, I love this guy.

  7. Red 12/29/2006 at 1:47 AM #

    Agreed 100%. Gavin Grant is NOT a point guard. He has filled in a missing spot for the past month with a lot of guts. I never thought I’d crave for Engin Atsur like I do at this moment. How bad can a hamstring hurt on a guy that doesn’t make quick cuts and jump out of the gym? Get back on the damn floor Turk!

  8. Red 12/29/2006 at 1:55 AM #

    I am 31 years old, a 4th generation NCSU graduate, and a lifelong Wolfpack fan. Ben McCauley has officially become my favorite Wolfpack hoopster of all-time. Has everyone seen him run the floor? The guy lays everything out every minute of every game no matter the opponent. Brandon Costner and Gavin Grant need to pay close attention to McCauley’s desire…….very close attention.

  9. Jamie 12/29/2006 at 7:18 AM #

    Gottleib also spouted off about how “they don’t get high school all Americans here like they do at the other triangle schools”. Funny thing was, right when he said it, Brandon Costner (McD AA) drained a huge 3 pointer.

  10. BJD95 12/29/2006 at 7:36 AM #

    Gottlieb is a first-rate assclown. He occasionally subs for Erik Kuselias on the SportsBash, and it’s just brutal. No talent, no insight whatsoever.

  11. C Dog 12/29/2006 at 8:02 AM #

    McCauley has been great. I am not sure, however, that I would go so far as to say I would take him over any other ACC post player. They have a couple of good big men in Chapel Hill. Let’s wait and see how conference play turns out before awarding McCauley first team All-ACC status. That is putting too much pressure on the kid.

  12. Sw0rdf1sh 12/29/2006 at 8:13 AM #

    Thanks for the stats Jeff. Gottleib is a dweeb. or Jackass.

    I’m also about fed up to my ears with no damn ESPNU on Time Warner. I pay over 200 bucks a month for cable service and I can’t even get what channels I want.

    Don’t even get me started with the NFL (Gestapo) Network.

    I was watching this game on the Internet (play by play Bullshit) and I was glad to see we squeaked it out at the end. I couldn’t handle another loss to the Pirates this year.

    My wife is ECU alumn and I can’t take another rub your face in it night from her.

  13. BoKnowsNCS71 12/29/2006 at 8:20 AM #

    Getting swept by ECU in FB and BB would have been painful.

    Terry Holland is politically astute I attended a fundraiser for Sen. Basnight in Selma earlier this year. Lt Gov. Purdue was there getting ready for her run for Gov. And there was Terry Holland in the mix with other ECU officials and alumni. Terry schmoozes witht the best and that is probably why the other state funded schools are cow towing to ECU. Not sure what political expertise Fowler has or whether our big donors show up at these types of events but face time plus money = influence in the NC Legislature — especially when some of the more powerful politicians are from the eastern counties around Greenville.

    Don’t blame Folwer for not spitting into the wind. He probably has no choice.

  14. Pack Laddie 12/29/2006 at 8:28 AM #

    Saw Terry stop and visit with Wendell courtside last night, and also saw him visiting with Richard Vaughn.

  15. RickJ 12/29/2006 at 8:29 AM #

    Great comments regarding McCauley. In addition to his overall desire and hard play, the guy has incredible hands. Watch some of the catches and rebounds he snatches in traffic. I had the feeling all night that that he was not having a very good game and he ends up with 20 points & 10 rebounds. He was 5 – 9 from the floor & 10 – 13 from the line but it felt like he was struggling.

    I read where ECU was 0 – 54 all time against the ACC. We dodged one the worse headlines we would ever want to read.

    It is a dog fight to 15 wins.

  16. Pack Laddie 12/29/2006 at 8:31 AM #

    The move to the point was apparently Courtney’s idea—from the N & O this AM–

    After watching his team trail by as many as 15 points in the opening half and seeing the Pack struggle mightily to solve ECU’s collapsing zone defense, Lowe was open to suggestions at halftime. And one came — from sophomore guard Courtney Fells.

    “I can see open things,” Fells told his coach. “I’d like to do it in the second half.”

    Good for Courtney to speak up, and good for Sid to give him the opportunity. Gavin was not getting it done.

  17. Pack92 12/29/2006 at 8:45 AM #

    Wendel Murphy is from down east and I’m pretty sure legislators would listen to him. Jim Goodnight is from Raleigh (actually Cary I think) and I KNOW they listen to him.
    If ACC schools would band together EZU would not have a chance. The ONLY reason any ACC school plays them is political. They are a step-child school wanting to be in the big time and the only way they get to play in the sand box is when the kindergarten teacher MAKES the other kids let them in. The problem is, Terry Holland has a pair and is willing to complain to the teacher. Foulup and at least one other ACC AD I will not mention do nothing but say “yes Ma’am” and slink away on their bellies with tails between their legs.
    State, UNX and Wake could literally shut the door on EZU but refuse to do so. I have been amazed since I graduated in ’92 at the buying of pure BS in this state when it comes to the crying of EZU. When did it become part of the mission of a land grant institution or the ACC as a whole to make sure EZU gets noticed? The econ I took showed the market would bear what the market would bear. If EZU does not get noticed enough on their own tough Sh*!. Get in a conference (maybe the Big East 2 years ago?) that is stand alone and shut your whining, beat down-stepchild mouths but please don’t tell us playing ACC schools is “good for the state of NC”. The only “state” that improves from such stupidity is the financial state of EZU.

  18. xphoenix87 12/29/2006 at 8:57 AM #

    I’d take McCauley over Hansborough right now. He’s a much more complete offensive player. He doesn’t rebound as well, but he’s a much better passer, has better range on his jumper, and has better post moves. He’s just not quite as athletic as Hansborough is. That and Hansborough probably wouldn’t get away with traveling ever other play if he wasn’t in Chapel Hill. It’s a tougher call with Wright (I actually think he’s the Tarheel’s best player), especially because his ceiling is outrageous, but at this point I’d take Ben. I’d probably take Thorton over him, but it’s pretty close (I haven’t seen FSU play yet this year, so I don’t really know). I’m also not counting Dudley cause he’s really a small forward, not a pure post. Regardless, the point is that I think he’s among the elite ACC post players right now, and he isn’t showing any signs of letting up any time soon.

  19. wolfonthehill 12/29/2006 at 8:57 AM #

    Please don’t forget unc-ch’s 5th national championship – you know, the one from 1924.

    What? You say that no other school that won one or more of these championships (including Kansas and Kentucky) claims any credit for them whatsoever? Who cares? I’ve seen the “Got Five?” powder-blue t-shirts… so it must be legit.

  20. Redblogger 12/29/2006 at 9:10 AM #

    If anybody is keeping score, and I’m sure not but…

    ASU is now 6-6

  21. Girlfriend in a Coma 12/29/2006 at 9:13 AM #

    Why did ECU not press? That totally baffles me. They played 10+ guys and we basically played 5 guys, without our best 2 ball handlers, coming off a 32 turnover performance.

    In what situation does Stokes thing a press is appropriate?

  22. BoKnowsNCS71 12/29/2006 at 9:22 AM #

    PACK92 — Possible but not feasible. First you have to look at who holds the power and the purse strings. These games bring revenue into the Greenville economy and to ECU. Also it isn’t a fight that a legislator really cares about — or wants to make a deal over. Much easier to concede. And it’s not really a issue to them.

    Look at the Senate:

    In addition to nominating Sen Basnight (eastern county — Dare Co near ECU), the Senate Democrats also nominated Sen. Charlie Dannelly, D-Mecklenburg, to serve a third term as deputy president pro tempore. The caucus also re-elected Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland (south eastern county with no major school in the area), as its majority leader, and elected Sen. Katie Dorsett, D-Guilford, to serve as majority whip. Sen. R.C. Soles, D-Columbus (Eastern county), was re-elected as caucus chairman and Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin (Eastern County), was re-elected as caucus secretary.

    Basnight as President pro temp, Soles and ALbertson are from eastern counties. Dannelly is from Mecklenburg and could care less about and ECU/ACC issue.

    Most legislators are not going to take a side against ECU just because we folks think them a pain in the backside. No legislator is going to fall on his or her sword over this issue.

  23. packbackr04 12/29/2006 at 9:32 AM #

    When is Sid going to play the football players. it seems as if we are struggling right now and that kind of move may shake things up a bit, which imo wouldnt be a bad thing

  24. highonlowe 12/29/2006 at 9:34 AM #

    UNCW definitely isn’t the NCAA-caliber team they’ve been in recent years, but the seahawks did beat ECU 57-44 [schedule]. We should win but let’s not discount this game on saturday.

  25. Rochester 12/29/2006 at 9:47 AM #

    I too am curious to see the footballers. Jarvis Williams was a highly ranked hoopster in Florida and would have been a legit DI basketball recruit if not for football. Maybe if we ever get a lead on someone, Sid will feel comfortable giving these guys a couple of minutes to show what they can do.

    As for our point guard situation next year, if Sid can’t land a plum recruit (come on Jai Lucas!), there was a rule change this past year allowing players to transfer without sitting out a year if they’ve already graduated. We should pluck some fifth-year senior off a smaller school’s roster to give us a seasoned guy who can capably bring the ball up the court. There’s got to be someone out there who redshirted a year and has his classes all taken care of with a year of eligibility left. Hell, maybe we could get Mike O’Donnell back. Little mop-top always hustled.

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