WolfPack BasketBall Diaries No. 3

MSU

So, NCSU won the Old Spice Classic in November and faced another road game just three days afterward.  I wondered if Coach Lowe did the smart thing and kept them practicing in Orlando until the 27th.  Well, that wouldn’t happen because of classes.  NCSU visited Michigan State in the Big 10/ACC Challenge.  The Big 10/ACC Challenge is a little way for conferences to shake hands with each other early in the season.  Last year, NCSU defeated Michigan at home.  What was amazing about that game was that NCSU improved after Engin Atsur left the game.  I was excited about this match-up with MSU.  I imagined that our defense would neutralize Kalin Lucas, Goran Suton, Raymar Morgan and Drew Neitzel.  After looking at MSU’s schedule, I got a little curious.  MSU almost defeated UCLA, who at the time was tied for #1 with UNC.  They were up by 11 points in the first half.  But UCLA has that dynamo K-Love, so that might explain a few things.  NCSU’s version of Love is JJ Hickson, except that Hickson hasn’t gelled as well with his team as Love has with UCLA.  Hopefully he won’t be violating team policy so that he can start and bust out of the gate and rule it.  As the game started, Hickson was missing.  My eyebrows shifted.  According to my research, MSU knows how to pull it together.  My eyebrows shifted again.

MSU decided to pull it together while pulling NC State apart.  NC State scored 19 points in the first half, 39 in the second.  If the first half was like the second, then State would’ve only lost by 3 instead of 23.  As the game ended, hindsight seemed to hit everyone:

“Well, NC State did just play 3 road games in 4 days.  They’re probably wiped out.“
“MSU almost beat UCLA.“
“MSU is returning 5 starters from last year’s team.“
“Bobby Knight shot somebody?  What?“
“OK, Gavin.  That’s two now.“

NCSU lost.  Of course they were tired.  In a post game interview, Coach Lowe said that the first thing he and his players will do is rest.  So maybe he knew, to an extent, what the outcome of this game might be because of his players’ condition.  But losing by 23?  That’s not “cardiac” at all.

NC State is (4-2)

ECU

So, after a weeks’ rest and some possible track practices, NC State traveled to Greenville to take on the East Carolina Pirates.  ECU is in Conference USA, a conference that doesn’t make many headlines, unless you take into consideration Memphis, whose been hanging out in the top 5 so far this season.  Houston, one of those “sleeper” teams, is also looking good.  ECU defeated George Mason and lost to Clemson earlier in the week and State was next on their schedule.  ECU has never defeated an ACC team.  Fate gave them two tries at home.  Clemson beat ECU.  Surely, State would do the same, but Coach Lowe seemed less than enthused about going to Greenville.

“Why are we going to play there? ... Um ... We’re going to play there ... Um. ... The schedule was made before I got here, put it that way.“

Yeah, by Herb.  Thanks buddy.  I hope the fact that Coach Lowe didn’t want to be there didn’t curb his desire to win.  I don’t know what happened, people.  I guess the kids in Greenville wanted it more.  Hey, it is their first ACC victory ever.  GAVIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Talk to the team.  Let them know what you meant when you made that “prediction” of yours.  Make sure you emphasize that its 4 losses all year, not 4 losses before conference play.  My message to the team is, as follows:  All of you are real good players.  Now, if all of you can be real good players TOGETHER, things will be all right.  I found this perspective on the Pack comforting.  Athletic Director Lee Fowler says that the Pack will work it out.  I can get with that.

NC State is (4-3)

SCSU

Another week; more track practices and hopefully a pow-wow that would spiritually bring the team together and ultimately lock their physical ability to work at maximum efficiency as a team.  Well, I’ll keep this one short, as I only witnessed action via radio.  Grant, Hickson, and Harris contributed nicely.  I could’ve done without the “hiccup” in the second half, but I’ll take it.  Its nice to win by 25.  I’m excited about the upcoming game versus Davidson.  Davidson has already played UNC, Duke and UCLA, so they are probably going to be more than ready.  After the game, Coach Lowe was asked if the Davidson game would be a 40-minute game.  Coach Lower replied “Absolutely.“  Well, I’d have to disagree with the coach.  It’s gonna be like 60, or something.

The next diary entry will be my first hand accounts of Davidson and Cincinnati, along with thoughts on Seton Hall and WCU.  Won’t you join me?

NC State is (5-3)

Coming up Next:

Final Four (of 2007)

on, December 31st