Two game skid has Wolfpack crumbling
Opportunity rarely, if ever, knocks twice. NC State had its chance. In a span of 60 minutes of basketball, the Wolfpack fell from the precipice of NCAA Tournament lock status to a bubbly purgatory that is every team’s greatest fear.
Last Thursday night’s game at Duke was the Wolfpack’s chance to earn a validating win. They entered with an 18-7 record, 7-3 in the ACC. They were 0-4 against the RPI top 25, however, and just 2-5 against the top 50. The Selection Committee appreciates a win or two against the best of the best.
By halftime, it looked like the Wolfpack would capture that much-needed signature win. Bubble teams that beat top 10 teams on the road are typically safely in the dance. A 16-point halftime lead had been pushed to 19 when, with just 11 minutes remaining, the Blue Devils stormed back to shock the ‘Pack, 78-73.
Saturday offered a quick turnaround and an immediate shot at redemption when the ‘Pack hosted Florida State. The Seminoles came to Raleigh following an extremely shaky two-week stretch that included a head-scratching loss to Boston College and a last-second win over Virginia Tech. They were ripe for the picking, or so it would seem.
The ‘Noles jumped down the Wolfpack’s throats early, taking a 25-16 lead. After an only half-spirited rally, Florida State dominated a lethargic State team in a 76-62 win. Scott Wood, the ACC’s leading three-point shooter, was 1-for-6 from long range (1-for-10 from the field).
Wood wasn’t the only ice-cold Wolfpack player Saturday — far from it, in fact. Other than C.J. Leslie (21 points on 8-of-14 shooting), State scored 41 points on 9-of-44 shooting. They call that the Hangover Effect.
There’s no time for sulking in a life on the bubble. The unexpected collapse in Durham zapped the life out of the Wolfpack. They are now in grave danger of never recovering from it. They welcome a loaded North Carolina team into the RBC Center on Tuesday in what amounts to a virtual must-win game.
Now, typically, a team fighting for its postseason life in a late February game at home against a top-10 team is the perfect recipe for an upset (just ask Virginia Tech…oh, wait). However, NC State’s confidence level is a serious question mark now. Can the ‘Pack turn everything around and knock off a team with six future NBA draft picks? The odds are not in their favor.
Mark Gottfried has done an admirable job molding the remnants of the forgettable Sidney Lowe era into a competitive unit. After all, State’s seven ACC wins so far this season are more than it had in any of Lowe’s six seasons. Unfortunately, an abrupt turn of event may very well leave the Wolfpack out of the dance yet again.
LINKS
Before we finish with the Wolfpack, I just want to say that I do not give two you-know-whats about this Karl Hess/Tom Gugliotta fiasco. If you haven’t heard about it, go read any NC State/college basketball blog. It’s getting an absurd level of attention. It sounds like Hess was in the wrong here, and he probably was, but I would much rather concern myself with what’s actually going on in the games themselves than this hogwash.
Gugliotta/Corchiani/Hess Links
NC State Not Happy About Ejections (ESPN.com)
Gugliotta and Corchiani should be recognized at UNC game (StateFansNation)
Jeff Goodman/Matt Norlander’s take (CBSSports.com)
Moving on…
— Nerlens Noel, the recently re-classified No. 1 prospect for 2012, recently visited Syracuse and Kentucky. North Carolina is in the mix for Noel, and some think Duke shouldn’t be counted out yet either. His recruitment is wide open at this point, but he’s submitting diary entries to ESPN.com to keep everyone updated on the process.
— Basketball Prospectus’ John Gasaway attended last week’s mock NCAA Tournament Selection Conference. Making it to this conference myself is on my personal bucket list. Here’s his recount of the weekend.
— Rush The Court is a must-read for college basketball fans. Here’s Zach Hayes “Bubble Report” following an exciting weekend. Illinois is still alive…barely.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Finally…finally Virginia Tech finishes on the right end of a buzzer-beater. Dorenzo Hudson’s trey as time expired lifted the Hokies over Georgia Tech in overtime on Saturday. Here’s another look if you missed it.
