Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

By Ken Medlin
Jan 14, 2009

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Things are getting cold in West Raleigh, and it has nothing to do with the weather. N.C. State's offense is buried in a deep-freeze.

After 18-turnover efforts against Clemson and Florida, the Pack continued to work in self-destruct mode against Florida State, coughing up 16 more turnovers..

A higher-scoring team might be able to absorb 16 turnovers, but the Wolfpack offense isn’t nearly efficient enough. State has been scoring in the sixties during the Pack’s three-game losing streak. There just aren’t enough possessions in a 60-point game to make up for all of those giveaways.

But that might not be the most disturbing thing to come out of State's loss to Florida State.

The Pack actually played better with their starters on the bench.

Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley, Trevor Ferguson and Farnold Degand – all four of them starters -- combined to score a grand total of five points in the second half.

Five.

We’ll giveFerguson a pass for his one minute of second-half PT, as it was injury-related. But the other three guys rode the pine because their coach didn’t think they were helping the cause.

And clearly, they didn’t. When McCauley and Costner checked back into the game, State was still "in it" with five minutes left. Florida State went on to outscore the Wolfpack 19-2.

Maybe it’s chemistry. Maybe it’s just a slump. Or maybe this team has a lot of work to do

But right now the guys who are supposed to be NC State’s best players aren’t getting it done.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

Bench the players that don't care. I will feel much better about losing with a team that tries. Plus we get them some experience. Look what Mays did in 3 games.
But please don't even consider another coach with our AD. I agree Sid has room for improvement but letting him go would be a huge mistake. Folower let some good people out of LOIs before.

RE: Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

If players have been allowed to give half -hearted efforts in the past and haven't been shown this is unacceptable in previous games against all opponents, then it will keep happening. I'm watching this occur for a third season in Raleigh. This should have been corrected in Lowe's first season in Raleigh, but it was tollerated then and he still allows it at times. If a player is not willing to give 100% for his team at all times and the coach doesn't demand it 100% of the time, niether belong in Raleigh or in the ACC. Until this fixed, not much else will matter. N.C. State fans deserve 100% from all involved and someone should see that we get for a change.

RE: Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

Axepack, you make a compelling argument for keeping Sid. I'll back off for now and agree to keep him for the rest of this year and see where the recruiting pans out.

And you're right about Fowler being terrible. He needs to be fired first.

RE: Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

State's starters were frigid alright. That's what happens when you spend 10 straight minutes of game clock on the bench.

Fire Sid NOW. Don't wait. NOW.
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returns

The truth is, our AD is terrible. Almost all of our varsity sporting teams have been completely terrible the last 5 years. Heck, check out the women's vball team. How does that coach still have a job?

RE: Pack's starters need to thaw a frigid offense

Here's my point TBK, look at this site if you are able to: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?season=2009&schoolId=152&page=commits Then check out "considering". We're one of 3-5 schools in the running for the #1 PG, #1 PF and #1 C in the country. We're not one of 20-30 schools at the start of the recruiting race. It's the end of the race, and we're still in the running. When is the last time we were able to pull down more then 1 top recruit (like Hickson, C Simmons, etc.)? Check out the class of 2010 that has already committed: PF #4, PG #29, and we're in the running for more. I still think the future is bright when you get players in that work HARD to play.

WRAL Sports Fan

Ken Medlin