Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
Coach Mark Gottfried congratulates T.J. Warren (24) during the Florida State vs. NC State game on February 19, 2013 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Feb 20, 2013
1. No muss, no fuss and no late-game drama. NC State's convincing win over Florida State left little to nitpick, but it also put everyone in a bit of a bind. It's as if fans and media don't know what to do when the Wolfpack take care of business for nearly 40 minutes.
Rather than ask why NC State hasn't done this sort of thing to lesser competition up until now, the real question is whether or not the Wolfpack turned a corner in an effort to build moment for March.
2. T.J. Warren started over Rodney Purvis and wound up being the main talking point of the win thanks to a career-high 31 points. The freshman also pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.
3. There's a natural tendency to focus on the points and key 3-pointers from Warren, but his work on the boards shouldn't be overlooked. NC State has relied heavily on Richard Howell to be their rebounding machine, but he can't be the only guy.
After allowing Virginia Tech to pull down 21 offensive rebounds in its overtime win on Saturday, NC State tightened up their work in the paint and grabbed 80 percebt of Florida State's missed shots. The Wolfpack also did a great job recovering their own misses, out-rebounding the Seminoles 20-6 on the offensive glass.
4. The enigma of Calvin Leslie: Moments of head-scratching play followed by games where he makes it look so easy. His jam session against Florida State should be all over YouTube by now.
5. North Carolina also took care of business and passed an important small-ball test against Georgia Tech's larger front line. While most of the focus was on how the guard-heavy lineup would rebound against the Yellow Jackets, the Heels took advantage with their tepid offensive output and forced 19 turnovers.
6. The active defense created transition opportunities and masked an otherwise ugly shooting performance by the Tar Heels. Reggie Bullock didn't make a bucket until the 2nd half, while P.J. Hairston's recent hot streak cooled off with a 4-of-15 shooting night.
James Michael McAdoo had the most complete game for North Carolina, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals. McAdoo was simply too nimble for Georgia Tech's bigger front line to handle.
7. Getting back to rebounding for a moment, North Carolina heeded Roy Williams' demands and kept the overall margin relatively even at 36-43. The Heels and Jackets each had 10 offensive boards. Williams was comfortable enough with their production that he once again left his starters on the court for 30 minutes or more.
8. Leslie McDonald filled in the gaps off the bench, hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
...shut up you whiners...- Posted by alockwr21- Posted by vile garbageState fans need to come on back down a little bit. You aren't ranked. How can you have the best "everything" and that be the case?- Posted by wolfbearrtp2You are smoking crack.- Posted by vile garbage
well, if you know that he is smoking crack then you must be the one who sold it to him.
Please feel free to argue about any players and the statements I made about them...
Are you telling me Howell is not the best rebounder in the league? Or that Lorenzo isn't the best Point Guard? Or Scott Wood isn't the most pure shooter?
State is on a 3 game win streak, if they win Saturday that will make it 4. There remaining games are: Home against BC, at GT, Home against Wake, and at FSU. Why is that unreasonable to think?
RE: Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
...I predict you are a dreamer...I predict a wolfpack win this weekend. This will be the toughest of 5 games remaining and if they can get a win in Chapel Hill, the Pack has a solid chance of ending out the season on an 8-0 winning streak.- Posted by alockwr21
Howell shows why he's the best rebounder in the league, Lorenzo shows why he's the best point guard in the league, Scott Wood shows why he's the best shooter in the league, TJ Warren shows why he's the best Freshman in the league, and Calvin shows why he's the most athletic.
Wolfpack by 12. The team is starting to gel at the right time.
RE: Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
...How's the play in game looking for Wake in the ACC tourney?Of course TJ should start over Purvis. Purvis has done nothing to deserve starting. He can't hit a free throw, has too many turnovers, and his shooting % is bad. He has potential, but so far, he is the most over rated player to come to NCSU since Gerald Wilkins.- Posted by Deacons
RE: Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
...Hardly a road game. more like a trip arounf the corner. These games with Duke/UNC/State are not really road games.Some good points made about the Wolfpack but no real mention of what will be a huge factor in Saturdays game ..... Home Court. The Wolfpack have been about as wretched as can be on the road losing nearly every outing. They are a completely different team on the road and I strongly believe they will struggle in Chapel Hill on saturday. Don't count on the Heels spotting State a 20+ point lead again.- Posted by PanthersFan45
RE: Talking Points: Pack cruise, Heels small ball gets it done
Tiger Woods is not the highest ranked golfer at this point either. But do you know of a better golfer when he plays up to his potential. Howell is the best rebounder, Leslie definitely has the talent, Wood is one of the best 3 point shooters and Brown is one of the best point guards, sometimes all the pieces have to come together. Look at Michigan and the Fab5, no doubt that they were the best team in the country, but they didn't walk away holding the trophy. Its not how you start, its how you finish.- Posted by vile garbageState fans need to come on back down a little bit. You aren't ranked. How can you have the best "everything" and that be the case?- Posted by wolfbearrtp2- Posted by vile garbageYou are smoking crack.I predict a wolfpack win this weekend. This will be the toughest of 5 games remaining and if they can get a win in Chapel Hill, the Pack has a solid chance of ending out the season on an 8-0 winning streak.- Posted by alockwr21
Howell shows why he's the best rebounder in the league, Lorenzo shows why he's the best point guard in the league, Scott Wood shows why he's the best shooter in the league, TJ Warren shows why he's the best Freshman in the league, and Calvin shows why he's the most athletic.
Wolfpack by 12. The team is starting to gel at the right time.
well, if you know that he is smoking crack then you must be the one who sold it to him.
