Nov 27, 2012
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Final: NC State fell to Michigan 79-72.
The 18th-ranked NC State Wolfpack will try to end their four-game losing streak in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge when they storm into the Crisler Center to face the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Mark Gottfried's Wolfpack were expected to be one of the best teams in the country this year after their visit to the Sweet 16 last season. The school was ranked sixth in the nation to begin the year and held its position in the top 10 through its first three games with an easy win over Miami-Ohio before it went to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament to run past Penn State and Massachusetts. However, the Wolfpack were unable to finish the job on their trip as they were surprisingly routed in the championship game by Oklahoma State, 76-56. NC State barely managed to bounce back its last time out with a narrow 82-80 win over UNC Asheville.
John Beilein has an impressive resume with 20-plus win finishes in 17 of his 34 years coaching. Beilein's current Wolverines squad may be the best he has had in his entire career. Michigan is currently averaging 81.2 points per game, after winning its first five games by an average of 24.8 points per game. The team has also averaged 41.6 rebounds per game and has out-rebounded its opponents by 14.0 caroms per contest.
This will the sixth meeting between these schools. Michigan can tie the series at three wins a piece with a victory.
Gottfried has plenty of athleticism and offense on his team with Richard Howell, Lorenzo Brown, C.J. Leslie, T.J. Warren, Rodney Purvis, and Scott Wood all carrying double-digit scoring averages through five games. However, the Wolfpack have showed their weakness on the defensive end of the floor in their last two outings. The Wolfpack have been especially poor at defending on the perimeter as OSU's Le'Bryan Nash scored 23 points against them before UNC-Asheville's Keith Horsby poured in the same amount.
The freshmen duo of Warren and Purvis is making an immediate impact for NC State. Warren is leading the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg on 68.1 percent shooting off the bench. Purvis has connected on 58.8 percent of his three- point attempts. Howell and Leslie provide toughness on the inside with a combined 15.4 rpg.
The Wolverines' fast 5-0 start to the season was not a filled with cupcake opposition. After handling IUPUI and Cleveland State at the Crisler Center, Michigan defeated Pittsburgh by five points and Kansas State by 14 to win the NIT Season Tip-Off.
The Wolverines are powered mostly by their backcourt duo of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke. The talented tandem has been getting more help than expected from Glenn Robinson III, who is playing a significant role at forward. The freshman is generating 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game after finishing with nine points and 12 boards versus KSU. Although there are plenty of talented point guards this season, it is hard to argue any are better than Burke. The sophomore point guard is second on the team in scoring (16.4 ppg) and is dishing out 6.8 assists per contest, which is the 11th highest average in the nation. Hardaway, Jr. is has used his athletic ability, shooting touch, and excellent ball handling to fill it up from all over the court. His scoring prowess has yielded a team-best average of 18.6 ppg. Nik Stauskas is a factor as well due to his tremendous spot up shooting ability.
NC State played at its best in an underdog role last season. There is no denying that the Wolfpack are going to be a dangerous team when tournament time rolls around, but their inability to stop the top guards of their recent opponents does not bode well as they will have to slow down both Burke and Hardaway Jr. in this one.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Crisler Center (12,693) – Ann Arbor, Michigan. Television: ESPN. Home Record: NC State 2-0, Michigan 3-0. Away Record: NC State 0-0, Michigan 0-0. Neutral Record: NC State 2-1, Michigan 2-0. Conference Record: NC State 0-0, Michigan 0-0. Series Record: NC State leads, 3-2.
Rank: Sports Legend the Wolfpack sure looked better than your team didWe may get IT handed to us but the Wolfies are not looking too good...#6 preseason circular horizontal mamba on here is definitely Interuptus.- Posted by Dr. Feelgood
- Posted by SilentSamTHIS is the team picked to win the ACC??
...said thousands of TV viewers across the land.
Rank: Rookie our programs will still be bad? If you want to talk about football then fine, I will give you that. Keep in mind though we lost all our QB's to injuries and were starting a lineback at QB. Our defense was top 25 in the country most of the year. Where was NC States? Our basketball program has some nice recruits and we are on the upswing, where you guys with all your "talent" are on the downward spiral and in two weeks will go from #6 in the polls to out of the polls by next week. Now who's program is bad? Also tell Debbie hi and thanks for running our program into debt. You guys deserve each other.- Posted by IBleedRedandWhitesame old State. How long before the fire Gott rumblings start. I used to like NC State fans, but they are the most insecure fanbase ever. They think they are on par with UNC and Duke in basketball and should be a top school in football. But they are always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Back when Maryland sucked bad and was on probation and State was as well, I felt a kinship to NC State. But when Maryland got good in basketball around 1993 and State was always in the Les Robinson Invitational (the 8 vs 9 game in the tourney) that's when their attitudes changed. They ran off Herb Sendek for Sidney Lowe and they will never be happy. Oh and by the way Sonny Dykes isn't the answer.- Posted by Schwoogie
You have to remember that Gottfried is surrounded by good coaches. Bobby Lutz is a BIG reason why State basketball is where it is. TOB was surrounded by mediocre coordinators at best. Gottfried has also been able to recruit top talent, something TOB never could do at State.
Oh and by the way, the Big 10 isn't the answer for Maryland. Your programs will still be bad and you will still be broke after Swofford makes you pay the full $50 mil.
Rank: Rookie you never came back after the other night. You talked about how bad we are. Behind Duke and UNC we are the 3rd best basketball team in the ACC. You never came back inshore. :(- Posted by cmmsbft...Same old Maryland...Bolting to the Big 10...$50m lawsuit pending. Talk to us when you have something intelligent to say turtle shellsame old State. How long before the fire Gott rumblings start. I used to like NC State fans, but they are the most insecure fanbase ever. They think they are on par with UNC and Duke in basketball and should be a top school in football. But they are always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Back when Maryland sucked bad and was on probation and State was as well, I felt a kinship to NC State. But when Maryland got good in basketball around 1993 and State was always in the Les Robinson Invitational (the 8 vs 9 game in the tourney) that's when their attitudes changed. They ran off Herb Sendek for Sidney Lowe and they will never be happy. Oh and by the way Sonny Dykes isn't the answer.- Posted by Schwoogie
Rank: All Star Down by 15 in the second half, to no.3 , on their court, pull within 5 with a chance to cut to 3. State had a chance to get blown out but refused to go away. Appreciate the fight and hope it toughens them up for later.- Posted by Unc r Hypocrits
Proud to be a Wolfpacker!
GO PACK!!!
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