RALEIGH — N.C. State has spent the first half of the season trying to prove it's a better team than it was a year ago.
Wednesday's paint-by-the-numbers 78-44 win over Delaware State is just the latest example of the Wolfpack's progress in coach Mark Gottfried's first season.
Last season, State needed a last-gasp shot by Scott Wood to eek out a 72-70 win over the same Delaware State team. And this season? The game, for all intents and purposes, was over by halftime.
A 22-0 run to close the half, after the Hornets had played the first 13 minutes pretty much to a standstill, eliminated any need for late-game heroics from Wood or anyone else in a white jersey.
Wood (14 points) and the regulars got to watch the final 5 minutes of the game from the comfort of the bench.
The question now for State, which closes its nonconference schedule at 11-4, is can it show the same type of improvement against the ACC?
Maryland comes to the RBC Center on Sunday for Gottfried's first ACC game. State's coming off of back-to-back 5-11 finishes in the conference. The program has put together two good months before conference play only to fizzle out in the league.
The difference in execution and effort, between this Pack team and the last, was evident in Wednesday's rout, even with a MEAC team as the point of comparison.
The Hornets trailed just 20-18 after Tahj Tate's jumper at 7:19 in the first half. The Pack was sluggish in the first 13 minutes — perhaps looking ahead to Sunday's game — but found its gear in the final 7 minutes.
Senior guard Alex Johnson, as he has the past half dozen games, came off the bench and got the Pack offense going. He followed his own layup with a 3-pointer to make it 29-18 at 5:19.
The Pack kept going, while the hard-working Hornets couldn't hit water from a boat. Casey Walker's putback attempt, which rolled in and out, typified the Hornets struggles from the floor.
State had no such problems finding points. C.J. Leslie (14 points) flushed his own alley-oop after one of his two first-half steals. He tossed the ball under his left arm and then finished the dunk with flair at 3:40.
Lorenzo Brown had a coast-to-coast layup during the 22-0 run and there was a parade at the free-throw line, where State has been much improved over the past six games.
The Hornets more than doubled their scoring output in the second half but it wasn't enough to keep pace. The Pack led by 30, 72-42, with the better part of 4 minutes left.
That opened the door for fan favorites Staats Battle and Kendall Smith to get some quality minutes. The walk-ons were spectators in last year's close call with Delaware State. They were hoisting 3s on Wednesday.
What a difference a year makes.
Photo: N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown passes the ball behind his back during the second half of the Wolfpack's 78-44 victory over Delaware State. ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com
Comments
body parts disguised as bloggers
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 11:30 — shharrisState loses two starters and 29 points from last year's team yet (almost) everyone can see that this is a vastly improved team. State fans are right to be optimistic, not about beating WCU or DelSt, but about the team's level of play, even if CJL is still showboating. State has decent talent (that always means offense) and Gottfried has them playing very good defense, they just don't maintain the intensity 40 minutes. It will take two to three years to develop the depth to compete with top 25 teams, but I have watched us suck for too long to not be encouraged. By the way, the holes are not invincible. steve'73
The holes
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 12:49 — gvillegatrWell there you have it. Anything a state fan has to say about UNC must be true.
Steve, how many games would you like me to spot you in conference this year to make a fair wager ? You decide since you seem to have a pulse on the topic. Let me know. - Gatr
UNC Loses 2 in conference this year
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 13:20 — willncsuOne to Duke in Cameron and a random game they shouldnt lose, maybe FSU or VT. They win the conference easily.
History says yes
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 13:31 — gvillegatrBut you are thinking about Dook when you think of VT or FSU. UNC does really well against both teams.
It's typically GT or Maryland the Heels lose to.
Now we see
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 01:20 — JPDOhioStarted off slow, but ended great. The Pack clearly is much better than they were at this time last year. However, the real test is the ACC grind. Sure, the conference is down, but 8 of the teams are fairly even, Duke is beatable, and UNC is really good, but not invincible.
On to Maryland, which may be in transition, but has had the Pack's number lately. One game at a time. go Pack!
IMO
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 10:14 — gvillegatrThis conference is in the dumps and UNC is invincible this season. They're already really good, but they'll look like the '90 Rebels now.
Also state ending the non-conference sched "great" ... How so ? Bc they're healthy ?
Great ending
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 14:36 — JPDOhioReferring to the game, not the OCC schedule.
I can't say yet how much they have improved since the beginning of the season. Conference play will be more competitive than the last 4 teams State played, so that's why I said "Now we see".
That said, the Pack won three of the last four by an average of 30 points. That is way better than they did last year against similar competition. So, yes, I think they have improved because they are more in sync and roles are well-defined now. How much they have improved will play out over the next couple of months.
Invincible Gatr?
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 12:10 — Shoreman67I guess you mean that they will be in the conference? If not, I believe the meaning of "invincible" has been exaggeratedly used here since they already have two losses. Take care.
Um
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 12:38 — gvillegatrConference play was what I was referring to. Anyone should have figured that considering the post and what lies ahead.
I don't think they lose a single game unless it is to DUIke somehow. The conference blows ass unlike in years past when a UNC or DUIke fan claimed an "undefeated season."
ACC Grind?
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 03:22 — b_actor77Are you yet another "Alice-in-Wonderland" thinker? As in what's up is down and visa versa. ACC is more than "down" as you say, but absolutely the worst they've been in decades. Wofford, Fordham, URI(last in the 14 team A-10), Hawaii, Coastal Carolina, Princeton, Harvard, any many, many more, own victories over ACC teams. Finally relief comes on Saturday when you all go and hide from reality by only playing within your VASTLY overrated conference. BTW did you see what happened when your 2nd best team went up against a silly Big Least team? Set a BCS bowl record by giving up 70 big ones. Speaking of giving up, what a no-class fraud of a show UNC put on in their bowl game. By all the headlines and local reaction you'd think NC St. won the Super Bowl and not a 7-5 L'ville team that slinked throgh the BE and won all the tie-breakers to get in that bowl. Shoulda been Cincy who ROUTED them 2 mos. ago. Coming to the Garden in 2 yrs. to hold the ACC tournament? Jiust who do you think will buy tickets for that? A selout for FSU-Clemson? Or maybe Miami-WF, really good basketball there. NOT. At least 3 HS teams from NY/NJ are better each year than those chumps.
Hey!
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 09:40 — Shoreman67Why keep all that bitterness bottled up? Just tell us how you really feel..........LOL
Uh oh
Thu, 01/05/2012 - 08:56 — YAR8packSomebody call the waaaahbulance.
Yes, I remember
Wed, 01/04/2012 - 22:10 — Shoreman67that Del St game from last year very well; much better outcome this year. We just gotta' keep it goin' against the ACC. I think we have an excellent chance to win these next five games and we need to do just that during this easier part of our conference schedule. Looking forward to a victory over Md. to start things off.