N.C. State's Richard Howell chases after a loose ball with Florida State's Derwin Kitchen (22) during the second half. ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com
Check out ur uncut and edited photo galleries from the game
updated 9:50 p.m.
RALEIGH — N.C. State's regular-season finale on Sunday played out like a re-run.
The familiar three-part episode ended in defeat, 72-62 to Florida State to cap a disappointing season which sends the Wolfpack into the ACC tournament as the No. 10 seed.
The Pack will play Maryland, which has won eight straight in the series, on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.
If Sunday's result, or a handful of others from the season, is any indication, there will be an early push by the opponent, a comeback in the middle by the Wolfpack and then the finale, which can be defined as either a fade by State or a surge by the opponent.
Think of ACC losses to Boston College, Virginia Tech, Maryland or at home against North Carolina, or go back to the nonconference losses to Syracuse or Arizona.
The script is the same.
There the Pack was on Sunday in front of a low-key crowd of 14,218, down 7-0 in the first 3 minutes, down nine at the half and then up one with 7 minutes to play.
And then …
"From there it just went down hill," sophomore Scott Wood. "It always seems to happen in the last 5 minutes of the game."
Wood's timing was slightly off this time but not his overall point. After fighting back to take its first lead of the game at 8:10 in the second — on a 3-pointer from Wood — and then up 55-54 with 7:11 left, Derwin Kitchen (17 points, 13 rebounds) scored six points in a four-possession span.
The Wolfpack countered with a missed 3, a turnover and another missed outside shot. Just like that it was 62-56.
C.J. Leslie (12 points) showed some resistance with a strong take at 4:14 to make it a four-point game but Bernard James responded with an interior hoop or his own and an ensuing 3 from Wood brushed off the rim.
Actually, in a change of pace, it wasn't the shot selection or turnovers that bother coach Sidney Lowe but the defensive lapses, particularly on Kitchen.
His first two hoops after State seized the lead were hard cuts off of screens. He lost his defender both times.
"We made mistakes defensively," Lowe said. "I was very disappointed in our execution defensively."
While State couldn't stop a broken clock, FSU locked down senior Tracy Smith, who bowed out in his final home game with eight points in 30 minutes and enough ice for his sore left knee to freeze the Bering Strait.
Double-teamed in the first half and plain bodied-up in the second half, Smith went almost 16 minutes in the second half before he attempted a shot.
"They were physical with him and denied him," Lowe said. "They just played tough."
On the Pack's senior night, coach Sidney Lowe started Javier Gonzalez, Smith and walk-on Enrico Kufuor. The second-half comeback was fueled by Richard Howell (eight points) and Ryan Harrow (five assists) while Smith labored and Gonzalez added five points and three assists.
Amid speculation about his own future, after his ACC record fell to 25-55, Lowe received a standing ovation as he led the team off the court after the loss.
Lowe is still holding hope that this team can make a run next week in Greensboro and change the ending of a difficult season.
"We still have a story to tell," Lowe said. "It's not over yet. Stranger things have happened."
Comments
the end is near
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 10:53 — JPDOhioPost game comments by Sid, Scott Wood and CJ Williams had the sound of a defeated team. They talked about starting fresh on Thursday, but I heard nothing to convince me that they believe it. And, if Sid follows the same pattern he has for the last few games, we will see an 8-12 point loss and a merciful end to the season.
That said, if Sid really wants to try to make a run in this tourney, I have this unsolicited, unremarkable advice:
I expect nothing to change on Thursday, especially if the same lineup and distribution of minutes is rolled out. But (cliche of the day) the night is darkest before the dawn and the Pack's future is not hopeless. It will however require some significant changes in personnel and, perhaps most importantly, mindset.
JPD, I really admire
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 16:00 — Shoreman67and respect your strong support for the Wolfpack. Even now you are not giving up completely. Through all this season's diversity and disappointing failures, when most of the rest of us have found the situation hopeless, you still find a ray of hope to cling to. I applaud you for your dedication and undying loyalty. You are the quintessential Wolfpack fan. Enjoy "March Madness" and take care.
no surprises here
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 01:54 — JPDOhioFirst off, heartfelt congratulations to Tracy and Javi on their senior day. No, this year has not gone well, but both have contributed much to this program. Although Javi has had his ups and downs, I don't know if I have ever seen a player more resilient. The way his career started at State would have devastated most players, but he just kept coming back. There is a kid who cares. Tracy's improvement over the years has been remarkable. It is a true shame that he got injured early on. It is clear that his knee is not right and really has affected his play all year.
Regarding the game, it was more of the same. Heels20 saw in person what we have seen all year. No need for me to repeat it here. There is talent that won't come out without more discipline and intensity. As talented as the three freshmen are, their capacity to make bad decisions seems limitless. Brown moreso than Harrow, but both need to pull it back and not try to force it so much. They have terrific potential and outstanding skills, and need to develop the discretion to use them properly.
Leslie, I fear, is a hopeless case. It is maddening to watch him sleepwalk through each game. There may be a handful of times each game that he pores it on. On a good day we may get twice that many. But at least half the time on offense and most of the time on defense, he just stands there or strolls around. I would love to see a side by side comparison of him and Nolan Smith moving without the ball. I lost count of how many times a teammate tried to get the ball to him by a lob or otherwise and it got muffed. His presence on the court is a negative, period. I don't care what is stats are, the team is worse with him on the floor than on the bench.
Thursday does not bode well for the Pack.
I wish Sid well in whatever
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 10:52 — unc098I wish Sid well in whatever his next endeavor will be. I would be amazed if he is retained for another year......Let the speculation begin....Can't think of anyone off the top of my head at the moment. This will be an interesting test for Yow. Stayed tuned
SMH
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 09:18 — YAR8packTrue on all levels, and sadly so.
Maybe my meeting and speaking with coach Lowe several times is getting in the way of my thought process of whether or not to retain him. I wanna support the guy and most of all the team, but Tuesday and yesterday provoke only abhorrent responses when looking over what's happened...or should I say not happening.
Man
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 00:23 — Heels20It was actually a solid atmosphere at the game considering so many of the students were gone for spring break. Can't blame this one on the crowd.
I think Sidney Lowe is a great guy, but seeing this team live screamed lack of discipline at me. The freshmen look no smarter than they were at the beginning of the year. Scott Wood wasn't being utilized. State totally blew it on fast breaks, not knowing what the heck to do. As has happened so many times this season, the Pack was outhustled as it couldn't keep its foot on the pedal for a full 40 minutes.
You never want to see a guy rise so high as a player only to fall from glory as a coach. Fortunately, I think most State fans still appreciate Lowe for all that he accomplished, but he will not go down as one of the better coaches in the history of Wolfpack basketball. Maybe he can make another tournament run...
Sidney
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 09:13 — YAR8packThe only run Sidney can make for this is year is to the border to let someone take his order. We're done.
Hope your eyes aren't still burning due to the horror you witnessed yesterday.
Didn't see the game;
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 22:20 — Shoreman67as I was watching a Patriot League Championship game; did see the score come up and State was ahead by one; knew that wouldn't last, and of course it didn't. From Max's post, it sounds like it was a another lazy effort with no execution down the stretch. One more loss, which we will surely get against the Terps, and the Pack's season will be mercifully over; a promising year (at least in November) having gone down the tubes.
One rumor, one of many, had Lowe resigning after this game but continuing to coach into the tournament per an agreement he had arranged with Yow and the University. If this one is true, then I guess we can expect an announcement very soon. If not, we wait for some other decision to be made.
As for me, I am hoping that I can get a couple of my favorite teams in the Big Dance. Gotta' start thinking about bracket possibilities. Take care.
I wouldn't expect Javi and
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 20:33 — mad_maxI wouldn't expect Javi and Tracy to go out any other way. Lazy, uninspired game for the Pack.
Well, I guess it's not over...down 11 with 14 and a half minutes left. Whatever...
53-52 State, 7:54 to
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 20:50 — mad_max53-52 State, 7:54 to go
waiting for the inevitable...
missed the comeback.
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 20:55 — JPDOhioHad to step away from the TV. Came back and they are tied with Leslie on the bench. Hope he stays there, then we might have a chance.