Pack aiming for postseason

Submitted by kentysiac on 02/19/2009 - 07:19

The scoreboard showed that N.C. State lost 89-80 on Wednesday night in what might have been senior Ben McCauley’s last game against rival North Carolina, but McCauley wasn’t discouraged.

N.C. State trailed just 39-36 at halftime and played well except for an early second-half defensive lapse against the nation's No. 3-ranked team at the Smith Center.

Consecutive wins over Wake Forest and Georgia Tech preceded the loss to the Tar Heels, and McCauley still had the sense that the Wolfpack (14-10, 4-7 ACC) is playing well.

"We would have loved to have gotten this one," McCauley said, "but we're not going to sell ourselves short. We're going to play hard these last five games and hopefully give ourselves a shot at postseason play."

The postseason is something McCauley said N.C. State players are talking about among themselves now that they’re playing perhaps their best basketball of the season. It probably would take five straight wins plus a couple more in the ACC Tournament for the Wolfpack to gain an NCAA bid, but McCauley said the players haven't given up on that.

Two more wins would make N.C. State a strong candidate for the NIT after the team missed the postseason with a 15-16 record last season.

"The option of playing in the postseason is definitely still there," McCauley said. "I think guys kind of realize that. And that helps us. If you feel as though you’re done with the season after the season is over, then you're not going to win any games. But I think guys are still pretty confident. Unfortunately we came up a little short today, but we've got five games left to finish strong, and I think we will."

Coach Sidney Lowe said he'd rather focus on each of the remaining games individually than the postseason, but there's no doubt that he believes the team is playing better than at the end of last season, when N.C. State lost its final nine games.
It won't be easy to continue that strong finish.

Virginia (9-13, 3-8), which didn't seem to have a pulse a week ago, is Saturday's opponent at the RBC Center and is coming off back-to-back wins over Clemson and Virginia Tech.
The Wolfpack's other two home opponents, Maryland and Boston College, are fighting for consideration for the NCAA Tournament.

Nonetheless, with point guard Javi Gonzalez improving and center Tracy Smith averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds over the last three gamesr, Lowe sounded encouraged despite the loss Wednesday.

"I’m happy with the way we’re playing," he said. "If we continue to play the way we’re playing now, and sometimes better, we’ll be fine."

Comments

NIT

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 17:10 — toomanchu

NIT is realistic, anything more is wishful thinking, anything less is sad.

I was down on Sid. If they can develop a clutch go-to guy they may can turn it around in the coming years. They are doing pretty good considering they have no player leadership. Hope he can recruit a leader. Can't be a pouter like Costner and need to be able to make some clutch plays and McCauley isn't quite it. Fells just not confident enough to be that person. Every other ACC team has that 1 guy, NCSU does not.

Pack Fan 175 really? Dangerous? Really?

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 23:47 — echllc

Sid is my homeboy, but all of the talent in the world will not come to State, you have a crappy campus, cows everywhere, the football program gets all of the money, I mean heck you had to cancel some tourney this year because of the lack of funds (I try renting out CF, for extra funds, just an idea) but, you do have some honeys though. Oh yea AND you share a stadium/arena with a NHL team who has fans that dont even know what hockey is? Sorry I digress, Dangerous yeah, if you mean they might stab someone, or vandalize a snack machine but hey at least they can keep Sid's boy company in the Slammer. Sid you my dog!!!RUF RUF.

Hey NCSURMY, lay off the the Chinese Proverbs

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 23:41 — echllc

Dude,...Dude,...Dude lightening up. Confucius say man who sleep with itchy backside wake up with smelly fingers. Carolina had to scratch and their hands smelled like State.

tourney chances

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 22:28 — gene_wicker_jr

NCSU has only one chance to get to the NCAA tourney and that's by winning the ACC tournament. They essentially doomed themselves when they lost to Florida weeks ago. That was their last chance to have a quality win against a non-conference opponent (and frankly Florida and all of the SEC are rather suspect at being quality this year). NCSU only had 3 quality out of conference games and they lost all three. That weighs heavily against them when comparing teams for inclusion/exclusion.

No out of conference victories potentially could have been offset by winning a majority of their home conference games, winning some key games on the road and beating some of the better teams in the conference. To date, the win against Wake is the only win that counts here.

The NIT it will be. If they fall to the CBI or the CollegeInsider tourneys, I'm going into hiding.

Too much to comment on

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:38 — Surfer

..so, I will just predict that State will make the ACC Tournament.

Oh Good God!

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:19 — fester

There is some good comedy in this thread. John Wall will not be in a wolfpack uniform next year, sorry. NC State doesn't need him anyway. A one and done player will not help the Pack right now. Mays and Gonzalas are improving and will be there for 2 and 3 more years and this kid Brown coming in will help. John Wall would be a blip that just got in the way at the end of the day. What State needs is to get Tracy Smith some help inside.

Recruits...

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:57 — packfan175

Some one said that sid cant recruit like roy...well FYI sid has already had a five star recruit come to state, in his second year. This next recruiting class could easily be in the top 10 if they land John Wall (and it seems he is leaning towards the pack) With lorenzo brown (4 star highly rated pg) richard howell (4 star highly rated pf) and Scot wood ( 3 star shooting guard, that is claimed to be a better shooter then redick). That class is already top 20, with the addition of Wall (hopefully) and cj leslie this team could be a legit acc championship caliber team, and even a top 15 team down the road. The problem with state now is Sid doesnt have the players he wants in order to run the offense, he still has sendek left overs. It seems sid is slowly converting his style of play into games, slowly because he has half the team ready for the uptempo style, and the other half still accustomed to slow down princeton. If i were carolina i would watch what i say...this team will be very dangerous in the next couple years. Last time i heard carolina talk this much trash, the next evening they were whining about a 41-10 loss to the wolfpack...

That's all we hear from you

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:24 — heelsfan88

That's all we hear from you WolfPackers is when we get this guy or when we get that guy we'll do this. Sendek screwed us here and Sendek screwed us there. Give it up already! You guys are excited and looking forward to BARELY making the NIT field. Give me a break and face the reality of where your program is and heading towards for the past 5 years: MEDOCRITY at best.

Reply To Arrogant heelsfan88

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 12:31 — bobmac

The Heels are only a early 4th foul on Ty or Ty out with a ankle sprain away from losing. Admittedly, Ty is now playing well enough to start in the NBA at point. The Gray Fox had the right idea when he convinced the league to send the tourney winner to the Big Dance. The Pack has a habit of showing up to play on tournament Sunday when you least expect it. Just ask Justin Gainey. Hope to see the Heels there.

recruit year in and year out..

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:12 — dkellyunc

when state does that, you can come and talk to me. Even if State gets Wall, he's done the year after. UNC will replace 5 star talent with 5 star talent. Carolina consistently recruits nationwide for top talent. State has to go to Georgia for leftovers.

JJ Hickson really turned your program around didn't he? Tracy Smith was highly recruited as well wasn't he....how's that working out for you??

Just who in the h#ll claims that this recruit you have coming in is a better shooter than Reddick? does this person work in fantasyland?

Sendek had your team competitve and in the NCAAs. He's also beat UCLA this year who has been to the Final 4 the last 3 years I believe. Those players he has aren't exactly players he recruited either.

Sid's conversion you speak of is more like a slow train wreck. It looked like it was really working in Blacksburg. LOL!!

Sid can't even recruit as good as VaTEch or Clemson!! FWIW Sid looks like the Kool Aid guy with that coat on. Time to give it up. Sendek was and is a better coach and your fans ran him out because you believe you'll someday in the next century be better than UNC,dook or Wake. Time to wake up and smell the cow poo.

That football score is all you have to hold on to. It's really sad. I'll give you credit for that but since we're on that subject who did you lose to in the bowl game?? Oh that's right, Rutgers, UNC stompped them at their place I believe.

Tracy Smith

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:35 — JPDOhio

How's that working out? Pretty good thanks. And we have him for two more years.

maybe 2 years..

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:54 — dkellyunc

if he's smart like Hickson he'll leave too.

Laugh for now dkellyunc.

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:47 — ncsurmy

The Tarheels may be at the top of the heap and leaps and bounds above where the Wolfpack is right now, but the tide will change and the pendulum will shift in favor of the Wolfpack. Yes, as a rule UNC will consistently be more competitive than NCSU. However, State will have a better team down the road than Carolina. For Tarheel fans, it will be a difficult pill to swallow, mainly because of the arrogance that some Tarheel fans seem to possess and display. Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with expecting to win every time out. But to belittle your opponent after a win, shows you have no class. None at all. Remember, just like everything else in life, when you take things for granted, the price you pay is severe and painful. When you treat people badly, it always comes back to bite you. I do look forward to the day when NCSU defeats UNC and the fans at the RBC Center stand and applaud instead of running onto the court because it's nothing more than another one in the win column.

ncsurmy

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:30 — gvillegatr

duuuuuddde,

you are on some high grade stuff brother!! peace and love! I ahvent heard anyone go out of their way to belittle ncsu UNLESS someone in your fan base has prevoked them.

there might never be a time when NCSU is better than UNC. sure, you guys will pull a victory every once in awhile, but it won't be b/c you are better.

still laughing,

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:29 — dkellyunc

maybe you're right but I doubt it. Here's a stat for you....Roy is 17-1 against State.
How do you justify your arguement that State will be better than UNC when UNC has the #1 recruiting class coming in next year and State has what?? Until State can recruit with UNC and Dook you'll always be a laughing stock. Carolina has a Hall of Fame coach and State has what?? Nothing! Your coach was a great player but he's a terrible coach. Gonzalez was on fire in the 1st half and Lowe slowed him down in the 2nd.
The day that State fans don't rush the court will never come. Every win over UNC is your National Championship. Every win over State for UNC is just another win...Sorry.

where do you

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:26 — ericmac20

get the idea that the pendulum will swing towards NSCU? Lowe cant recruit like Roy, and he cant coach like him either.

Easy big guy

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:16 — rtarnowski

You do realize this is a college basketball game, right? But this fantasy world you have created for the future does sound fantastic for NC State fans.

As an aside, what is the deal with this "class" stuff? I really don't get it. Anytime a team or a fan does something opposing fans don't like (what a shocker! NC State fans don't like things Carolina fans say and vice versa), the "class" card is pulled out. I think it is silly and tired. And it usually comes from a sore loser.

losing as much as State does

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:35 — dkellyunc

would usually make someone a sore loser. I would love to see this as a true rivalry again but let's be real. When was it ever a rivalry?? I certainly don't remember any time within the last 15 years that a true UNC fan considered State a rival. They are irrelevant.

New arena, same old wore out basketball team. No tradition whatsoever.

No Dough?

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:26 — RonB

Typical UNC revisionist history, though sort of true.

Without a few timely touch fouls in the first half, State's lead would have been double digits and baby blue nation would be crying in their merlot. You don't have to be the better team when it is 8 on 5.

During the Coach D'oh era, a true UNC fan wouldn't consider State a rival because the Pack ran them out of the gym with Herb at the helm. How embarassing!

But your operatives at ESPN have done a good job of ensuring that "tradition", and the Coach Gut years, have been erased from the casual sports fans' collective memories.

State doesn't have the fine "tradition" of illegal practices as campaign trail stops, hiring friends and family of players without fear of investigation, player DUI's getting swept under the rug, etc.

The only "talent" UNC has is getting away with so much and using that as a recruiting tool.

Glass Houses

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:34 — dkellyunc

Chris Washburn, Jimmy V. Those were 2 squeaky clean guys that come to mind.

Don't start about hiring practices either. Lowe wasn't even qualified to be State's coach so Fowler went to Office Depot and got a few computer courses for the guy to be certified per NCAA rules... and this because no one in college bball wanted the damn job to start off with.

That my friend is emabarassing! LOL

Fells pushed Green through the lane on a layup...no call.

McCauley hacked TH so many times I lost count.

Come up with something else.

no.

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:33 — gvillegatr

no, RonB, you guys just have Jimmy Valvano. the biggest crook ever to coach a basketball team with exception of Tark the Shark!

No chance for the NCAA tourney.

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:29 — JPDOhio

Even if the Pack wins the next five (which they won't) and goes deep in ACC tourney (which they might), I don't see them making the NCAA tourney. They just don't have enough quality wins.

The only way they get in is to win the ACC tourney, which isn't going to happen. As long as Ty Lawson stays healthy, no one is going to stop UNC. I agree with Sid when he says Ty Lawson is the key to UNC's ultimate success. If he continues to play like he is playing now, they will be the National Champions, end of discussion.

The Pack will not fold like they did last year. They will make the NIT and could very well win it. Progress is being made.

You're wrong

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 12:07 — acc_hoops_fan73178

5 straight wins would put the Pack at 9-7 in the conference. They would be in the tournament. Go back through ACC history and find how many 9-7 teams have NOT made the tournament. If the Pack wins their last 5 then they're 9-7 and would have a sweep of Wake Forest. That's 2 wins against the top10, one of which is on the road. And they don't have any really bad losses, they've been in every game they've played. They'd be in, no question about it.

Is winning their next 5 possible? It's possible. Every team left has their share of problems right now. Wake may have already played their best basketball already. Who knows what Maryland team will show up. UVa has played better of late but they're short on talent. We've already beaten Miami once. And we played BC pretty close at their place.

All of this is premature. Still a lot of basketball to be played.

Maybe you are right.

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:05 — JPDOhio

I just think the Pack has dug itself into too much of a hole to get out of. Plus, I think it is unlikely they won't slip up at least once before the regular season is over. I do think they will finish strong and be a tough out in the ACC tourney.

tourney

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 14:28 — dkellyunc

who isn't a tough out in the tourney?? man that's really making a bold predicton there!

Bottom line is Lowe can't utilize divison 1 basketball talent. end of discussion. this team should have won at least 19-20 games already. to play in this conference and be somewhat experienced and suck as bad as state does is pathetic regardless of whose recruits you have..

remember dan werner? verbal to Sendek and then went to FLA....he wouldn't fit into Lowe's system?? Gimme a break. The man doesn't belong in the ACC but if State's happy, I'm happy. LOL.

who isn't a tough out in the tourney??

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 15:06 — JPDOhio

NC State- last year.

How is it that such a lousy team put up serious numbers on your home court? If Sid is such a bad coach and State sucks as much as you say above, then calling NC State "a tough out" in the tourney is, in fact, a bold prediction.

I'm not one who has made a big deal about Werner or anyone else recruited by Herb not fitting Sid's system. And I am happy about the direction State's program is taking and believe Sid will be successful in the long run. Younger players have a chance to be productive earlier than under Herb's program. We are seeing it happen now.

However, as long as Roy is coaching UNC, the Tar Heels will be a championship program that outshines NC State. Once he is gone, who knows what will happen? You Tar Heel front-runners never talk about the Dougherty years, when you ran him out of town quicker than you can say "Herb Sendek". So maybe you are not so different from many Pack fans anyway, just more sanctimonious.

valid points

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 15:33 — dkellyunc

seriously, you made valid points.

Serious numbers? What serious numbers? UNC was up by 19 and took the foot off the pedal. State had no choice but to man up or get pummelled last night. It doesn't matter if you win by 1, 9 or 20. A win is a win.

Let's get this right as well.....IT'S DOHERTY!!! Look it up!. And since you bring him up, he recruited a class that won the National Championship under the watchful eye of a hall of fame coach. This is something Lowe will never do unless Williams and K both retire.

The big difference in "us Tar Heel frontrunners" is we do remember what it was like to be 8-20 and the folks that support the UNC program realize that it won't ever happen again. Carolina refuses to accept mediocrity unlike NC State. Remember that.

Tell me, who does State turn to if Lowe doesn't work out and then you explain how anyone can out recruit Williams or K in the ACC...that's the only way State gets better and doesn't lose to UNC 2 or 3 times a year like last year.

DOHERTY!!!

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 16:05 — JPDOhio

No need to look it up. No error goes unnoticed or unchallenged on this page. Anyway, you knew who I meant. Good enough for me.

Serious numbers- Check the box score, especially field goal percentage. You are right about one thing- winning is all that matters. And defense is the Heel's achilles (bet I spelled that wrong too) heel. If they don't win the National Championship, that will be why.

I have no doubt (as I stated before) that UNC will be a powerhouse as long as Roy is there. He can recruit and he can coach. Doherty could recruit, but he obviously can't coach. They needed Roy to instill the discipline those players needed to succeed.

Time will tell if Sid works out. I see steady improvement, so I am optimistic, but then again, if I am dumb enough to root for the Pack then what do I know anyway?