• Updated with audio of Smith's comments
N.C. State suspended forward Tracy Smith for one game for criticizing the officiating after the Wolfpack's loss at Wake Forest on Sunday night.
Smith, who fouled out after a playing a season-low 23 minutes, said the officiating crew of Karl Hess, Sean Hull and Joe Lindsay "favored" Wake Forest and called too many "touch" fouls.
Smith, who will miss State's nonconference game at Arizona on Wednesday, apologized on Monday for his comments.
"I was caught up in the heat of the moment, but should not have made the
comments I did," Smith said in a statement released by the school. "I want to apologize to my coaches, my teammates, and last night’s officials for this situation."
Foul trouble limited Smith, State's leading scorer and rebounder, to 9 minutes in the first half. He picked up his second foul with 8:27 left and sat the remainder of the half. He then fouled out with 5:28 left in the game, which State lost 67-59.
Smith finished with 11 points and a team-best 10 rebounds but wasn't happy with the way the game was called.
"The refs, I don't think they did a good job tonight," Smith said after the game. "I think they favored Wake Forest all the way but that's ACC basketball. You've got to play through that."
State was called for 25 fouls, compared to 17 for Wake, and the Deacs had a 23-19 advantage at the free-throw line.
"I felt like there was too many touch fouls," Smith said on Sunday. "It's a man's game, I mean there's going to be touching and hitting, you can't call every little touch foul."
The ACC confirmed Monday that it was N.C. State's decision to suspend Smith, not a league-imposed penalty. Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe declined to comment on Monday.
Smith leads the Wolfpack (8-2, 0-1 ACC) with 17.6 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. The junior ranks third in the ACC in both categories.
Freshman forward Jordan Vandenberg played 11 minutes on Sunday with Smith mired in foul trouble. Vandenberg was 0-for-3 from the floor and finished with two rebounds and two blocks.
Fellow freshmen Richard Howell (6 minutes) and DeShawn Painter (5 minutes) also figure to get more time against the Wildcats (4-5) on Wednesday. None of the three freshmen forwards have made a start yet this season.
Comments
Smith was right about the
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 18:42 — mad_maxSmith was right about the refs giving an edge to Wake IMHO, but he can't just say stuff like that publicly. I mean, this is the ACC, we are used to this crap by now in basketball and football. It would be nice to clean house on our officials and get some new younger folks in there. Though, I'm sure the Karl Hess and Ron Cherrys of the world will referee until their dead.
The calls made by the refs throughout this game made it tough for State at times, but State did have their chances to take control of this game in the second half. So, there's more to work on aside from just feeling sorry for ourselves over the bad calls/no-calls. And personally, it does suck to have a losing conference record once again, but the fact that we couldn't get a break from the refs and still made a game of it, despite playing pretty poorly at times, could be a good sign for this team. Based on recent seasons, I'm sure most people were expecting a 15-20 point blowout.
Smith and the pack played sloppy...
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 11:09 — willncsu...but anyone who knows anything about ACC bball knows that Karl Hess is one of the worst refs in the country.
Next Time
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 09:51 — duke_blueTracy..next time get one of the trainers to voice your opinions. Your point gets made and it doesn't matter if he/she sits out for a couple of games. So what if you don't get your towel or gatorade promptly during a timeout.
refs
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 09:42 — sbas2complaining about the refs is for losers. however, i would like to plead before the court of public opinion that when Ish Smith blocked Scott Wood's shot in the second half, Smith should have been whistled for an intentional flagrant foul allowing Wood to shoot to free shots and State to get the ball out of bounds. i use as support for my case Courtney Felds v. Virginia Tech player, February 2009, Blacksburg Virginia. in said case when Felds blocked said Virginia Tech player's shot the official judge ruled that while said Felds blocked the shot cleanly, he after blocking the shot, intentionally and flagrantly fouled said Virginia Tech player too hard such that said Virginia Tech player was to given two free throw shots and Virginia Tech awarded the ball out of bounds. This case set a presidence for two foul shots and the awarding of the ball out of bounds to the shooter and his team when a player intentionally flagrantly fouls a player when blocking said players shot. :-).
The whine pitch is so loud
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 21:30 — unc098The whine pitch is so loud it would run any presbyterian out of the gym.
karl Hess
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 21:17 — saltydawg1it's not Hess that sucks.....it's Sid!!!!
Karl Hess
Wed, 12/23/2009 - 17:54 — scottkarrikerHess sucks! Period. Pack is talent deficient! Period
Karl Hess
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 20:56 — scottkarrikerLong time Pack fan here. Hey give Karl a break. He was trying to impress the Wake babe in the yellow sweater that sat at courtside. WOW! She was actually the highlight of the night. Karl spent every moment of every timeout talking to her. The only thing thst stunk worse than refs was The Pack's play. It was a night of bad basketball by two bad teams so it is fitting that the ACC sent a bad crew to officiate. There were so many bricks thrown up last night it would have taken a front end loader to carry them all out.
Put up or shut up
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 20:10 — bstoneazI saw enough sloppy play to blame Sid, not the officials for that loss. Smith needs to shut his hole and learn to play better, and get his team to play better before mouthing off about anything. I am not a happy fan.
Fouls?
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 18:30 — shharrisI have been a State fan since before there were computers. I watched them win two national championships. And I have watched them fall from the top of the world to the bottom of the ACC. The problem is NOT REFS. The problem is a lack of talent and a lack of coaching. At least these players try. The problem is, chemistry and attitude will never get this team to the top half of the ACC, much less the Tournament. Reality sucks.
PS I worry more about missed free throws than fouls.
Karl Hess
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 18:11 — jcolvardis THE worst game official, and often calls games lopsided. But that is no excuse for the lack of execution by the Pack. Vandenberg missed uncontested shots from less than 2 feet away from the basket on more than one occasion, and so did Dennis Horner on at least one occasion. These guys need to learn how to finish, and until they do, they cannot expect anything different than what we saw last night.
Next thing ya know....
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 18:01 — sclarkthe next thing ya know we'll see ACC coaches having the opposing team's fans escorted out of the building for using NON swear words in wishing the home team's player misses a foul shot. LOL God forbid ANYONE EVER be offended. this world is becoming more and more "pansified" on a near daily basis. How utterly melancholy.
Let's see...
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 22:06 — Heels20Didn't respond to the topic. Didn't use proven facts. Didn't know enough to have an idea of what you were talking about. If you responded to the essay question on your Carolina application as you did this article, then I have an idea as to why you didn't get in...
States Smith Suspended.
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 16:41 — henryeWhile it is frusterating to get called for a foul.Its much better they do. I have seen so many blatent fouls not called, it makes your blood boil. with the technology we have today, there is no reason Cameras can't be positioned high above the floor to detect fouls and make the Game fair for all.
time would not allow that to
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 09:41 — duke_bluetime would not allow that to happen...the game would last 8 hours long having to stop every minute for foul reviews.
Interesting statistics...the
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 16:25 — SBREIDInteresting statistics...the list of fouls called on a team by coach. But even if State had the most fouls called instead of the least it is irrelevant. The purpose of fouls is not to have an even number per team. The purpose is to call them as they happen. There are so many variables including mostly the style of play of each team. State has a lot bigger problems than the foul situation. looks like it could be another long year. I agree with other observers.....how is Herb Sendack looking now?
Who
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 17:34 — YAR8packWho is Herb Sendack? If you're going to talk junk, how about knowing the correct spelling of the person's name you're trying to insert into a pun against State fans. Geesh. I'm sure you're just an eavesdropper who wants to throw in her or his collective two cents. If you weren't, you'd know who you're trying to refer to chose of his on volition to vacate Raleigh.
I am surprised the N&O has dedicated a couple articles to what Matt Doherty's doing. What else is funny is how no one really comments on that story. I guess because he was prematurely fired from his contract that no one cares.
Karl Hess was officiating...
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 16:27 — tjfooseKarl Hess was officiating... sounds about right.
Nothing new here Tracy. You knew what Karl Hess was/is when you stepped on the court. You knew better.
Announcer Sean McDonough has a similar opinion of Karl Hess:
http://rushthecourt.net/2009/11/26/atb-karl-hess-isnt-invited-to-our-thanksgiving-dinner-either/
As does Arizona's Sean Miller
http://www.pointguardu.com/cats/showthread.php?t=49815
Tracy Smith
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 15:37 — chillheelI'm a UNC supporter and I didn't see the game, but as a rule the ACC officials have been poor across the board, no matter who's playing, and Karl Hess is one of the worst! Tracy should have kept his words to himself, but there probably WAS reason to feel like the refs didn't do a very good job!
Smith was right
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 15:08 — roiThat said, it doesn't excuse State's sloppy playing. I'm not sure where the coaching was, either.
two words
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:38 — nctorwartKarl Hess. It took ncsu fans this long to figure that one out? Wow.
"Lesson" learned
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 13:56 — RonBThe same "lesson" -- NC State players get called for touch fouls while their opponents "play tough, physical defense" -- is getting old. ACC refs "teach" the lesson every year, neutering NC State on both ends of the court, making the pack the doormat of the ACC. Everyone knows it, and no one, especially UNC Commissioner Swafford, does anything to chane it.
When Smith and his teammates are going to play scared on defense and be subject to uncalled "tough defense" on offense, how do they expect to win? The sad thing is the ACC wants State to lose, and this is a big "Mission Accomplished" move.
If games were actually settled on the court, NC State would be consistently above .500 in conference play. But getting foul-called out of contention night after night makes playing in the postseason an impossiblity.
Wow x 2
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 15:42 — SurferDeleted duplicate post.
Wow x 2
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 15:40 — SurferIf what you are saying were true:
"If games were actually settled on the court, NC State would be consistently above .500 in conference play. But getting foul-called out of contention night after night makes playing in the postseason an impossibility."
then Sid should just cancel the rest of the season.
State could be above .500 in the ACC, but I think that it has more to do with basic fundamental play and athleticism. The refs are not making them miss layups and turning the ball over.
Wow
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:59 — Heels20After this post, I never want to hear the term "Carowhina" ever again. No one complains about officiating as much as State fans. State is losing because they suck, not because the officiating is screwing them. Any rational State fan is willing to admit that.
"playing in the postseason an impossiblity"
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 15:14 — that_is_jankyRight, so the FIVE straight tourney appearances Herb led you to were just what? A reason to run him out of town?
Career Fouls Per Game:
Dino Gaudio - 19.5
Seth Greenberg - 19.4
Gary Williams - 18.7
Leonard Hamilton - 18.7
Oliver Purnell - 18.6
Coach K - 18.3
Frank Hiath - 17.9
Al Skinner - 17.8
Roy Williams - 17.8
Sidney Lowe - 16.0
Hmmm, looks like the refs actually swallow the whistle when the pack takes the court.
Excuses....Excuses.... Get
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:29 — duke_blueExcuses....Excuses....
Get a coach who can bring in the talent and coach them to their level of potential.....then maybe you will have a winning team.
Oh, really?
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 14:07 — melvinfurdSo, it's the refs' fault State is the dormat of the ACC, the "ACC" wants State to lose and the games aren't actually settled on the court?
I think you can look a lot closer to home if you're trying to figure out who is really responsible.
Appropriate
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 12:52 — JPDOhioYou could tell Tracy was frustrated during the game and he let it get to him when he made his remarks after the game. But mistakes have consequences (or at least they should), and this suspension is just about right. Hopefully, Tracy understands this and will learn from it.
Punishment Too Light
Mon, 12/21/2009 - 23:51 — bobmacWhat happens when your center is double-teaming a guard 35 feet from the basket? A silly, silly foul on your leading scorer and rebounder! Then to publically blame the refs? Come on, man!!! That is dumb and dumber. One game may not be enough for Tracy to learn his lesson. Maybe Sidney should sit Smith two games. The last thing we need at State is a Big with a Rasheed Wallace attitude! Tracy. play like the upper class leader you are.The coaches, the players, and the Wolfpack Nation need your leadership!
One game is enough
Tue, 12/22/2009 - 12:21 — JPDOhioMissing even one game is like torture for a college athlete who is used to playing serious minutes. And its not like Tracy went off on a rant. His comments were made in the aftermath of a frustrating performance. Understandable, but ill-advised and dealt with.
I do agree with your point about silly fouls when out of position. Several of the "touch" fouls were dumb fouls to begin with. State did not play smart or aggressive against Wake. That is why they lost. If they want to have any succcess for the rest of the year, those are the two areas they have to work on.