North Carolina State University Athletics
Liberty Game Notes
12/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DATE: Friday, December 17, 1999
TIME: Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. (EDT) @ Entertainment & Sports Arena (19,722)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 7:00 p.m.
Capitol Sports Network Affiliates
TELEVISION: None
OPPONENT -- In its second year under former West Virginia University assistant coach, Mel Hankinson, Liberty University appears vastly improved from its 4-23 campaign in 1998-99. The Flames are off to a 7-1 start which includes road victories over Virginia Tech (62-61) and Richmond (64-61 2OT). The lone defeat came at home to Albany (75-59). LU is coming off a 67-40 win over East Stroudsburg on December 13th in which the Flames forced 28 turnovers and held the opposition to 36 percent shooting.
Liberty does not appear to be an outstanding shooting team. The Flames are hitting only 41 percent of their shots from the field. Its 36 percent accuracy from the three-point arc is good, but only 15 percent of Liberty's shots come from the bonusphere. Defense and rebounding are the bread and butter of this team. The Flames are outrebounding opponents by an average of 41-36 and are forcing them into nearly 24 turnovers a game.
Carl Williams, is Liberty's top player. The guard/forward sat out last season after his transfer from West Virginia University. During his one season at WVU, the Mountaineers went to the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16" and finished 22-8. Williams played in 16 games for West Virginia in 1997-98 and was used mainly as a defensive stopper. At Liberty, Williams is not only the team's top defender (36 steals), but leads in scoring and three-point field goal percentage (.458). He is the only Liberty player averaging in double-figure scoring.
All five projected starters for Liberty have played junior college basketball at one time. Three starters are JUCO transfers in their first season with the Flames. Senior forward Delawn Grandison is the team's leading returning scorer. He averaged 16.0 points a game and was the No. 3 scorer in the Big South Conference last season (18.8 ppg. in league games) after transferring from junior college.
Starting forward, Nathan Day (6-8, 220, Jr.) is out 2-4 weeks with a stress fracture of his right leg. He did not see action against Virginia Tech or East Stroudsburg and will not play against NC State. Day's injury has forced Liberty to go with a smaller line-up. However, Liberty appears to have the depth and quickness to play with NC State. The Flames have 8 players (not including Day) averaging at least 10 minutes a game. They are very quick and athletic, play an up-tempo style, and utilize a full court pressure defense. By the way, Liberty's all-time leading scorer is Karl Hess who is now an ACC basketball referee.
PROBABLE LIBERTY STARTERS
F #05 Carl Williams, 6-1, 200, Sr., Montgomery, AL (WVU transfer) 19.9 ppg./4.9 rpg./4.5 spg. F # 23 Delawn Grandison, 6-5, 220 Sr., Toronto, ONT 9.8 ppg./3.4 rpg. C #50 Kenneth Anaebonam, 6-9, 225, Jr., Three Rivers JC 9.1 ppg./8.3 rpg. G #21 Beau Wallace, 6-2, 195, Jr., NE Okla. A&M JC 6.3 ppg./3.5 rpg./4.9 apg. G #11 Mauruce Watkins, 6-2, 190, Jr., Florida CC 6.1 ppg./4.5 rpg./1.6 apg.
TOP RESERVES:
G #03 Chris Caldwell, 6-1, 165, So., Houston, TX 7.3 ppg./2.9 rpg. F #35 Louvon Sneed, 6-7, 235, Fr., Jersey City, NJ. 2.1ppg./2.9 rpg. G #22 Jamaal Bennett, 6-1, 175, So., Richmond, CA 3.6 ppg./0.6 rpg.
A WIN--Would give the Pack a 7-game winning streak to start the season, its best start since the 1981-82 campaign when NC State won its first 9 games. A victory also would give the Pack its longest winning streak during Herb Sendek's coaching tenure. NC State would improve to 6-0 at home, its best home start since last season when the Pack opened with 8 consecutive home wins. The Wolfpack would move to 1-0 in its series with Liberty.
A LOSS--Would be the Pack's first of the season, dropping NC State's record to 6-1 and the first for NC State at home in the Entertainment and Sports Arena. It would snap a six-game winning streak and drop NC State to 0-1 in its series with Liberty University.
DEFENSE --The Pack has held its first three opponents to 57.7 points per game (346) and .380 field goal shooting (124-326) while forcing 22.2 turnovers an outing (133). In its last 3 games, the Wolfpack forced a combined 65 turnovers and surrendered an average of 59.0 points (177). Last season, the Wolfpack held 13 opponents to 60 points or less. This season, 4 of 6 opponents have been held to 60 points or less.
REBOUNDING --NC State has a +2.5 rebounding margin (228-213) and has been outrebounded by two opponents this season (Georgia & Purdue). Last season, the Pack held a + 5.9 average rebound margin and was outrebounded only 5 times (just once in a non-conference game @ Providence).
THREE-POINT SHOOTING -- The Pack is shooting .281 from the bonusphere this season (34-121) including 14-58 in its last 3 games. Last season, NC State shot nearly 37 percent from the arc.
OVERALL SHOOTING --NC State is shooting .436 from the field (149-342) and has shot 50 percent or better just once this season (Stetson). Last season, the Pack finished at .454 from the field, but shot below 40 percent in 8 of its last 13 outings. NC State shot at least 50% or better in 15 of 33 games. In 19 wins the Pack shot 50.3% (508-1009), but just .387 (290-748) in 14 losses.
FREE THROWS --The Wolfpack is shooting .610 from the line this season (94-154) but had its best outing vs. ODU with a 79 percent performance (19-24). Last season, NC State was a .678 free throw shooting team. During the 1997-98 season, NC State shot .716 from the stripe.
BENCH POINTS --NC State's bench has contributed 116 points this season (19.3 ppg.) including 31 vs. ODU. Last season, the Pack racked up 790 points (23.9 ppg.) from its bench and had 27 double-digit scoring efforts. This season, 3 reserves have scored in double-figures. In the 1997-98 campaign, the bench averaged 10.2 ppg.
NEXT FOR THE PACK--NC State will visit Tulane University on Wednesday night, December 22nd. Airtime for the game on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network will be 8:30 p.m. with tip-off at 9:00 p.m.(Eastern). You can also hear every NC State game live on the internet at www.gopack.com.
KENNY INGE--The Pack's No. 2 returning scorer at 11.0 ppg., scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds while blocking 2 shots against Georgia, but suffered a partial knee ligament tear vs. ODU and will miss the next 2-3 weeks. The injury will not require surgery. Earned honorable mention All-ACC honors while scoring a team best 13.1 points in ACC play. Recorded five double-double's last season. Inge was a member of the All-ACC Freshman team in 1997-98.
JUSTIN GAINEY --The veteran point guard has scored in double figures his last two games. He sank the game-winning basket at Purdue with :15 to play. He finished the game with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Gainey leads the team in free throw shooting among regulars (.765, 13-17) and is No 2 in assists (15) and turnovers (14). He was also outstanding vs. Georgia with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Earned honorable mention All-ACC honors last season while leading the Pack with 126 assists and 26 steals. His .874 free throw percentage was the 3rd best in school history. He made 36-37 free throws (.967) in ACC play. Led Pack with 34.5 min. played per game.
RON KELLEY-- Since replacing Inge in the starting line-up four games ago vs. Stetson, Kelley has averaged 10.5 points (42), 5.2 rebounds (21) and 1.2 blocks (5). He was outstanding vs. Purdue (17 points and 8 rebounds) and has scored in double-figures in 3 of last 5 games. Last season Kelley was the team's No. 3 scorer at 11.1 ppg. and scored in double figures in 6 of last 9 games. Was the team's No. 2 shot blocker last season with 28 and is the top returning scorer at 11.2 ppg..
TIM WELLS--Missed the Pack's first six games with a dislocated shoulder and missed most of pre-season practice with sore knees. Last season, Wells was the Pack's most improved defensive player, holding Maryland's Steve Francis to 4 pts. and Tulane's Byron Mouton to 7 pts. He was also the team's best free throw shooter at .883 and led the Pack in three-point percentage among regulars (.400).
ARCH MILLER-- Sank a big go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute vs. Georgia after hitting just one of his first six shots. Averaging 4.5 ppg. (27). Normally a terrific shooter, Miller has started slowly this season. He's shooting only .206 from the field (7-34) and .250 from the arc (7-28). The redshirt sophomore guard has fully recovered from successful back surgery on December 30, 1998 which caused him to miss all but three games last season. Miller shot 42% from the three-point arc during the 1997-98 campaign, good enough for No. 2 in the ACC.
DAMON THORNTON-- The 6-8 redshirt-junior is in the best shape of his injury-plagued career and leads the team in blocks (10) and rebounding at 7.7 rpg. (46) while averaging 9.3 ppg. (56). His best outing of the season was a 16 point, 10 rebound performance against ODU. He had 17 points and 4 steals vs. UNC-Asheville. Thornton was not a full-strength until late last season. A hip muscle injury and ankle problem kept him from practicing regularly until late December. However, he led the team in field goal percentage at .601, blocked shots (35), and rebounds at 6.3 rpg. Was lost for the '97-98 season after three games with a broken bone in his right foot suffered in a practice on 11/23 and received a medical redshirt. Had surgery in early February, 1998, to remove a small bone from his foot and clean up fragments in his ankle. Had arthroscopic hip surgery on 9/3/97. He was a first-team All-ACC Rookie selection in 1996-97.
ANTHONY GRUNDY--The 6-3 sophomore guard leads the team in scoring at 14.2 ppg. (85), assists (19), steals (19), minutes played (184) and is No. 2 in three-point shooting at .357 (10-28). He is the only Wolfpack player to score in double-figures in every game this season. Outstanding defensively, he had 5 steals vs. Providence. Grundy was named to last season's All-ACC Tournament second team after averaging 16.5 points and 8 rebounds in two ACC Tournament games. Finished with 37 steals (No. 2 on the team) despite playing just half the season. Averaged 16 points and nearly 8 rebounds in the Pack's last four games of the 1998-99 campaign. Scored in double-figures in six of his final 7 games and by season's end was the Pack's best player.
DAMIEN WILKINS--The freshman forward has started every game this season and has scored in double figures in 3 of his last 4 games. Recorded his first career double-double vs. Providence (14 points, 10 rebounds). In his last 4 games he has averaged 14.0 points (56), 9.0 rebounds (36), 2.7 assists (11) and 2.5 steals (10). He leads NC State freshmen in minutes played (166) while averaging 10.2 points (61) and 7.2 rebounds (43). Ranked as the No. 1 prep prospect in the nation by recruiting analyst, Bob Gibbons. Averaged 22.1 points and 12.2 rebounds last season as a high school senior at Dr. Phillips High in Orlando, Florida, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and recording 23 double-doubles. Gained McDonald's, Parade and USA Today All-America honors. He is the son of the Orlando Magic's Gerald Wilkins and the nephew of former NBA All-Star, Dominique Wilkins.
CLIFF CRAWFORD--The freshman guard played the most minutes of his career vs. Stetson (21)and had his best performance with 7 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Followed that with a team-high 4 steals at Purdue in 13 minutes. Averaged 18 points, 6 assists and three steals a game while leading Winston-Salem Parkland to a 29-1 record and the state 3-A title last season. Shot 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from the arc. Ranked as the nation's No. 48 prospect by Recruiter's Handbook.
MARSHALL WILLIAMS--Played 19 minutes in his college debut vs. Georgia and has logged a lot of playing time since. He's averaging 19.8 minutes per game (119) and 5.3 points (32) while shooting 44 percent from the field (11-25). Had a career high 10 points vs. Stetson. One of the most highly regarded prep players in Wisconsin history, Williams was the only player in state history to be named all-state three times. Averaged 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds during his senior season while shooting 42 percent from the three-point arc. Ranked as the nation's No. 28 prospect by analyst, Bob Gibbons.
CORNELIUS WILLIAMS--The veteran team player had 2 points and 2 rebounds in 16 minutes vs. Stetson for his best outing of the season. Underwent surgery on August 30th to insert a rod in his right shin due to a stress fracture. Played in 22 games last season. Saw the most action of his career during the 1997-98 campaign, averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 26 games.
WOLFPACK CAREER HIGHS
NAME PTS REB ASSTJustin Gainey 28 9 8 Kenny Inge 28 16 4 Ron Kelley 24 11 4 Damon Thornton 19 14 4 Tim Wells 18 8 5 Arch Miller 18 5 4 Cornelius Williams 11 10 2 Anthony Grundy 21 8 8 Damien Wilkins 22 13 5 Cliff Crawford 7 3 1 Marshall Williams 10 5 3
