North Carolina State University Athletics
Offensive Execution and Defensive Rebounding Concern Sendek
12/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Though his NC State basketball team is off to a 5-0 start, coach Herb Sendek knows the Wolfpack still has a long way to go before it can be compared with some of the other top teams in the always rugged Atlantic Coast Conference.
High on Sendek's list of potential trouble spots is offensive execution and defensive rebounding.
"Our entire offense still isn't where it needs to be," Sendek said. "There's just a lot of work to be done in that area."
Through the first five games, NC State has hit just 43.1% (124-288) of its field goal attempts. From three-point range, the Pack is shooting an anemic 28 percent. Some have speculated that the move to the new Entertainment and Sports Arena has thrown NC State's shooters off-kilter. Sendek isn't buying that excuse.
"These guys play in arenas all over the country. Just like from the movie Hoosiers, the basket is ten feet from the ground as it is everywhere. If you take good shots and you execute your offense, those shots are going to go in over time."
In its 79-45 victory over Stetson, the Wolfpack shot 50.8% from the floor-it's the only game in which the Pack has made more than half of its shots.
By causing its first five opponents into an average of 21-turnovers per game, NC State has managed to generate a great deal of offense from its defense. But that's not to suggest that the overall transition game has been mesmerizing to this point.
"We need to do a better job of advancing the ball on the break and getting more easy baskets in transition," Sendek said. "Right now, we're too apt to dribble that extra time, which causes the passing lane to be closed off. We need to advance the ball by making that extra pass."
And while NC State has had trouble putting the ball in the basket on a consistent basis, its opponents have had an even tougher time. Through the first five games, the Pack has held its opponents to just 38.3 percent shooting from the floor. But holding those teams to just one shot has sometimes been a problem.
In the last two games, Purdue and Providence grabbed a total of 37 offensive rebounds. NC State is averaging 14 offensive rebounds per game-but it has allowed its first five opponents to get an equal number of second chance opportunities. The loss of board-banging forward Kenny Inge certainly hasn't helped matters.
"We certainly miss him on that backboard," said Sendek. "Kenny's an important player for us and we just have to do the best we can in his absence. He's going through his rehabilitation, and if anything, he might be slightly ahead of schedule. But right now, we can't truly plan on having him back much before the turn of the year."
Inge went down with a partially torn MCL in his left knee in game two against Old Dominion.
