North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Faces Ole Miss in the NIT Quarterfinals
3/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NIT Quarterfinals
NC State Wolfpack (19-12, 6-10) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (19-13, 5-11)
Radio: Wolfpack-Capitol Sports Network (36 stations WPTF 680AM flagship), Gary Hahn (Play-by-Play) and Tony Haynes (color). Coverage begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
NC STATE IN THE NIT
NC State is competing in the NIT for the fourth straight season. It is the 10th time the Pack has played in the postseason NIT and the Wolfpack's 27th postseason appearance overall. The Wolfpack advanced to the championship of the NIT in 1978, before falling to Texas. The Pack is 12-9 in its 21 NIT games.
The Wolfpack was 4-3 in the regular season against teams in the NIT field this year. The Wolfpack has notched wins over ACC foes Virginia (65-62, 1/12/00 and 76-65, 3/10/00) and Wake Forest (76-56, 1/16/00). NC State also defeated Arizona State (79-68, 1/29/00). The Wolfpack lost to Wake Forest (53-71, 2/15/00), Virginia (82-88, 2/12/00) and Tulane (62-73, 12/22/99).
PACK ADVANCES TO NIT QUARTERFINAL
With its win over Arizona State, NC State advanced to the NIT quarterfinals for the fifth time in school history. The Pack is 3-2 all-time in NIT quarterfinal games and is making its first appearance in the quarterfinals since 1978, when NC State defeated Detroit, 84-77. The Wolfpack eventually advanced to the championship game, falling to Texas, 101-93 in overtime.
Prior to its win over Arizona State, NC State had lost in the second round three straight years. NC State lost to Princeton, 61-58, in the second round last year. In 1998, NC State fell to Georgia, 61-55, in the second round. The Pack lost to West Virginia (76-73) in 1997.
All six of the Wolfpack's NIT games over the last three years were played in Reynolds Coliseum. The last time an NC State team won at least two games in a postseason tournament (other than the ACC Tournament) was in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. The Pack beat South Carolina (81-66) and Iowa (102-96 2OT) in Providence, R.I., before losing to Georgetown (69-61) in the East Regional semifinals.
NC STATE VS. MISSISSIPPI
NC State and Ole Miss have met just twice previously, dating back to when the teams were members of the old Southern Conference. The Wolfpack and Rebels played in the Southern Conference Tournament in 1928 and '29, splitting the meetings. In 1928, Mississippi defeated NC State, 40-35, in the first round of the tournament. A year later, the Wolfpack earned a 34-32 victory in the semifinals, eventually defeating Duke, 44-35, to win the Southern Conference title. Both games were played in Atlanta. NC State is 77-52 all-time against teams from the SEC. The Wolfpack defeated Georgia, 67-63, in its season-opener this year. ACC teams are 227-191 all-time vs. the SEC, 6-7 this season.
WITH A WIN -
With a win over Ole Miss in the NIT quarterfinals, NC State would advance to the NIT semifinals in New York City on March 28 (final game on March 30). NC State has been in the NIT semifinals three times previously, most recently in 1978.
A win would also give the Pack 20 wins for the season, the most by a Wolfpack team under Herb Sendek (19 wins last season) and the first 20-win season at NC State since 1991. NC State went 20-11 in 1991 under Les Robinson and has 27 20-win seasons all-time.
NC STATE ESCAPES SUN DEVILS
IN NIT SECOND ROUND
Despite 32 points from PAC-10 Player of the Year Eddie House, NC State escaped with a 60-57 win over Arizona State on Tuesday night. The Wolfpack got 19 points and 12 rebounds from junior Kenny Inge, whose dunk with 55 seconds remaining gave NC State a 58-57 lead. Two free throws from freshman Damien Wilkins sealed the victory with 7.4 seconds left.
NC STATE RIDES OUT GREEN WAVE
IN NIT FIRST ROUND
NC State avenged a regular-season loss to Tulane by defeating the Green Wave in the first round of the NIT. The Wolfpack lost at Tulane, 62-73 on Dec. 22, but earned a 64-60 victory on March 14. NC State advanced to the second round of the NIT for the fourth consecutive season. Freshman Damien Wilkins scored a team-high 18 points.
FIRST-ROUND ATTENDANCE SECOND AMONG NIT FIELD
NC State's attendance of 14,982 for its second round NIT matchup vs. Arizona State was the second-highest among the NIT field. Only BYU drew more fans for its second round game, with 16,949 attending BYU vs. Southern Illinois.
NIT First Round Attendance Leaders
School Attendance
1. BYU 16,949
2. NC State 14,982
3. Wake Forest 10,146
4. California 9,394
5. Notre Dame 9,320
WOLFPACK INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
IN THE NIT:
- Justin Gainey: Has played in eight career NIT Tournament games
- Had 14 points in last year's win against Providence, went 9-of-11 from the free throw line in that game
- Had 10 points each in win over SW Missouri State and loss to West Virginia freshman year.
- Anthony Grundy: Has played in four career NIT games
- Had 10 points, eight boards, and eight assists against Providence last season
- Team-high 21 points in loss to Princeton.
- Kenny Inge: Has played in six career NIT games
- Finished with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Arizona State
- His dunk with 57 seconds left sealed the Wolfpack victory
- Had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting against Tulane
- Had 10 points and five boards in win over Providence last season
- Had two double-doubles in NIT freshman season
- Had 12 points and 11 rebounds in win over Kansas State in 97-98
- Finished with 10 points and 10 boards in loss to Georgia.
- Ron Kelley: Has played in six NIT games
- Finished with 11 points against Tulane
- Had a team-high 21 points in win over Providence last season
- Added 14 points in loss to Princeton
- Went 15-of-24 (62.5 percent) from the field in last year's NIT
- Had 13 points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the field, freshman year against Georgia.
- Archie Miller: Played in four career NIT games
- Went 2-of-3 from three-point range for six points against Tulane.
- Damon Thornton: Has played in three career NIT games
- Had seven points and seven rebounds vs. Arizona State
- Had 10 points and six boards in win over Providence last season.
- Tim Wells: Has played in six career NIT games
- Finished with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting vs. Arizona State
- Had nine points against Tulane, while going 2-of-3 from three-point range
- Had seven points in win over Providence last season.
- Damien Wilkins: Finished with 11 points vs. Arizona State in the second round
- Had two free throw with 7.4 seconds left to seal the victory
- Had a team-high 18 points vs. Tulane in the first round
- Scored the Pack's first seven points in the game, finishing with 11 in the first half.
- Cornelius Williams: Has played in three NIT games
- Had two points and three rebounds against Tulane
- Finished with two points against Kansas State freshman season.
INGE STEPS UP; NEARS 1,000-PT CLUB
Junior forward Kenny Inge finished with a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds against Arizona State in the NIT second round, his first double-double of the season. Inge now has 966 career points and with 34 more points would become the 34th player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point mark for a career.
The 6-8 forward went 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line against ASU. In two NIT games, Inge is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 69 percent (11-of-16) from the field.
The rugged forward has a team-high 34 dunks this season, 37 percent of his made field goals for the year (93). For his career, Inge has gotten nearly 33 percent (316-of-966) of his points from the free-throw line. He has also drawn a team-high17 charges this season.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
With Inge's 19-point, 12-rebound outing vs. Arizona State on March 21, NC State players have recorded eight double-doubles this season. Damon Thornton has a team-high five double-doubles and ranks eighth among ACC players in double-doubles this season. Freshman Damien Wilkins has two double-doubles this year. Inge now has 16 career double-doubles, fourth among all ACC players.
2000 NC State Double-Doubles
Player Pts-Reb Opponent Date
Kenny Inge 19-12 Arizona State 3/21/00
Damon Thornton 14-11 Florida State 3/5/00
12-11 Maryland 2/6/00
11-13 Western Carolina 12/30/99
16-10 Yale 12/28/99
16-10 Old Dominion 11/23/99
Damien Wilkins 21-10 Wake Forest 2/15/00
14-10 Providence 12/4/99
NO LONGER JUST A FRESHMAN
As the year has worn on, freshman Damien Wilkins has become the Wolfpack's
- go-to guy.
- Over the past four games, the 6-6 forward is averaging 16.3 ppg while shooting 51.4 percent (19-of-37) from the field and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range. He has strung together six straight double figure performances and has been in double-figures in nine of the last 10 games. Wilkins has been successful getting to the free-throw line as well, averaging seven free-throw attempts per game in the last three games. His free throws with 7.4 seconds left vs. Arizona State sealed the victory.
FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS
In a pre-NIT press conference, freshman Damien Wilkins said his father, NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins, told him the NIT was the tournament he
- made his money in.
- Now, Wilkins is following in his father's footsteps. Against Tulane, Wilkins had a team-best 18 points, then finished with 11 points vs. Arizona State in the second round. In five career NIT games while at UT-Chattanooga, Gerald Wilkins averaged 23.2 ppg while shooting 59.7 percent from the field.
WILKINS MAKES HIS MARK
Wilkins' quiet all-around play has snuck up on many. Wilkins is among NC State's top four in scoring (11.2 ppg, 2nd), rebounding (5.8 rpg, 3rd), assists (72, 3rd), blocks (17, 4th) and steals (38, 3rd). Wilkins is fourth in the ACC in offensive rebounding at 2.74 per game and, in ACC play, ranked 10th in free-throw percentage at 75.4 percent. He has also begun to make his mark in the school record book, ranking among NC State freshmen leaders in several categories.
Wilkins Among NC State Freshmen All-Time Category No. Rank Points 348 9th Scoring Average 11.2 T6th Rebounds 179 4th Rebound Average 5.8 T5th Assists 72 5th Steals 38 5th Free Throws 90 2nd Free Throw Attempts 138 2nd Minutes 982 2nd Games Started 31 T1st
WILKINS NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
NC State freshman forward Damien Wilkins earned second-team all- ACC Tournament honors following two outstanding performances in the Pack's run to the tournament semifinals. Wilkins finished with 36 points while shooting 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the field and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range. He was the only player not from Duke or Maryland named to the all-tournament team.
2000 ACC All-tournament teams
First Team
Jason Williams, Duke (MVP) Juan Dixon, Maryland Shane Battier, Duke Lonny Baxter, Maryland Chris Carrawell, Duke Second Team
Terence Morris, Maryland Carlos Boozer, Duke Mike Dunleavy, Duke Damien Wilkins, NC State Nate James, Duke
ALL IN THE FAMILY
In regular season games, Wilkins rates fifth among ACC freshmen in scoring (11.0 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.2 rpg), keeping up his family's basketball tradition. His father, Gerald Wilkins, is UT-Chattanooga's second leading career scorer with 1,449 points in three seasons (1982-85). Gerald, who attended Mobley (Mo.) Junior College before going to UT-C, averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in his first season at Chattanooga. Uncle Dominque Wilkins averaged 18.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 16 games as a freshman at Georgia (1980-82), missing 11 games with a knee injury. Damien's 70 assists this season is more than his uncle and father had in their freshmen seasons combined.
Wilkins's FIRST Seasons Name G FG% FT% R-Avg. A B S PTS-AVG Damien Wilkins 30 .416 .333 176-5.9 70 16 38 337-11.2 Gerald Wilkins 30 .483 .661 113-3.8 24 6 46 379-12.6 Dominique Wilkins 16 .525 .730 104-6.5 23 20 27 297-18.6
GOING TO THE WELL(S)
Senior forward Tim Wells has averaged 8.3 points over the Wolfpack's last three games after averaging 1.9 points during the regular season. He has made 7-of-12 three-pointers in the last three contests.
Wells has started each of the Pack's NIT games this season. He had nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range vs. Tulane, then followed that with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting vs. Arizona State. He also played a season-high 21 minutes vs. the Sun Devils and hit his first two-pointer of the season.
Wells came off the bench to score nine points vs. Maryland in the ACC Tournament semifinals, surpassing his point total from the rest of the season combined. He finished the game 3-of-6 from three-point range. His three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out, almost sending the game into overtime.
Over the past five games, Wells has seen more action, averaging nearly 14.6 minutes per game. Prior to that, he had appeared in just nine games this season, playing 4.7 minutes per game. Wells started 22 games last year, averaging 8.2 ppg. He was slowed for much of the preseason this year by tendintis in both knees, then dislocated his left shoulder.
KELLEY RETURNS TO FORM
After missing six games following knee surgery, center Ron Kelley has averaged 10.3 ppg over the last four games, while shooting 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the field. Kelley finished with 11 points, including 10 in the second half, vs. Tulane in the NIT first round. His jumper with the shot clock winding down at the 2:23 mark gave the Wolfpack a three-point lead. Kelley's two free throws with 1.7 seconds left sealed the win for NC State.
Kelley finished with 27 points in two ACC Tournament games, making 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the field. He had 16 points vs. UVa in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, then finished with 12 points vs. Maryland in the semifinals. Kelley also pulled down an average of 6.5 rebounds per game in the ACC Tournament.
Over the past four games, Kelley is averaging 24.5 mpg after playing an average of 17 mpg in three previous games since returning from his knee injury. He underwent surgery on Jan. 30 to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee.
LONG-RANGE BOMBER
Sophomore guard Archie Miller seems to have found his shooting touch. The 5-9 guard has made 6-of-10 from three-point range in the last three games, averaging 6.0 ppg. Miller hit his first two-pointer of the season vs. North Carolina on Feb. 9, finishing with four points. He is 3-of-21 from inside the arc this season, 40-of-105 (38.1 percent) beyond it. 102 of his 121 career field goals have been from three-point range.
BENCH PRODUCTIVE AGAIN
After averaging just 9.0 ppg during the previous eight games, NC State's reserves have averaged 17.8 points over the past four games. Prior to injuries to top reserves Marshall Williams and Ron Kelley, NC State's bench had been contributing an average of 20.7 ppg. The Wolfpack has played at least nine people in 30 of 31 games this season and NC State reserves have outscored opponent reserves 549-373 for the season.
GRUNDY IN SHOOTING SLUMP
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy, who leads NC State in scoring at 13 ppg this season, is in the midst of a shooting slump. The 6-2 guard from Louisville, Ky., has made just 14-of-65 (21.5 percent) from the field in the last six games, including 3-of-26 (11.5 percent) from three-point range. In addition, Grundy is shooting 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) from the free-throw line during the stretch. He finished with two points in each of the Pack's NIT games thus far. Against Tulane on March 14, Grundy attempting just four field goals, then went 0-of-8 from the field vs. Arizona State on March 21.
BACKCOURT BLUES
In addition to Grundy's slump, backcourt mate Justin Gainey has also struggled of late. Gainey is 1-of-15 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point range in two NIT games. In the two games before that (wins over Florida State and Virginia), Gainey and Grundy combined to average 26 ppg, while shooting 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the field. Gainey and Grundy are averaging a combined 3.5 ppg in the NIT, while shooting 2-of-27 (7 percent) from the field and 0-of-11 from three-point range.
GAINEY SETS ACC TOURNAMENT
STEALS MARK
Senior point guard Justin Gainey set an ACC Tournament record with nine steals vs. UVa on March 10. The senior, who also holds the tournament record for minutes played (160 in 1997) ranks fourth all-time in school history with 178 career thefts and ninth in school history with 325 career assists. His nine steals is the highest total by an ACC player this season, passing teammate Anthony Grundy, who had seven steals vs. Georgia on Nov. 19. Gainey's nine steals is the second-highest single-game total by a Wolfpack player and the most in 26 years. Moe Rivers had 10 steals vs. Clemson on Jan. 12, 1974. Only seven players in NC State history rank among the school's top 10 in both career assists and steals. Chris Corchiani holds the school record with 1038 career assists (2nd in NCAA history) and 328 career steals from 1988-91.
PACK FINDS SHOOTING TOUCH
NC State set a school ACC Tournament record by shooting a season-high 61 percent (25-of-41) from the field vs. UVa on March 10. The last time NC State shot better than 61 percent in a game was against Campbell on Nov. 18, 1998, when the Pack hit 63 percent (34-of-54) from the field. NC State had shot 40.2 percent (47-of-117) in its previous two games.
THORNTON SPRAINS ANKLE
Junior Damon Thornton suffered a sprained left ankle in the second half of the Pack's ACC Tournament game vs. UVa. He missed the semifinal game vs. Maryland and the Pack's NIT first round game vs. Tulane. Thornton returned in the NIT second round, playing 25 minutes vs. Arizona State. He finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Thornton is averaging 9.8 points and 7.6 rebounds this season and ranks among league leaders in rebounding (6th) and blocked shots (1.6, 6th). He has finished in double-figures 15 times this season which is more than the total of his previous two seasons combined.
INJURY BUG BITES AGAIN
With Damon Thornton's sprained ankle, NC State's injury woes over the last four seasons continued. Over the past four seasons, 11 different Wolfpack players have missed a combined 145 games. Two years ago it was foot injuries. This year, four players have missed time with knee problems. Junior Ron Kelley and freshman Marshall Williams both had arthroscopic knee surgery. Williams had surgery to repair a partial tear of meniscus cartilage on Feb. 10 and was expected to miss at least three weeks. Thornton suffered a crack fracture of his right pinky finger prior to the Pack's game at Wake Forest.
Earlier this season, junior forward Kenny Inge suffered a partial tear of his medial collateral ligament in his left knee and missed four games from Nov. 26-Dec. 17. The injury did not require surgery. Senior forward Tim Wells missed much of the preseason due to tendinitis in his left knee, then dislocated his left shoulder shortly after returning to practice.
Here is a look at NC State's injuries over the past four seasons: Player Injury Season (Games) Marshall Williams knee 1999-00 (11) Damon Thornton sprained ankle 1999-00 (2) Ron Kelley knee 1999-00 (6) Kenny Inge knee 1999-00 (4) Tim Wells knee, shoulder 1999-00 (3) Cornelius Williams foot 1998-99 (1) Adam Harrington sprained ankle 1998-99 (1) Damon Thornton hip/groin 1998-99 (0
- ) Archie Miller back surgery 1998-99 (30) Justin Gainey strained back muscle 1997-98 (3) Damon Thornton broken foot (right) 1997-98 (29) Ron Anderson broken foot (left) 1997-98 (27) Ron Kelley sprained foot (right) 1997-98 (7) Tim Wells stress fracture, shoulder 1997-98 (5) Luke Buffum broken foot 1997-98 (7) Damon Thornton hip 1996-97 (9) 11 different players 145 total games
- did not practice regularly until Jan. 1
WILLIAMS OUT FOR REST OF SEASON
NC State freshman guard Marshall Williams will miss the remainder of the season following surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee on Feb. 10. Williams, 6-4 of Milwaukee, Wisc., will concentrate his efforts on rehabilitation and strengthening the knee.
For the season, Williams averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while playing an average of 18.6 minutes per game. He had developed into one of the Pack's most versatile defenders. Williams was named the ACC Rookie of the Week Dec. 20 following a season-high 17 points vs. Liberty.
He made the biggest play of his short Wolfpack career with 0.8 seconds left at No. 5 Duke. Point guard Justin Gainey intentionally missed a free throw and Williams tipped the ball into the basket, tying the game at 79 and sending it into overtime. Williams' driving layup with 3.3 seconds left cut the lead to three points. He finished the game with 12 points.
CONFERENCE TOURNEY SUCCESS
UNDER SENDEK
NC State has gone 6-4 in the ACC Tournament since Herb Sendek took over as the team's coach in 1996-97. The Wolfpack has not lost its opening game in the tournament in any of Sendek's four seasons as head coach. Sendek's three teams at Miami (Ohio) from 1993-96 also did not lose in the first round of the MAC Tournament, compiling a 4-3 overall MAC Tourney record.
In 1997, eighth-seeded NC State defeated Georgia Tech in the opening round, 60-46, eventually advancing to the tournament finals. A year later, seventh-seeded NC State defeated Florida State, 65-63, in the opening round when Tim Wells blocked a last-second attempt by FSU guard Kerry Thompson. Last season, the fifth-seeded Wolfpack defeated Wake Forest, 66-52, in the opening game.
GRUNDY EARNS COACHES'
ALL-DEFENSIVE HONOR
NC State sophomore guard Anthony Grundy was named to Barry Jacobs' ACC Fan's Guide All-Defensive team, voted on by the league's nine coaches. Grundy ranks third in the ACC in steals, averaging 2.1 per game. His 64 steals ties the seventh-highest single-season total in school history. He has also drawn 15 charges this season.
2000 Fan's Guide All-Defensive Team
Player, School Votes
Shane Battier, Duke 9
Chris Carrawell, Duke 9
Juan Dixon, Md. 7
Adam Hall, UVa 4
Anthony Grundy, NCS 3
voted by ACC's head coaches
NC State Single-Season Steals
Player (Year) Steals
1. Chris Corchiani (1990) 95
2. Chris Corchiani (1991) 91
3. Nate McMillan (1986) 90
4. Sidney Lowe (1983) 87
5. Chris Corchiani (1989) 81
6. Spud Webb (1985) 65
7. Anthony Grundy (2000) 64
PICKPOCKETS
NC State had 14 steals vs. Florida State on March 5, its highest total in ACC play this season. Freshman Damien Wilkins had five steals, a season-high, while Anthony Grundy had three steals. NC State is averaging 9.2 steals per game this season, third in the ACC. NC State has had double-digit steals in 11 games this season, including three conference games. The Pack had 19 steals against Liberty (Dec. 17), the second-highest single-game total in school history.
WHEN GAINEY'S IN DOUBLE-FIGURES
NC State is 27-8 over the past four years when point guard Justin Gainey finishes in double-figures in scoring, 9-3 this season. Gainey had a team-high 17 points vs. Clemson (Feb. 27) in his final home game, while also adding three assists and no turnovers. Against Florida State, Gainey finished with 16 points (7-of-9 shooting). He had 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting vs. UVa in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
FIXTURE
Many ACC followers remember Gainey as the baby-faced freshman who played every minute of the 1997 ACC Tournament as the eighth-seeded Wolfpack made a run to the championship game. Gainey became the first player in ACC history to play all 40 minutes in four tournament games. Now the team's senior captain, he ranks fourth all-time in school history in minutes played (since 1984) with 3,749 minutes logged. For his career, Gainey has played an average of 30 mpg (125 games).
NC State Career Minutes Played
Player Minutes Years
1. Chris Corchiani 4097 1988-91
2. Rodney Monroe 3989 1988-91
3. Ishua Benjamin 3782 1995-98
4. Justin Gainey 3749 1997-
5. Curtis Marshall 3323 1992-96
NOTE: minutes kept since 1984
PACK BREAKS LOSING STREAK AT FSU
NC State's 70-51 win at Florida State broke a seven game losing streak, the fifth-longest slide in school history. It was the Pack's first-ever win in Tallahassee in 10 tries and the first conference road victory since defeating Georgia Tech, 51-50, on Feb. 2, 1999 (a string of 10 games). It was NC State's biggest road win since a 21-point victory (67-46) over Memphis on Nov. 30, 1997. The victory marked the biggest ACC road win since NC State defeated Maryland, 90-67, on Jan. 29, 1989. Prior to the seven-game streak, NC State's last victory was also against FSU, a 68-58 home win on Feb. 2. The Wolfpack lost a school-record nine consecutive games during the 1991-92 season.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE
EFFORT VS. 'NOLES
NC State's defense was the catalyst in its win at Florida State. The Pack held FSU to 33.9 percent (19-of-56) shooting, the worst shooting by an NC State opponent since the Seminoles shot 32.7 percent in the teams' first meeting this season. NC State held FSU without a field goal for 9:29. The Wolfpack has held 11 opponents without a field goal for stretches of seven minutes or more this season and three opponents without a field goal for more than 10 minutes. Old Dominion was held without a field goal for a season-high 14:57. In the first meeting vs. FSU this season, the Noles were held without a field goal three times for stretches of at least six minutes.
The Pack held FSU's Ron Hale, who went 0-of-7 from the field, scoreless for the first time in 67 games. Hale was averaging 16.3 ppg entering the contest. NC State also forced FSU into 20 turnovers, the highest total by a Wolfpack opponent since Virginia committed 20 turnovers on Jan. 12. Nine NC State opponents have had 20 or more turnovers in a game this season.
SECOND-HALF DEFENSE COSTLY
DURING LOSING STREAK
The Wolfpack's defense in the second half was costly during its seven-game losing streak. Opponents shot 50.8 percent from the field compared to just 43.4 percent in the first eight ACC games. NC State held first-half leads in five of those seven games, while holding opponents to 43 percent (86-of-200) shooting in the first half. In the second half of those games however, opponents shot 53.6 percent (104-of-194). The Pack also forced 9.3 turnovers in the first half of those games compared to just 6.3 TOs in the second half.
HOLDING ON
During its seven-game losing stretch, NC State held leads with six minutes left in four of those seven games. The Wolfpack also had scoreless droughts of more than five minutes in four of those seven games.
Opponent Score (Time) Run Score (Time) Maryland 65-53 (6:44, 2nd) 25-8 73-78 (Final) North Carolina 20-12 (8:07, 1st) 28-14 34-40 (13:50) Virginia 66-65 (6:07, 2nd) 13-2 68-78 (1:52) Georgia Tech 42-31 (14:52, 2nd) 19-2 44-50 (9:01) Clemson 59-49 (7:09, 2nd) 13-0 59-62 (1:45)
PUTTING A FINGER ON IT
Since breaking the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand prior to the Pack's game vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 15), junior Damon Thornton has made just 15-of-46 (32.6 percent) from the field. Thornton entered the game vs. the Deacs second in school history in field goal percentage shooting. He currently ranks third in school history, making 55.6 percent (281-of-505) for his career.
GRUNDY'S SCORING BINGE
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy had 26 points vs. Duke (Feb. 19), then followed that performance with 29 points at Georgia Tech (Feb. 24), the second-highest outing of his career. In those two games, he shot 59.5 percent (22-of-37) from the field and 46.1 percent (6-of-13) from three-point range. Grundy has eclipsed the 20-point barrier three times this season and has been in double-figures 21 times in 29 games. He matched a career-high with four made three-pointers vs. Georgia Tech (also had four vs. Wake Forest on Jan. 16 en route to a career-high 30 points). Against Duke, Grundy attempted a career-high 21 field goals.
PLAYING BIG
Though he measures barely 6-2, Grundy plays much bigger. His wingspan is 6-6 (from fingertip to fingertip) while most people's is equal to their height. Those long arms have paid off on the glass, where Grundy is averaging nearly five rebounds per game this season. Grundy is tied for third in the ACC in steals, averaging 2.1 per game. He had a season-best seven steals vs. Georgia, the highest total by an ACC player this season. He has also drawn a team-high 15 charges this season.
BALANCED ATTACK
NC State has used a balanced scoring attack this season. Anthony Grundy is averaging a team-best 12.6 ppg this season, while Damien Wilkins is averaging 11.2 ppg. Damon Thornton (9.8), Kenny Inge (9.7), Justin Gainey (8.7) and Ron Kelley (8.6) are each averaging better than eight points per game. Eight different players have held team scoring honors this season and five different players have had 20-point outings. The last time NC State had more than three players average in double figures for a season was in 1990-91 when Rodney Monroe (27.0 ppg), Chris Corchiani (16.3 ppg), Tom Gugliotta (15.2 ppg) and Bryant Feggins (13.3 ppg) each averaged in double figures.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT
NC State is 17-2 this season when attempting more free throws than its opponents in games, 2-10 when getting to the line fewer times than foes. The Wolfpack's only losses this season when attempting more free throws than its opponent were against Clemson on Feb. 27 and vs. Maryland in the ACC Tournament (March 11).
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY
Defense has been the catalyst to NC State's 18 wins this season. NC State is holding opponents to an ACC-low 63.6 ppg. Wolfpack opponents are shooting 41.9 percent from the field, while committing an average of 18.8 turnovers per game. Twenty-five of NC State's 31 opponents have committed at least 15 TOs, led by Liberty's 31 turnovers, the most by a Wolfpack opponent since Florida Atlantic had 35 turnovers on Nov. 22, 1996.
KELLEY'S ABSENCE FELT
NC State was outrebounded in four of the seven games that Ron Kelley was sidelined after being outrebounded just four times before his knee injury. Kelley, who was averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds before the injury, missed five games and saw just three minutes of action against Arizona State due to the injury. Opposing centers (Lonnie Baxter, Brendan Haywood, Travis Watson, Darius Songaila and Carlos Boozer) averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 rebounds while he was out. Also during the stretch, NC State opponents scored an average of 31.9 - Points in the Paint - compared to just 21.7 - Points in the Paint - in other games this season.
Points in Paint NCS OPP before Kelley injury 29.1 22.6 during Kelley injury 30.0 31.9 Total = -8.4 points difference 2nd chance pts NCS OPP before Kelley injury 15.9 12.5 during Kelley injury 13.0 13.4 Total = -3.8 points difference REBOUNDS NCS OPP MARGIN before Kelley injury 38.1 34.1 +4.0 during Kelley injury 35.1 38.1 -3.0 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS NCS OPP MARGIN before Kelley injury 14.9 11.8 +3.1 during Kelley injury 12.3 13.1 -0.8
HOME SWEET HOME
NC State is 16-3 in the ESA this season, 2-8 on the road and 1-1 in games played at neutral sites. NC State opponents are scoring just 59.2 ppg in the ESA and 72 ppg on their home floors, while shooting 39.7 percent in the ESA and 45.7 percent on their home floors.
Category ESA road DIFF. Scoring 70.2 66.9 -4.0 NC State Field Goal % 43.4% 41.9% -1.5 NC State Three-Point % 33.4% 31.3% -2.1 Turnovers 14.7 17.6 +2.9 Opponent Scoring 59.1 72.0 +12.9 Opponent Field Goal % 39.8% 45.7% +6.1 Opponent Three-Point % 32.5% 31.7% -1.8 Opponent Turnovers 19.4 17.5 -1.9
