North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Opens ACC Tournament Against Virginia
3/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
47th ACC Tournament Charlotte Coliseum (23,895) Charlotte, N.C. * March 9-12, 2000 ACC Tournament Quarterfinals #6 NC State Wolfpack (16-11, 6-10) vs. #3 Virginia Cavaliers (19-10, 9-7) On The Air: TV - Raycom/JP, Steve Martin (Play-by-Play) and Bucky Waters (color) and ESPN, Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Brad Daugherty (color). 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 ACC TOURNAMENT
NC State enters the 47th ACC Tournament with a 50-36 (.581) all-time mark in the event, which dates back to 1954. The Pack is the third-winningest team in tournament history (behind North Carolina and Duke) and ranks second in tournament titles with 10.
This year's tournament returns to the Charlotte Coliseum for the second straight year. NC State has compiled a 7-8 record in tournament games played in the Queen City. Last year, the Pack was the No. 5 seed, defeating 4th-seeded Wake Forest, 66-52 in the first round. Guards Justin Gainey and Anthony Grundy combined for 29 points against the Demon Deacons as the Pack was able to win despite shooting 34.4 percent (21-of-61) from the field. NC State lost to Duke, the tournament's top seed, in the semifinals, 83-68. The Pack trailed by just eight points with 15:10 left, but Duke went on an 18-3 run over the next 4:50 to pull away. Grundy had 19 points and eight rebounds, earning second-team all-tournament honors.
NC State has lost five of its last six ACC Tournament games played in Charlotte. The Wolfpack lost to Clemson (76-63) in the first round in 1994, Maryland (76-55) in the first round in 1993 and Florida State (93-80) in the first round in 1992. The fourth-seeded Pack lost to top-seeded Duke, 93-72, in the semifinals of the 1991 tournament.
CONFERENCE TOURNEY
SUCCESS UNDER SENDEK
NC State has gone 5-3 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 three 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.
NC STATE AS THE SIXTH SEED
The Wolfpack is 6-4 all-time in the ACC Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The last time NC State was the No. 6 seed was in the 1990 Tourney, when the Wolfpack lost to third-seeded Georgia Tech, 67-76, in the opening round. NC State was the sixth seed in the 1987 ACC Tournament and was able to capture the school's 10th ACC Championship. The Pack defeated Duke (71-64 ot), Wake Forest (77-73 2ot) and North Carolina (68-67) that year.
NC STATE VS THE THIRD SEED
The Wolfpack is 8-4 all-time in the ACC Tournament vs. the No. 3 seed. The last time NC State faced a third-seeded team was in the finals of the 1997 tournament, when the Pack lost to North Carolina, 64-54. NC State has lost three consecutive games to the Tournament's third seed.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UVA
NC State holds a 68-48 lead all-time in the series with UVa, which dates back to 1912-13. The two teams have split their meetings in each of the past three seasons. Prior to that, the Wahoos had six straight wins in the series, sweeping the Wolfpack from 1994-97. UVa has won 14 of the last 18 meetings between the teams. Each of the last three games have been decided by six points or less.
NC STATE VS. UVA IN ACC TOURNAMENT
The Wolfpack holds 9-2 all-time record against UVa in the ACC Tournament, NC State's best winning percentage (81.8 percent) vs. any league school. UVa earned a 64-62 victory over NC State in the 1986 ACC Tournament quarterfinals the last time the teams faced each other. The Pack is 5-2 vs. UVa when the teams meet in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
The Wolfpack has won both matchups when the Cavaliers were the higher seed. In 1979, the sixth-seeded Pack defeated the third-seeded Cavaliers in the quarterfinals, 82-78. In 1983, fourth-seeded NC State defeated No. 2 seed, UVa, 81-78, in the tournament finals, eventually going on to win the '83 NCAA championship.
The teams have not played in Charlotte since 1970, when NC State defeated UVa, 67-66, in the tournament semis en route to its sixth league title.
THIS YEAR VS. UVA
NC State and UVa split the regular-season series this season. In Raleigh on Jan. 12, the Pack earned a 65-62 victory despite shooting 37 percent (10-of-27) from the free-throw line. NC State had 38 *Points in the Paint,* led by a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds from freshman Damien Wilkins.
A month later in Charlottesville on Feb. 12, NC State lost its third consecutive conference game, 88-82, despite a season-high 25 points from Kenny Inge. The Pack held a 37-32 halftime lead, but UVa went on a 15-6 run to start the second half. Following two free throws by freshman Clifford Crawford, NC State held a 66-65 lead with 6:07 to play. The Cavaliers responded with a 13-2 run over the next 4:15 to put the game out of reach.
EIGHTH-SEEDED WOLFPACK ADVANCES
TO 1997 ACC TOURNAMENT FINALS
NC State became the first No. 8 seed in tournament history to advance to the championship game in 1997. Playing with a rotation of just six players (none taller than 6-6), Herb Sendek's first Wolfpack team defeated ninth-seeded Georgia Tech (60-46), No. 1 seed Duke (66-60) and fifth-seeded Maryland (65-58), before falling to No. 3 seed North Carolina, 64-54, in the finals on March 9.
Junior guard C.C. Harrison led the way vs. Georgia Tech, finishing with 19 points. In the win over Duke in the quarterfinals, Harrison had 28 points. NC State became just the second No. 8 seed in tournament history to defeat the top seed.
In the semifinals, Harrison had 24 points in a win over Maryland. Senior Danny Strong added 15 points. The Wolfpack ran out of gas in the finals, falling to North Carolina. Four NC State players Justin Gainey, Jeremy Hyatt, Danny Strong and C.C. Harrison earned All-Tournament honors. Gainey became the first player in tournament history to play all 160 minutes of a tournament.
WIN AND YOU'RE IN
NC State's last two ACC Championships both came during desperate times. Both the 1987 and '83 Wolfpack teams needed to win the ACC Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
In '83, NC State ended the regular season 17-10, 8-6 in the ACC. The Wolfpack entered the ACC Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. (March 11-13), as the No. 4 seed. NC State defeated fifth-seeded Wake Forest, 71-70, in the quarterfinals, led by Thurl Bailey's 25 points and eight rebounds. In the semifinals, the Pack beat top-seeded UNC, 91-84, in overtime. Point guard Sidney Lowe had 26 points, while Bailey finished with 17 points and 14 boards. The *Cardiac Pack* beat second-seeded UVa, 81-78, in the championship game. Lowe, who was named the tournament's MVP, finished with 18 points. NC State went on to win the NCAA championship on Lorenzo Charles' putback dunk.
In '87, the Pack entered the ACC Tournament in Landover, Md. (March 6-8), as the No. 6 seed after finishing the regular season 17-14 overall, 6-8 in the ACC. NC State defeated Duke, the No. 3 seed, 71-64 in overtime in the quarterfinals. Bennie Bolton paced the Wolfpack with 19 points. In the semifinals, the Pack defeated seventh-seeded Wake Forest, who had upset No. 2 seed Clemson. NC State earned a 77-73 double-overtime win over the Deacons, led by Vinny Del Negro's 15 points and 12 rebounds. In the championship game, NC State defeated top-seeded North Carolina, 68-67. Ranzino Smith's last-second shot missed to give the Pack the win. Del Negro, the tournament MVP, had 12 points, six assists and five rebounds in the final, while Chucky Brown tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds.
A WIN *
Would be the Wolfpack's fifth consecutive win in the opening round of the ACC Tournament and send NC State into the tournament semis for the third time in four years. It would also be the Pack's 10th victory over UVa in the ACC Tournament and the first over the Cavaliers since the 1983 championship game.
A LOSS *
Would drop the Wolfpack to 16-12 overall and would be the first time NC State has not won at least one game in the tournament since 1995. NC State lost four consecutive first-round games in the ACC Tournament from 1992-95.
WOLFPACK INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
IN ACC TOURNAMENT
* Justin Gainey: Has played in eight career ACC Tournament games * Averaging 8.1 points and 2.5 assists in the tourney * Had 15 points in win over Wake Forest last season, including 6-of-6 from the free-throw line * 12 points in last year's loss against Duke * Played 40 minutes in all four games freshman season, earning all-tourney honors.
* Anthony Grundy: Named to the ACC all-tournament second team last season * Averaged 16.5 and eight boards last year * Had 14 points and eight rebounds in win over Wake Forest * Had a team-high 19 points against Duke * Went 4-of-6 from three-point range against Blue Devils.
* Kenny Inge: Has played in four career ACC Tournament games * Averaging 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in those games * Had nine points and seven boards in win over Wake Forest * Had a double-double of 13 points and 11 boards in win over Florida State freshman season.
* Ron Kelley: Has played in four ACC Tournament games * Averaging 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in the tourney * Had 10 points and seven boards in last year's loss against Duke * Finished with 12 rebounds in loss to North Carolina freshman year.
* Archie Miller: Played in two ACC Tournament games during the 1997-98 season * Averaging 2.0 points in those two games.
* Damon Thornton: Has played in two career ACC Tournament games, both last season * Averaging eight points and 7.5 rebounds in those games * Had eight points and 11 boards in win over Wake Forest.
* Tim Wells: Has played in six career ACC Tournament games * Averaging 1.7 points in those games * Had seven points in last year's win over Wake, including going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
* Cornelius Williams: Has played in four ACC Tournament games * Is averaging 1.5 points in those games.
PACK BREAKS 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.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Over the past two games, NC State has totalled more assists than turnovers (25 assists vs. 23 turnovers). In the previous four games, the Wolfpack had 44 assists vs. 66 turnovers. NC State had 14 assists and 12 turnovers against Clemson (Feb. 27) and 11-11 vs. Florida State (March 5). The Pack has had more or as many assists as turnovers in nine games this season. Over the past two games, NC State is averaging just 11.5 TOs per game. Wolfpack opponents are averaging nearly 17 TOs per game in the last four games.
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 2.2 per game. His 56 steals matches the 13th-highest single-season total in school history. He also leads the team with 14 drawn 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
PICKPOCKETS
NC State had 14 steals vs. Florida State, its highest total in ACC play this season. Freshman Damien Wilkins had five steals, a season-high, while Anthony Grundy had three steals. The Wolfpack ranks third in the ACC in steals, averaging 9.4 per game. NC State has had double-digit steals in 10 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 26-8 over the past four years when point guard Justin Gainey finishes in double-figures in scoring, 9-3 this season. Gainey has been in double-figures in each of the past two games, averaging 16.5 ppg while shooting 12-of-20 (60 percent) from the field and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from three-point range. 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).
GAINEY AMONG ALL-TIME SCHOOL
LEADERS IN ASSISTS & STEALS
Gainey ranks sixth all-time in school history with 169 career thefts and ninth in school history with 322 career assists. 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.
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 3,631 minutes logged. For his career, Gainey has played an average of 30 mpg (121 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 3631 1997-
5. Curtis Marshall 3323 1992-96
NOTE: minutes kept since 1984
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 NCSU Scoring Drought Maryland 3:54 North Carolina 5:09 Virginia 4:57 Wake Forest 5:33 Duke 3:36 Georgia Tech 6:42 Clemson 5:57 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-43 (34.9 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 55.9 percent (278-of-497) for his career. He ihas been more aggressive on the offensive end this season, averaging 8.0 shot attempts per game this season. Prior to this season, Thornton had averaged 4.8 field-goal attempts per game.
GRUNDY GETS HOT
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy is averaging 21 points over the last four games, finishing in double-figures in three of those contests. 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 four times this season and has been in double-figures 20 times in 26 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 5.0 rebounds per game this season. Grundy ranks third in the ACC in steals, averaging 2.2 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 14 charges this season.
WILKINS MAKES HIS MARK
Freshman Damien Wilkins' quiet all-around play has snuck up on many. Wilkins is among NC State's top three in scoring (10.5 ppg, 2nd), rebounding (6.1 rpg, 2nd), assists (61, 3rd), blocks (16, 3rd) and steals (37, 3rd). Wilkins is third in the ACC in offensive rebounding at 2.89 per game and, in ACC play, ranks 10th in free-throw percentage at 75.4 percent. Over the past six games, he is averaging 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds. 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 Rebounds 164 6th Rebound Average 6.1 5th Steals 37 5th Free Throws 70 4th Free Throw Attempts 110 3rd Minutes 846 4th Games Started 27 4th
IMPACT FRESHMEN
Another example of Wilkins' importance in the NC State lineup is his minutes. He leads the Pack in minutes played at 31.3 mpg and is the first freshman in school history to lead an NC State team in minutes played. In ACC play, Wilkins is averaging 33.8 mpg. An informal e-poll of SIDs showed only 13 freshmen nationally who lead their teams in minutes played.
FRESHMEN MINUTES Player, Team MPG Sirvaliant Brown, G. Washington 36.8 Chris Davis, North Texas 36.4 Jason Gardner, Arizona 36.4 George Williams, Houston 35.2 Brett Blizzard, UNCW 34.4 Bernard King, Texas A&M 34.1 Torris Bright, LSU 33.3 Ben Johnson, Northwestern 32.9 Julius Jenkins, Ga. Southern 32.8 Troy Bell, Boston College 32.0 Joe Johnson, Arkansas 31.8 Damien Wilkins, NC State 31.3 Casey Jacobson, Stanford 27.7 through games of 3/5/00.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Wilkins rates fifth among ACC freshmen in scoring (10.5 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 55 assists this season is more than his uncle and father had in their freshmen seasons combined.
Wilkins' FIRST Seasons Name G FG% FT % R-Avg. A B S PTS-AVG Damien Wilkins 26 .400 .632 161-6.2 55 15 32 272-10.5 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
KELLEY RETURNS TO LINEUP
After missing six games following knee surgery, center Ron Kelley returned to the Wolfpack lineup, playing 20 minutes at Georgia Tech. He finished with two points, three rebounds and three assists, but also showed the rustiness of being out by committing four fouls and four turnovers. Against Clemson on Feb. 27, Kelley played 17 minutes, finishing with five points and four rebounds. He was 1-of-3 from the field and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line against the Tigers. Kelley underwent surgery on Jan. 30 to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee.
INJURY BUG BITES AGAIN
NC State has been plagued by injuries over the last four seasons. Two years ago it was foot injuries. This year, four players have missed time with knee problems. Junior Ron Kelley, who returned to the Wolfpack lineup vs. Georgia Tech, 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. Also, junior Damon 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.
In 1997-98, NC State had seven different players miss a combined 69 games due to injury. Last season, the Wolfpack lost guard Archie Miller for the season due to a back injury. Here is a look at NC State's injuries over the past four seasons:
Player Injury Season (Games) Marshall Williams knee 1999-00 (7) 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 fract., shoulder 1997-98 (5) Luke Buffum broken foot 1997-98 (7) Damon Thornton hip 1996-97 (9) 11 different players 139 total games * did not practice regularly until Jan. 1
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
BENCH POINTS DOWN
Over the past eight games, NC State's starters Anthony Grundy (13.9 ppg), Justin Gainey (12.0), Damien Wilkins (11.1), Kenny Inge (10.4) and Damon Thornton (10.1) have each averaged in double-figures. Wolfpack reserves, however, have averaged just 9.0 ppg compared to 20.7 ppg in other games. Much of that can be attributed to injuries suffered by top reserves Marshall Williams and Ron Kelley. The Wolfpack has played at least nine people in 24 of 25 games this season. The Pack's game at Georgia Tech (Feb. 24) was the first time this season that less than nine players have played in a game for NC State. Against Florida State (March 5), NC State played 10 players. Wolfpack reserves have outscored opponent reserves 478-303 for the season.
INGE DOUBLES UP
After averaging 5.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the six prior contests, junior forward Kenny Inge has been in double-figures in five of the last six games. He has averaged 11.2 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last six games. He had a season-high 25 points vs. UVa on Feb. 12. The 25 points vs. the Cavaliers was the second-highest total of his career.
CRAWFORD CHIPS IN
With Ron Kelley and Marshall Williams sidelined with injuries, freshman guard Clifford Crawford has seen more action lately, averaging 15.3 minutes in the last six games. Crawford was averaging just 6.2 minutes per game. He finished with season-highs in points (12) rebounds (8) and assists (3) vs. UVa, higher totals than he had in every other ACC game combined.
DAMON DOMINATES
Junior Damon Thornton is averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds this season and ranks among league leaders in rebounding (6th) and blocked shots (1.6, 6th). Thornton has finished in double-figures 15 times this season which is more than the total of his previous two seasons combined.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Thornton recorded his fifth double-double of the season at Florida State, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He is sixth in the ACC this season in double-doubles and has 11 career double-doubles. Thornton also had double-doubles vs. Western Carolina (11-13), Yale (16-10), Old Dominion (16-10) and Maryland (12-11). He has had double-digit rebounds in two other games as well vs. Florida State (12 rebs.) and Liberty (10 rebs.). Kenny Inge ranks third in the ACC with 16 career double-doubles but does not have a double-double this season. Inge had 10 boards at Maryland and Florida State.
ROAD WOES
NC State is 14-3 in the ESA this season, just 2-8 on the road. NC State opponents are scoring just 59.1 ppg in the ESA and 72 ppg on their home floors, while shooting 39.5 percent in the ESA and 45.7 percent on their home floors.
Category ESA road DIFF. Scoring 71.1 66.9 -4.2 NC State Field Goal % 43.6% 41.9% -1.7 NC State Three-Point % 33.8% 31.3% -2.5 Turnovers 14.9 17.6 +2.7 Opponent Scoring 59.1 72.0 +12.9 Opponent Field Goal % 39.5% 45.7% +6.2 Opponent Three-Point % 33.2% 31.7% -1.5 Opponent Turnovers 19.7 17.5 -2.2
SWAT WATCH
NC State had a season-best 11 blocks vs. Maryland on Feb. 6, its highest total since blocking 11 shots vs. UNC-A in a 99-60 win on Jan. 22, 1990. The last time NC State blocked more than 11 shots in a game was on Feb. 8, 1988, when the Pack had 12 swats vs. Baptist. Center Damon Thornton ranks sixth all-time in school history with 110 career blocks. He has 44 blocks this season, matching the 10th highest single-season total in school history.
GRUNDY NETS CAREER-HIGH
30 POINTS VS WAKE
Grundy scored a career-high 30 points in the Pack's 76-56 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 16. His 30 points was the highest single-game scoring effort by a Wolfpack player since C.C. Harrison scored 31 points at North Carolina on Feb. 21, 1998.
BALANCED ATTACK
NC State has used a balanced scoring attack this season. Anthony Grundy is averaging a team-best 13.7 ppg this season, while Damien Wilkins and Damon Thornton are getting 10.5 and 10.2 ppg respectively. Kenny Inge (9.3), Justin Gainey (9.1) and Ron Kelley (8.3) 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.
GAINEY'S GAME-WINNERS
Justin Gainey's 12-footer with 1.8 seconds left against Maryland on Jan. 6 was the senior point guard's third game-winning shot in the last two seasons. Earlier this season, Gainey knocked in a three-pointer with 14 seconds left at Purdue. That shot looked strikingly similar to the senior's game-winner at Georgia Tech last season. Against the Yellow Jackets, Gainey slipped behind a ball screen and drained a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to give Wolfpack a 51-50 lead. Gainey then stole Tech's inbounds pass with two seconds left to seal the win.
LONG-RANGE BOMBER
Sophomore guard Archie Miller made his first two-pointers of the season vs. North Carolina on Feb. 9, finishing with four points. Miller is 3-of-21 from inside the arc this season, 34-of-95 (35.8 percent) beyond it. Ninety-six of his 115 career field goals have been from three-point range.
FREE-THROW TURNAROUND
After shooting just 10-of-27 (37 percent) from the free-throw line against UVa on Jan. 12, NC State has made 70.5 percent (194-of-275) from the line in the past 13 games. NC State entered the Wake game on Jan. 16 making just 58.3 percent from the stripe, but has lifted its season free-throw shooting to 63.7 percent. Freshman Damien Wilkins, who entered the Wake game on Jan. 16 shooting 48 percent from the line, has gone 44-of-56 (78.6 percent) from the line in the last 13 games and ranks 10th in the league in free-throw percentage (75.4 percent) in ACC play.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT
NC State is 14-1 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 loss this season when attempting more free throws than its opponent was against Clemson on Feb. 27. NC State got to the line 17 times, while the Tigers attempted seven free throws. NC State matched a season-high with 37 free throw attempts against Wake Forest on Jan. 16, making a season-best 31 (83.8 percent).
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY
Defense has been the catalyst to NC State's 16 wins this season. NC State is holding opponents to a league-low 63.9 ppg. Wolfpack opponents are shooting 41.8 percent from the field, while committing an average of 18.9 turnovers per game. Twenty-two of NC State's 26 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.
