North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes
11/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2001
NC STATE (5-1) vs. MASSACHUSETTS (3-0)
DATE: Saturday, December 1, 2001 @ The Entertainment & Sports Arena (19,722)
TIME: Tip-off: 2:30 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
AIRTIME: 2:00 p.m. (Click for list of stations carrying game)
TELEVISION: Raycom-Jefferson Pilot Sports (Regional)
OPPONENT-- Micah Brand sank a turn-around jump shot with 1:15 remaining Tuesday and followed with a pair of free throws in the final minute to lead Massachusetts past previously unbeaten Oregon 62-58. The Minutemen improved to 3-0 under new coach, Steve Lappas. The other U-Mass victories were over Arkansas-Little Rock and Marist.
Oregon, a winner over Louisville and new Cardinals coach Rick Pitino earlier this season, led 58-57 with two minutes remaining, but Brand's basket with 1:15 remaining put the Minutemen ahead for good. He added two free throws after the teams traded turnovers in the final minute. U-Mass held the Ducks to only 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-14 from three-point range. The Minutemen were outrebounded 38-25, but shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and made 7 of 14 three-point shots in the game.
U-Mass trailed 21-10, but rallied with a string of three pointers-- two by Eric Williams and one by Kyle Wilson-- and took its first lead at 27-26 on a driving basket by Anthony Anderson. Oregon (4-1) led at the half 32-31. Williams and Raheim Lamb added nine points each for Massachusetts.
The Minutemen are experienced, deep, big and physical. The two tallest players on the squad, Brand and Kitwana Rymer, were voted as Co-Most Improved Players last season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. However, Crooks may be the star for Massachusetts. He's an improved shooter from a year ago and is connecting on 43 percent of his three point attempts. Anderson is the team's leading percentage long-range bomber (4-of -9) from three-point range.
U-Mass is a good three-point shooting team (.415), but has only a +2 rebounding margin over its three opponents. The Minutemen have not forced many turnovers so far (13 a game), but are holding opponents to 59 points and 35 percent shooting from the field.
PROBABLE U-MASS STARTERS
12 Anthony Anderson G 5-11 So. 6.7pts. 4.3rb 3.3asst.
30 Shannon Crooks G 6'2 Sr. 14.3pts. 2.7rb 4.0asst.
33 Kitwana Ryner C 6'10 Sr. 9.3pts. 6.7rb 3.7blk.
40 Micah Brand F 6'11 Jr. 13.0pts. 5.3rb. 1.0asst.
01 Willie Jenkins F 6'6 So. 6.3pts. 5.0rb. 1.3asst.
TOP RESERVES:
21 Eric Williams F 6'8 Sr. 5.7pts. 2.0rb. 0.4asst.
34 Raheim Lamb F 6'5 So. 6.3pts. 3.7rb. 0.4asst.
* Blocked shots per game
A WIN--Would keep the Wolfpack unbeaten at home this season (6-0) and would improve NC State to 6-1 overall. It would mark the first victory in Wolfpack basketball history over U-Mass. The Pack lost to the No. 1 ranked Minutemen, led by Marcus Camby, in 1995 at the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii 87-68 in the only previous meeting. Herb Sendek's record against the Atlantic 10 would improve to 6-3.
A LOSS--Would be the first at home this season for the Wolfpack and the second straight loss overall, dropping NC State to 5-2 overall and 5-1 at home. It would mark the Pack's first loss to a non-conference opponent at home since Syracuse won at the ESA on February 3, 2001.
STEAL AND SCORE --NC State has averaged 21.8 points off turnovers this season (131) and is forcing an average of 18 turnovers a game.
BOARD BATTLES --The Wolfpack was outrebounded by Ohio State 35-33, but has held its own on the boards this season with a +1.6 rebound margin.
MISSING THE MARK -- After shooting better than 50 percent in each of its first four games, the Pack has gone cold. In its last two games, NC State is connecting at a clip of only 31 percent (33-107) from the field. From behind the three-point arc, NC State is 9-of-49 during that span (.184).
THE LINE ON THE LINE --NC State's free throw shooting has improved this season. The Pack is shooting .702 from the charity stripe (80-114). Last season, the Pack shot .673 from the line.
DOWNTURN IN TURNOVERS-- Although NC State committed 21 turnovers in its loss at Ohio State, the Pack has done a better job taking care of the ball this season by averaging only 13 turnovers a game. Last season, the Wolfpack turned the ball over nearly 17 times a contest.
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- Wofford visits the Wolfpack on Wednesday, December 5, 2001. The game will be carried live on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with an airtime of 7:30 p.m. EST. There will be no television coverage.
ARCHIE MILLER-- The Wolfpack captain leads the team in minutes per game (31.7), free throw shooting (.857) and assists (4.2 apg.). He is the team's best shooter, but has slumped in the last four- (4) games and is shooting only .269 from the field (7-26) and .227 from the three-point line (5-22) during that stretch. However, Miller currently leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 3.57 mark. The fifth-year senior is sixth in the school record book for career three-point field goals made (159) and is fourth in career three-point percentage (.437).
ANTHONY GRUNDY-- The senior guard has led the Wolfpack in scoring in both of his full seasons in a NC State uniform (he joined the team in December of his freshman year). This season he leads the team in scoring (13.5 ppg.), steals (11), and is tied for the lead in rebounding (5.8 rpg.). He's also the team's leading backcourt shooter, hitting .515 of his shots from the field (34-66). Grundy ranked 15th in ACC history with 1.93 steals per game and fifth in NC State career steals (180).
JULIUS HODGE-- The 2001 McDonalds and Parade High School All-American is off to a good start with the Wolfpack. He's averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and is currently the Pack's leading three-point shooter at .429 (9-21) and No. 2 free throw shooter at .813 (13-16). New York's "Mr. Basketball" as a senior and the New York Daily News High School Player of the Year, Hodge averaged 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists during his senior year at St. Raymond's High School in Bronx, NY. Rated as the No. 1 shooting guard in the nation by ESPN.com.
MARCUS MELVIN--Played in 25 games last year while learning the Wolfpack system. This season he's started every game and has averaged 31.3 minutes. He's tied for the team lead in rebounds (5.8 rpg.) and is averaging 9.7 points a game. His best outing of the season was against James Madison when he scored 15 points and pulled down 6 rebounds.
JOSH POWELL-- The 6-9 freshman has been a welcome addition to the Wolfpack. Powell has started every game this season and leads the team in field goal percentage at .595 (22-37). He's also the Pack's leading offensive rebounder (13) and shot blocker (6). Powell was named Metro Atlanta Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club following his senior year at Riverdale High School. He averaged 22.7 points and 13 rebounds in his senior year and is the only player in school history to have his jersey retired.
SCOOTER SHERRILL--Has seen action in every game this season after playing in 29 contests a year ago as a reserve guard. He's averaging 5.5 points a game (33). Sherrill started the season in red-hot fashion by scoring 13 points vs. Prairie View A&M and 10 vs. San Jose State but has since cooled off. He's scored 12 points in his last four appearances on 3-13 shooting.
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The junior guard has played in every game this season, but has more personal fouls (12) than assists (11). However, he's cut down on his turnovers from last season and has a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. An above average defender, Crawford is No.2 on the team in steals with 8. His top performance this season came in the opener vs. Prairie View when he notched 12 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists and shot 5-of-6 from the field.
ILLIAN EVTIMOV-- A native of Bulgaria, Evtimov lived in France for most of his life before moving to the United States. He averaged 21.5 points, 14 rebounds and 5.2 assists a game as a senior at Bishop McGuiness High School in Winston-Salem, NC. As a freshman at NC State, Evtimov is averaging nearly 14 minutes a game and 3.7 points a contest (22). He's seen action in every game. His best outing of the season was against The Citadel with 6 points and 2 rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. He's the brother of former UNC forward Vasco Evtimov who is now playing professionally in Greece.
LEVI WATKINS-- A 2001 Parade High School All-American, Watkins averaged 23.2 points and 11.2 rebounds a game during his senior year at Montrose Christian in Rockville, MD. He's played in every game for the Wolfpack this season and is shooting nearly 47 percent from the field (7-15) as he continues to learn the NC State system.
JORDAN COLLINS-- The 6-10 freshman has played in four games for the Wolfpack this season in limited minutes (6.0 mpg.). Collins was a four-year starter at DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, MD for legendary coach, Morgan Wooten. He averaged 15 points and 10.3 rebounds as a senior while leading DeMatha to a 27-5 record. His best outing of the season was vs. Prairie View A&M when he scored 2 points and pulled down 4 rebounds.
