North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes
12/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2001
NC STATE (5-2) vs. WOFFORD (3-4)
DATE: Wednesday, December 5, 2001 @ The Entertainment & Sports Arena (19,722)
TIME: Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
AIRTIME: 7:00 p.m. (Click for list of stations carrying game)
TELEVISION: None.
OPPONENT-- Wofford couldn't handle Nebraska on the boards Sunday afternoon in Lincoln and fell to the 4-0 Cornhuskers 65-46. The loss was the third in the last four games for Wofford and dropped the Terriers to 3-4.
Nebraska committed a season-low 10 turnovers, held Wofford to 35 percent shooting and controlled the glass with a 45-31 advantage overall, including 18-9 in offensive rebounding. NU's domination of the boards gave the Cornhuskers 17 second-chance points to Wofford's six.
The hot hands of senior Cary Cochran and sophomore Brian Conklin were also factors. Cochran scored all 15 points in the first half, as Nebraska built a 43-27 advantage and led by double figures the entire second half. Cochran scored six points in a 13-2 run midway through the first, as the Huskers erased an early Wofford lead and took a 20-10 advantage. Nebraska eventually led by as many as 17 in the first half before taking a 16-point lead into the locker room.
Cochran was one of three Huskers in double figures, as Conklin tied a career high with 18 points and five rebounds, while freshman point guard Jake Muhleisen finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. Justin Stevens led the Terriers (3-4) with 13 points.
Wofford is still searching for answers following the graduation of last season's MVP. Guard, Ian Chadwick, a three-time All Southern Conference selection and runner-up for Player of the Year honors last season, led the league in scoring at 20.4 points per game last season. However, after seven games, Wofford's strength appears to be on the perimeter. Small forward Lee Nixon and guard Mike Lenzly are the team top scorers and perimeter shooters. Lenzly is sinking 39 percent of his three-point attempts. Nixon averaged 16.9 points over the final seven games last season, including a career-high 31 points in an 83-73 win over Davidson. With the graduation of Chadwick, Nixon is expected to be the Terriers' next great scorer.
Wofford does not have imposing size and is also a young team. Center, Kenny Hastie, the team's leading rebounder, is the lone senior. Lenzly, an All-SoCon selection last year, and Nixon are in their junior seasons. The Terriers are holding opponents to 66 points and only 26 percent shooting from the three-point arc.
Back up center, Edvin Masic, a 6-10 junior who is a native of Bosnia, is not expected to play against NC State due to an ankle sprain.
PROBABLE WOFFORD STARTERS
05 Mike Lenzly G 6-3 Jr. 14.7 ppg. 6.4 rb. 4.0 apg
03 Justin Stephens G 6'2 Fr. 13.0 ppg. 3.0 rb 1.6 apg
41 Kenny Hastie C 6'8 Sr. 8.7ppg. 10.0 rb. 1.3*
22 Lee Nixon F 6'4 Jr. 14.6 ppg. 2.0 rb. 2.0 apg
40 Grant Sterley F 6'7 Jr. 4.6 ppg. 3.6 rb. 1.1 apg
TOP RESERVES:
02 Adrian Borders G 6'0 Fr. 2.7 ppg. 1.3 rb. 0.4 apg.
32 Sam Daniels F/C 6'9 Fr. 3.4 ppg. 3.0 rb 0.4 apg.
* Blocked shots per game
A WIN--Would break a two-game losing streak and would improve NC State to 6-2 overall. It would mark the Wolfpack's sixth victory at home against only one loss and the sixth straight win over Wofford in the series and move to 8-1 against the Terriers. The Pack would improve to 35-10 at the ESA including a 26-3 mark against non-ACC foes.
A LOSS--Would be the third straight overall and the second straight at home for the Wolfpack, marking the first time the Pack has dropped back-to-back games to non-conference opponents at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. A Wofford victory would be the Terriers first over the Pack since the 1934-35 season.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE --NC State has averaged 21.1 points off turnovers this season (148) and is forcing an average of 18 turnovers a game.
NO EDGE ON BOARDS --The Wolfpack has been outrebounded in its last two games by a 76-63 margin. U-Mass outboarded the Pack 41-30 and held an 11-5 edge in second-chance points.
POINTS OFF THE PINE-- The Wolfpack's young, but deep bench is averaging nearly 17 points a game (118) this season. However, in its last four games the Pack's bench is averaging 11.2 points a game.
MISSING THE MARK -- After shooting better than 50 percent in each of its first four games, the Pack has gone cold. In its last three games, NC State is connecting at a clip of only 32 percent (54-169) from the field. From behind the three-point arc, NC State is 14-of-74 during that span (.189).
A LOT BETTER AT THE LINE --NC State's free throw shooting has improved this season. The Pack is shooting .720 from the charity stripe (95-132). Last season, the Pack shot .673 from the line.
DOWNTURN IN TURNOVERS-- Overall, NC State has done a good job taking care of the ball this season by averaging only 13 turnovers a game. The Pack committed only 10 turnovers vs. U-Mass. Last season, the Wolfpack turned the ball over nearly 17 times a contest.
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- NC State visits ninth-ranked Syracuse on Saturday night, December 8, 2001. The game will be carried live on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with an airtime of 6:30 p.m. EST. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
ARCHIE MILLER-- The Wolfpack captain leads the team in minutes per game (32.0),free throw shooting (.857) and assists (4.0 apg.). He seemed to come out of a four game shooting slump with a 5-of-6 performance from the field vs. U-Mass and a team-high 18 points. In four consecutive games prior to the U-Mass contest, Miller shot only .269 from the field (7-26) and .227 from the three-point line (5-22). Miller currently leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 4-to-1mark. The fifth-year senior is sixth in the school record book for career three-point field goals made (161) and is fourth in career three-point percentage.
ANTHONY GRUNDY-- The senior guard has led the Wolfpack in scoring in both of his full seasons in an NC State uniform (he joined the team in December of his freshman year). This season he leads the team in scoring (13.6 ppg.), steals (11), and rebounding (5.9 rpg.). He's also the team's leading backcourt shooter, hitting .465 of his shots from the field (40-86). However, in his last two games he's shooting only .343 from the field (11-32) and .090 from the three-point line (1-11). Grundy ranked 15th in ACC history with 1.93 steals per game and fifth in NC State career steals (183).
JULIUS HODGE-- The 2001 McDonalds and Parade High School All-American is off to a good start with the Wolfpack. He's averaging 10.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game and is currently the Pack's leading three-point shooter at .400 (10-25) 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 minutes. He's the team's No. 2 rebounder (5.7 rpg.) and is averaging 9.1 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 .563 (27-48). He's also the Pack's leading offensive rebounder (14) and shot blocker (7), but leads the team in turnovers (17). 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 5.1 points a game (36). 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 15 points in his last five appearances on 4-14 shooting.
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The junior guard has played in every game this season, but has more personal fouls (16) than assists (12). 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.3 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 3.4 points a contest (24). 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 42 percent from the field (7-17) as he continues to learn the NC State system.
JORDAN COLLINS-- The 6-10 freshman has played in five games for the Wolfpack this season in limited minutes (5.2 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.
