North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes: NC State vs. North Carolina
1/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2002
NC STATE (14-4, 4-2) at NORTH CAROLINA (5-10, 1-4)
DATE: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 @ Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC (21,750)
TIME: Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
AIRTIME: 8:30 p.m. EST
TELEVISION: Raycom/Jefferson Pilot Sports (Regional)
OPPONENT-- The Tar Heels have lost five straight games for the first time since 1952 following Saturday's 86-54 pummeling at Connecticut. Carolina played without leading scorer and rebounder, Jason Capel for the second straight game. He suffered a mild concussion while diving for a loose ball in practice on January 15th. Capel is one of only two ACC players to average a double-double this season and also leads the Heels in assists and steals.
Without Capel, only Kris Lang provides any experienced scoring or rebounding punch. The majority of the other contributors are freshmen and/or sophomores who received limited playing time a year ago. Three freshmen, Jackie Manuel, Melvin Scott, and Jawad Williams account for an average of 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. Williams leads UNC in field goal percentage (.513).
Brian Morrison is a three-point shooting threat (.368) and is a streak shooter. Adam Boone (.407) and Will Johnson (.462) can also do damage behind the three-point arc. UNC is averaging 7.7 three-point field goals per game.
In ACC games, UNC ranks in the bottom third of the league in most all major statistical categories with the exception of field goal percentage (.451), three-point field goals made (8.4) and assist to turnover ratio (1.00). The Heels are also No. 2 in assists per game against league foes (19.0).
Carolina is scoring 72.4 points a game against ACC teams while NC State is averaging 74 points. Defense has not been a UNC strength. The Heels are allowing ACC opponents an average of 85 points a game compared to NC State's 72.3.
Four of the Tar Heels five victories have come at home this season. The last Wolfpack win at the Smith Center came in 1998 when Carolina was ranked No. 1 nationally.
PROBABLE UNC STARTERS
31 Adam Boone G 6'2 So. 4.3 ppg. 2.1 rpg. 2.6 apg.
03 Brian Morrison G 6'2 So. 7.9 ppg. 1.7 rpg. 3.0 apg.
42 Kris Lang C 6'11 Sr. 13.5ppg. 6.7 rpg. 1.4*
25 Jason Capel F 6'8 Sr. 16.8ppg. 10.3rpg. 3.6 apg.
21 Jawad Williams F 6'8 Fr. 9.7 ppg. 3.2 rpg. 0.9 apg.
TOP RESERVES:
01 Melvin Scott G 6'2 Fr. 5.5 ppg. 0.9 rpg. 2.3 apg.
50 Brian Bersticker F/C 6'10 Gr. 4.9 ppg. 2.8 rpg. 0.9 apg.
44 Will Johnson F 6'8 Jr. 4.6 ppg. 3.5 rpg. 1.7 apg.
* Blocked shots per game
A WIN--Would give the Wolfpack its third straight victory, fifth in the last six ACC games and first over UNC since an 86-72 victory at the Smith Center on February 21, 1998. The Pack breaks a seven-game losing streak to the Tar Heels and earns a chance to sweep the regular season series with Carolina for the first time since 1992 when the two teams meet in Raleigh on February 24th. NC State would record its 5th road victory of the season, the since 1990-91 when the Pack was 5-8 away from home. NC State would move to 5-2 in the league marking the best ACC start for the Wolfpack under Herb Sendek.
A LOSS--Would break a two-game NC State winning streak and drop the Wolfpack to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC and mark UNC's second ACC victory of the season. The Tar Heels would pick up their 8th straight victory in the series and fourth in-a-row at the Smith Center. NC State would suffer its first ACC road loss of the season and drop to 4-2 overall away from home. The Tar Heels would earn an opportunity to sweep the regular season series with the Pack for the fourth straight time when the two teams meet in Raleigh on February 24th.
BOMBS AWAY--In victories over Clemson and Georgia Tech last week, NC State wasn't shy in shooting from three-point range. The Pack combined to shoot a blistering 24-56 from the bonusphere (.428). NC State is shooting .364 from the arc against ACC teams this season.
WHEN SHOTS FALL, SO DO OPPONENTS -- NC State has shot 50 percent or better in six games this season and won all six. In 6 ACC games, the Wolfpack has shot a combined .427 from the field (152-356). NC State is 8-4 when it has shot below 50 percent and is still looking for its first 50 percent shooting effort in an ACC game this season.
MUCH BETTER AT THE LINE --NC State's free throw shooting has really improved this season. The Pack is shooting .739 from the charity stripe (264-357) overall and .721 in ACC games (88-122). Last season, the Pack shot .673 from the line. UNC is shooting ..642 from the foul stripe.
ASSISTS UP... TURNOVERS DOWN--In 14 of 18 games this season, NC State has recorded more assists than turnovers. That happened only 8 times last season. In addition, the Pack is averaging only 13.1 turnovers a game (237). Last season, the Wolfpack turned the ball over nearly 17 times a contest. UNC is averaging 18 assists and 16.5 turnovers a game.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE --NC State scored 25 points off 15 Georgia Tech turnovers on 1/19 and is forcing an average of 17.6 turnovers a contest (317). The Pack is averaging 18.6 points off turnovers in its six ACC games (112). UNC is forcing opponents into 14.2 turnovers a game.
BANGING THE BOARDS --For a team that did not expect rebounding to be a strength, the Wolfpack has held its own in conference play. In 6 ACC games the Pack is trailing slightly on the boards 202-214, but holds a 69-56 edge on the offensive glass. For the season, NC State is holding an average edge vs. opponents of 35-34 on the boards. UNC is being outrebounded by 2.1 a game and is averaging 13 offensive rebounds a game.
PINE POINTS-- The Wolfpack's young, but deep bench is averaging 20.7 points a game (373) this season. Freshmen have accounted for more than 40 percent of the team's total minutes played.
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- NC State will host Temple University in a non-conference game on Saturday, January 26, 2002. The game will be carried live on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with an airtime of 11:30 a.m. EST.
ARCHIE MILLER-- Despite a sore left leg, the senior leader continues to help the Pack. In his last three games, he's averaged 8.7 points (26), 2.7 assists (8) with only 5 turnovers. To avoid the recurrence of a stress fracture in his left leg, the Wolfpack captain's practice time is extremely limited. After missing 9 games last season with a stress fracture, extra precautions are being taken to enhance the chances of keeping Miller in the line-up for the remainder of the season. Miller started feeling discomfort in his leg prior to the Houston game on 12/23. Normally one of the ACC's best shooters, Miller is 14-43 shooting from the field and 9-31 from the three-point line since the leg became sore 7 games ago. Prior to the injury, Miller led the team in minutes and assists per game. He continues to lead in free throw shooting (.815) and is No. 2 in assists (63) and steals (27). He leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 3.2-to-1mark and has only 12 turnovers in his last 13 games. The fifth-year senior is fifth in the school record book for career three-point field goals made (178) and is sixth in career three-point percentage at .422 (178-422).
ANTHONY GRUNDY-- After he was held to 7 points by Duke on 1/13 Grundy has elevated his game to a higher level. In his last two games, wins over Clemson and Georgia Tech, Grundy has averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals while shooting .548 from the field and .461 from the three-point arc. In ACC games this season, Grundy is averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals. The senior guard had possibly his finest game in a Wolfpack uniform at Syracuse on December 8th when he finished with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while shooting 10-16 from the field. Currently, he leads the team in scoring (15.5 ppg.), steals (44), minutes (31.3) and is No. 2 in rebounding (5.2 rpg.). Grundy is shooting .453 from the field and .347 from the three-point line this season. The Louisville, Ky., native ranks third in school history with 213 career steals and is eighth in career three-pointers made (142).
JULIUS HODGE-- The 2001 McDonalds and Parade High School All-American has struggled in his last 3 ACC games. He's been held to an average of 4.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists during that stretch while shooting .166 from the field (3-18) and .222 from the three-point arc (2-9). In six ACC games, Hodge has averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. He led the Pack at UVA with a career-high 21 points on 7-8 field goal shooting and recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds vs. Maryland on 12/30. Overall, he's averaging 10.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game and is currently the Pack's No.3 three-point shooter at .361 (22-61) and is No. 2 in free throw shooting at .762 (48-63). At Houston on 12/23, Hodge dished out a career high 4 assists. 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--The sophomore forward started to come out of a two game slump with 8 points and 5 rebounds on 3-4 shooting vs. Georgia Tech on 1/19. He was held scoreless vs. Duke with 3 rebounds on 1/13 and had 6 points and 3 rebounds on 1-4 shooting at Clemson on 1/15. The Fayetteville native was the Pack's hero at Houston, winning the game with a desperation three-pointer from the left wing at the buzzer. Melvin led NC State in scoring and rebounding in that game with 18 points and 7 boards. He's the Pack's leading rebounder (5.7 rpg.) and is averaging 10.0 points a game (180). In his last 11 games, Melvin is shooting .532 from the field (41-77).
JOSH POWELL-- His tip-in of Anthony Grundy's missed shot with :02 to play was the game-winning basket at Clemson on 1/15. After an early ACC adjustment period, Powell has started to gain confidence. In his last 3 ACC games, He's averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting .522 from the field (12-23). In his last 11 games, the 6-9 freshman is shooting .630 from the field (46-73), but has averaged only 7.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in his first 6ACC games. He won his second ACC Rookie of the Week award this season after combining for 32 points and 16 rebounds in victories over Wofford and Syracuse while shooting 15-18 from the field (.833). Powell pulled down a career-high 9 rebounds vs. Syracuse. He scored a career high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field vs. Wofford on 12/5/01. Powell has started every game this season and leads the team in field goal percentage at .579 (73-126). He's also the Pack's leading offensive rebounder (40) and shot blocker (19). 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--The hard working sophomore is the Packs top percentage three-point shooter vs. ACC teams (.563) hitting 9 of his 16 attempts. He came off the bench at Clemson and scored a career high 18 points and equaled a career high 5 assists for his best performance of the season. His three-pointer from the left corner with 1:24 to play was a huge play in the Pack's come-from-behind victory. In his last 3 ACC games, Sherrill has averaged 11 points while shooting .550 from the field (11-20) and .666 from the three-point arc (8-12). Did not play at Virginia on 1/5, the first game this season in which he saw no action. Played in 29 contests a year ago as a reserve guard. He's averaging 5.4 points a game (87)this season.
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The junior guard has elevated his game since the start of the ACC season. In 6 league games (including 4 starts), Crawford is averaging 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting .567 from the field (17-30). In his best ACC performance of the season, Crawford recorded 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes at UVA after starting the game in place of Archie Miller. He also played well in back-to-back games vs. Wofford and Syracuse combining for 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. An above average defender, Crawford is tied for No.3 on the team in steals with 20.
ILLIAN EVTIMOV-- Another rookie who has stepped up his game against ACC opponents, Evtimov has become the Pack's No.2 three-point shooter in league play at .481 (13-27) He nailed three, three-point field goals at Clemson on 1/15 and finished with 11 points. Followed that with 9 points and a career-high 4 assists vs. Georgia Tech on 1/19. Evtimov enjoyed the best performance of his young Wolfpack career at UVA on 1/5 when he came off the bench to contribute 15 points, including 4 of 7 shooting from the three-point line. He's averaging 9.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in ACC games. 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 15 minutes a game and 5.2 points a contest (93). He's seen action in every game. 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 suffered a torn knee ligament (ACL) vs. Maryland on 12/30 and will be lost for the remainder of the season. He scored 5 points in 6 minutes before the injury. Watkins earned his first career start vs. Charleston Southern on 12/19 and played 11 minutes, scoring 2 points. His best performance of the season came vs. UNC-Asheville when he finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Watkins averaged 23.2 points and 11.2 rebounds a game during his senior year at Montrose Christian in Rockville, MD.
JORDAN COLLINS-- The 6-10 freshman has earned more playing time lately. He's averaged 9.8 minutes in 6 ACC games. Recorded 2 points and 2 rebounds in 4 minutes vs. Georgia Tech on 1/19. Collins had a career high 7 points along with 2 rebounds vs. UNC-Asheville on 12/15. He's played in 16 games for the Wolfpack this season in limited minutes (7.6 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.
