North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes: Clemson at NC State
2/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2002
CLEMSON (12-13, 3-9) at No. 24 NC STATE (18-7, 7-5)
DATE: Saturday, February 16, 2002 @ Entertainment and Sports Arena, Raleigh, NC (19,722)
TIME: Tip-off: 4:00 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
AIRTIME: 3:30 p.m. EST
TELEVISION: Raycom/Jefferson Pilot (Regional)
OPPONENT-- Clemson used the scoring of Edward Scott, Tony Stockman and Chris Hobbs to break an 8-game losing streak Wednesday night. The trio combined for 84 points as the Tigers upset Wake Forest at home in double-overtime 118-115. Scott was outstanding with a career-high 30 points and 16 assists. Stockman also scored a career high 30 points while Hobbs finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds.
Clemson looked to have the game wrapped up in regulation, leading by 11 points with 1:03 left. But Wake Forest (17-8, 7-4) hit five 3-pointers down the stretch and Taron Downey's runner with 0.6 seconds left capped the run and tied the game at 94.
The turning point for the Tigers came with 1:20 left in the first overtime when Wake Forest's Darius Songaila, who scored 24 points, fouled out with the Demon Deacons leading 101-98. With Songaila gone, the Tigers started pounding the ball inside. Hobbs and Ray Henderson took advantage of Songaila's absence to score 13 of the Tigers' 17 points in the second overtime.
Craig Dawson, who hit three of his school-record 11 3-pointers in the run to close regulation, finished with a career-high 38 points for Wake Forest. The 233 points were one off the record for an ACC game set Dec. 20, 1978, when Maryland beat North Carolina State 124-110.
Wake Forest finished 19-for-42 (45.2 percent) from behind the arc. Clemson shot 23-for-45 from the free-throw line, but missed four of eight foul shots in the final 41 seconds of regulation.
The Tigers feature balanced scoring with their five starters averaging at least 8.5 points a game. They also hit the boards with authority, outrebounding opponents by seven a game overall, including an average of 15.5 offensive rebounds a contest. The "Bruise Brothers" Hobbs and Ray Henderson ,who each weight about 260 pounds, are combining for about 21 points and 15 rebounds a game. Small forward, Jamar McKnight, the most improved player on the Clemson team, is shooting 48 percent (.404 from the three-point arc) and is also a factor on the boards.
Clemson is not an outstanding perimiter shooting team (.298 from three-point range), but McKnight and Tony Stockman are real threats. Stockman has 63 three-point field goals this season, more than any NC State player. Three-point defense is another concern for the Tigers. Clemson had made 149 three-point field goals this season while its opponents have nailed 213 shots from behind the arc. The Tigers are allowing ACC opponents an average of 86 points a game and .380 shooting from the three-point arc. However, Clemson leads the ACC in offensive rebounding versus league opponents.
This will be a difficult test for NC State similar to the Wolfpack's 80-79 win at Clemson on January 15th. The Pack will have less than 48 hours to prepare following Thursday night's game at No. 1 Duke.
PROBABLE CLEMSON STARTERS
10 Edward Scott G 6'0 Jr. 10.9ppg. 4.7 rpg. 8.2 apg.
00 Tony Stockman G 6'1 So. 11.7ppg. 2.3 rpg. 2.3 apg.
21 Ray Henderson C 6'8 Jr. 8.5 ppg. 8.9 rpg. 1.2*
43 Chris Hobbs F 6'7 So. 12.3ppg. 6.4 rpg. 0.4 apg.
33 Jamar McKnight F 6'5 Sr. 13.5 ppg. 4.4 rpg. 1.1 apg.
TOP RESERVES:
03 Tomas Nagys F 6'10 Jr. 4.8 ppg. 4.6 rpg. 0.7*
05 Sharrod Ford F 6'9 Fr. 4.2 ppg. 3.4 rpg. 1.0*
14 Chey Christie G 6'4 Fr. 5.3 ppg. 1.2 rpg. 1.0 apg.
35 Dwon Clifton G/F 6'5 S0. 3.6 ppg. 2.0 rpg. 1.0 apg.
* Blocked shots per game
A WIN--Would give the Wolfpack its third victory in its last four ACC games, third straight over Clemson in the series and second in-a-row over the Tigers at the ESA. The Pack would sweep the regular season series with the Tigers for the first time since 1992. NC State would record its second consecutive home victory and move to 13-4 at the ESA this season. The Wolfpack would improve to 19-7 overall and 8-5 in the ACC, marking the most ACC regular season wins and overall regular season victories in the Herb Sendek era.
A LOSS--Would be the second straight for NC State and drop the Wolfpack to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in the ACC and mark Clemson's fourth win over the Pack in the last six games. The Tigers would break a two-game losing streak to NC State , earn their second victory in the last three games at the ESA, and earn a split in the regular season series for the tenth straight year. The Pack would drop to 12-5 at home with one game remaining at the ESA (vs. UNC on 2/24). Clemson would earn its second straight overall victory after losing 8-straight games.
ASSISTS UP... TURNOVERS DOWN--In 18 of 25 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 13.4 turnovers a game (333). Last season, the Wolfpack turned the ball over nearly 17 times a contest. Clemson is averaging 15 assists and 17 turnovers a game against ACC teams.
CONVERTING TURNOVERS TO POINTS --Overall, NC State is forcing an average of 17 turnovers a contest (425) and is converting many of those opportunities into points. The Pack is averaging 17.8 points off turnovers in ACC games (214). Clemson is forcing ACC teams into 13.1 turnovers a game.
A POINT OR TWO ABOUT THE THREE-POINTER--Over the last 8 games (of which the Pack has won 5) NC State has combined to shoot nearly 37 percent (.366) from the three-point arc (68-186). NC State is shooting .337 from the arc against all opponents this season (193-573). Clemson is No. 6 in the ACC in three-point shooting vs. league teams .355.
NIFTY FIFTY -- NC State has shot 50 percent or better in 9 games this season (including 3 of its last 4) and won 7 of them. In 12 ACC games, the Wolfpack has shot a combined .449 from the field (304-677). NC State is 11-5 when it has shot below 50 percent. Clemson is shooting .443 from the field vs. ACC teams.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY --NC State's free throw shooting has really improved this season. The Pack is shooting .743 from the charity stripe (401-540) overall and .731 in ACC games (204-279). Last season, the Pack shot .673 from the line. Clemson is the worst free throw shooting team in the ACC (.585 vs. league opponents).
NOT EXACTLY BOARD CHAIRMEN...BUT NOT BAD --For a team that did not expect rebounding to be a strength, the Wolfpack has held its own in conference play. In ACC games the Pack is trailing slightly on the boards 376-413 but holds a 119-117 edge on the offensive glass. For the season, NC State is even vs. opponents on the boards 33-33. Clemson leads the ACC in offensive rebounding vs. league opponenst (15.0) and is No. 3 in rebound margin (+3.9).
PINE POINTS-- The Wolfpack's young, but deep bench is averaging 20.4 points a game (511) this season. Freshmen have accounted for more than 41 percent of the team's total minutes played.
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- NC State will visit Georgia Tech on Wednesday, February 20, 2002. The game will be carried live on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with an airtime of 8:30 p.m. EST.
ARCHIE MILLER-- The senior captain led the Pack with 17 points at FSU on 2/10 and has shown more offensive punch lately. Miller has averaged 12.6 points (88) in his last 7 games on 22-46 shooting from the field (.478). Equaled his career high with 22 points Jan. 30th vs. Wake Forest on 6-11 shooting including 4-7 from the three-point arc. After missing 9 games last season with a stress fracture of his left leg, extra precautions were taken in January to enhance the chances of keeping Miller in the line-up for the remainder of the season. Those precautions included reduced practice time. Prior to the injury, Miller led the team in minutes and assists per game. He continues to lead in free throw shooting 49-58 (.845) and is No. 2 in assists (82) and steals (33). He leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 2.65-to-1mark and has only 23 turnovers in his last 20 games. The fifth-year senior is third in the school record book for career three-point field goals made (195). Needs 3 to pass Lakista McCuller. Miller is sixth in career three-point percentage at .427 (195-457).
ANTHONY GRUNDY-- A sore foot has hampered the Wolfpack's leading scorer in his last two outings. He was held to less than 20 points in back-to-back games vs. FSU (13) and Duke (16). Grundy was outstanding against Virginia on Feb. 6th with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. In his last 9 games, Grundy has averaged 20.3 points (183), 6.2 rebounds (56), 3.9 assists (35) and 2.2 steals (20) while shooting .543 from the field (69-127) and .325 from the three-point arc (13-40). In ACC games this season, Grundy is averaging 18.8 points (225), 3.8 assists (46) and 2.7 steals (32). The senior guard had one of his finest games of the season vs. Wake Forest on Jan. 30 with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. At Syracuse on December 8th Grundy notched 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while shooting 10-16 from the field. Currently, he leads the team in scoring (16.7 ppg.), assists (89), steals (58), minutes (31.8) and rebounding (5.5). The Louisville, Ky., native ranks second in school history with 226 career steals and is 7th in career three-pointers made (149).
JULIUS HODGE-- Since sitting out a one-game suspension by the ACC for hitting Maryland's Steve Blake on Feb 3rd, Hodge has struggled offensively. In his last two games, the 2001 McDonalds and Parade High School All-American has been held to 9 points on 4-14 shooting. , However, over his last 6 games Hodge has shot the ball at a .488 clip from the field (21-43). Recorded 17 points and 5 rebounds on 1/30 vs. WFU on 6-8 shooting from the field. He dished out a career-high 7 assists vs. Temple on 1/26. Hodge led the Pack at UVA on 1/5 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 (245) and 4.8 rebounds a game (115). 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 came roaring out of a seven game slump with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists against Virginia on Feb. 3rd. He made 5-6 shots from the field, including all four of his three-point attempts. He followed that with 8 points and 6 rebounds at FSU on 2/10. Against Duke on 2/15, Melvin scored the Pack's first 9 points and finished with 12 points on 5-6 shooting from the field. 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 averaging 9.4 points and is the team's No. 2 rebounder with 127 (5.1).
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. The freshman continues to learn and adjust to the level of play in the ACC, but lately has been slumping and did not start at FSU on 2/10. Recorded his best outing since January 19th with 9 points at Duke on 2/14. In his last 5 appearances, Powell is averaging only 4.4 points (22) and 1.4 rebounds (7). However, he continues to shoot at a high percentage. In his last 9 ACC games, Powell is shooting .500 from the field (21-42). In his last 17 games, the 6-9 freshman is shooting .594 from the field (57-96). 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 leads the team in field goal percentage at .564 (84-149). He's also the Pack's leading offensive rebounder (46) and shot blocker (26). 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--Came off the bench to score a career high 20 points in 21 minutes against UVA on Feb 6th on 6-9 shooting from the field and followed that with 16 points and 4 rebounds at FSU on 2/10. He's averaged 14.7 points (44) in his last 3-games while shooting .611 (11-18) from the field. The hard working sophomore is the Packs top percentage three-point shooter vs. ACC teams (.484) hitting 15-31 attempts. Sherrill came off the bench at Clemson and scored a career high 18 points and equaled a career high with 5 assists. 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 8 ACC games, Sherrill has averaged 11.1 points (86) while shooting .619 from the field (26-42) and .538 from the three-point arc (14-26).
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The junior guard provided a spark for the Pack vs. WFU on 1/30 when he came off the bench to record 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. In 12 ACC games (including 4 starts), Crawford is shooting .500 from the field (24-48). In his best ACC performance of the season, Crawford recorded 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes at UVA on 1/5 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 No.3 on the team in steals with 26.
ILLIAN EVTIMOV-- This freshman, who has started 9 straight games, has averaged 9.2 points (83), 4.0 rebounds (36) and 2.4 assists (22) during that span. Evtimov scopred a career high 16 points at Duke on 2/14 on 6-11 shooting from the field. However, like most young players in the ACC he's had his ups and downs. He committed a season-high 7 turnovers at Maryland on 2/3, but bounced back with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals vs. UVA on 2/6. Evtimov has been a three-point threat in league play shooting .347 from the arc against ACC opponents (17-49). In only his second career ACC game at UVA on 1/5, he came off the bench to contribute 15 points, including 4 of 7 shooting from the three-point line. He's averaging 8.7 points and 3.6 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 19 minutes a game and 6.2 points a contest (156). 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 is the Pack's biggest player in height and weight (262). He's averaged 4 points and 2.5 rebounds in his last two games (vs. FSU & Duke). Collins played the best ACC game of his career at UNC on 1/23 when he notched a career-high 8 points, pulled down 2 rebounds and dished out 2 assists in 21 minutes. Since the start of ACC play, Collins has earned more playing time. He's averaged 10.7 minutes in 12 ACC games. Collins had 7 points and 2 rebounds vs. UNC-Asheville on 12/15. 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.
