North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes: NC State Visits Maryland
1/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2003
NC STATE (11-4, 4-1) @ No. 12 MARYLAND (12-4, 5-1)
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 2003 @ Comcast Center, College Park, MD (17,100)
TIME: Tipoff: 9:00 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
AIRTIME: 8:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: Raycom-Jefferson Pilot (Regional)
OPPONENT--Maryland continued its conference road success on Saturday with a 52-47 victory at Clemson. The Terrapins have won 11 of their last 13 ACC road games and extended their series win streak over the Tigers to 10 straight games.
The game was a defensive battle and Drew Nicholas, who scored 14 points, was the only Maryland player in double figures. The Terps shot only 34 percent (19-of-56) from the field but held Clemson to 32 percent (14-of-44) shooting as both teams posted their lowest scoring totals of the season.
Clemson's Olu Babalola closed the first half with a tip-in to bring the Tigers within 24-23 at the break. Maryland took the lead for good early in the second half by reeling off eight straight points after Clemson tied the game at 27-27 with 15:15 remaining. Calvin McCall and Steve Blake buried consecutive 3-pointer before Ryan Randle sank a jumper for a 35-27 lead with 13:50 left.
Edward Scott made four straight free throws to bring Clemson within 50-47 with 68 seconds left but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer 46 seconds later. Blake sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with 21.5 seconds to go.
Tahj Holden grabbed 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, as Maryland held a 39-29 advantage on the boards. The Terrapins scored 21 points off 19 offensive rebounds. Scott finished with 16 points and Babalola added 12 for Clemson (11-4, 1-4). Babalola made 5-of-8 shots but was the only player to shoot better than 50 percent for the Tigers, who were just 4-of-18 in the second half.
The Terps have a good mix of veterans and rookies and they are very deep (especially up front) with as many as nine players averaging at least 15 minutes a game. Nicholas is among the ACC leaders in scoring while Randle and Blake are near the top in rebounding and assists respectively. Holden is the league's top shot-blocker. The Terps get to the free throw line an average of 23 times a game and shoot 70 percent from the stripe. They average 14.1 offensive rebounds a game.
Blake is 141 assists shy of becoming the fourth Division 1 player in history to reach 1,000 assists. The only others are all former ACC players--Bobby Hurley, Chris Corchiani and Ed Cota
Defensively, Maryland leads the ACC in scoring defense (64.2 ppg.), field goal percentage defense (.358), three-point percentage defense (.280), steals (11.4) and blocked shots (119). The Terps have held seven opponents to less than 33 percent shooting--eight under 35 percent. Offensively, the Terps are among the league leaders in assists (18.4), scoring (81.3), field goal percentage (.464) and three-point shooting (.385).
Maryland is currently riding a 13-game ACC regular season win streak at home. NC State's last win in College Park was on January 29, 1989, by a 90-67 score. The Terps have won 24 of their last 26 ACC regular season games over the last three seasons.
Handling Maryland's pressure defense, shot selection, rebounding and playing sound defense without fouling will be important points of emphasis for NC State.
PROBABLE MARYLAND STARTERS
| No.Name | Pos. | Ht. | Class | PPG | RPG | APG |
| 05 Calvin McCall | G/F | 6'3 | Sr. | 5.6 | 3.4 | 1.3 |
| 45 Tahj Holden | F | 6'10 | Sr. | 7.7 | 4.3 | 2.1* |
| 33 Ryan Randle | C | 6-9 | Sr. | 13.4 | 8.2 | 1.6* |
| 25 Steve Blake | G | 6'3 | Sr. | 11.4 | 3.4 | 6.8 |
| 12 Drew Nicholas | G | 6'3 | Sr. | 18.1 | 4.1 | 2.8 |
TOP RESERVES:
| 22 Nik Caner-Medley | F | 6'8 | Fr. | 5.8 | 3.9 | 0.8 |
| 04 Travis Garrison | F/C | 6'8 | Fr. | 5.4 | 4.2 | 1.0* |
| 01 Jamar Smith | F/C | 6'9 | Fr. | 5.4 | 4.2 | 0.3* |
| 11 John Gilchrist | G | 6'3 | Fr. | 4.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
A WIN--Would be the fourth straight for the Wolfpack and second in-a-row away from home, improving NC State to 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. It would mark the Pack's best ACC start since January, 1989 (5-1). The Wolfpack would break a 13-game losing streak to Maryland in College Park and beat the Terps for the second straight time in the series after upsetting them in last year's ACC Tournament. The Pack would put itself in position to sweep the regular season series with Maryland for the first time since 1989 when the two teams meet at the RBC Center on March 2nd.
A LOSS--Would snap a three-game winning streak for the Wolfpack and drop NC State to 11-5 overall and 4-2 in the ACC. Maryland would win for the 14th straight time over the Pack in College Park and put itself in position to sweep the regular season series for the third straight year. NC State road record would dip to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the ACC.
ASSISTS TO TURNOVERS--In 8 of its 14 games this season, NC State has recorded more assists than turnovers. That happened in 25 of 34 games last season. The Pack had 19 assists to only 9 turnovers in its win over North Carolina on 1/26.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE --Overall, NC State is forcing an average of 17.3 turnovers a contest (260) and is converting many of those opportunities into points. In its last 8 games the Pack has scored 149 points off turnovers (18.6 a game). State is averaging 9.5 steals a game (142).
PERIMITER POP--During its three-game winning streak, the Pack has shot .412 from the three-point arc (28-68). In its last two games, the three-point marksmanship is even more impressive (.477 on 21-44). For the season, The Pack is .369 from the arc (131-355). In its 11 victories, the Pack is shooting .400 from the arc (102-255) while only .290 in its four losses (29-100).
NIFTY FIFTY -- NC State has shot 50% or better in 5 games this season and won all of them. The Pack is 6-4 when shooting less than 50%. Combined, the Pack is shooting .497 from the field in its 11 wins (292-587) and only .357 in its four losses (87-244).
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE --NC State's free throw shooting has been impressive. The Pack is shooting .747 from the charity stripe (263-352). Versus ACC opponents, NC State is shooting .730 from the line (100-137).
BENCHMARKS-- Last season, the Wolfpack bench averaged nearly 20 points a game. This season is a different story. So far, the bench has scored 174 points for an 11.6 average. Its season-low production was vs. Coppin State and UNC with zero points. Its best point production was 34 against Fairleigh-Dickinson.
LEAD AFTER 20.....WIN AFTER 40--NC State has posted an 8-1 record when leading at the half this season. The Wolfpack is 3-3 when trailing at the break.
DEFENSE--The Wolfpack is allowing ACC opponents 71.8 points a game (359), but is holding them to only .432 shooting from the field (121-280).
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- NC State will host Clemson on Sunday, February 2, 2003. Airtime from the RBC Center will be 12:30 p.m.
WOLFPACK PLAYERS TO WATCH
JULIUS HODGE-- The ACC's leading scorer with a 19.5 ppg. average (292), Hodge is also among the league Top-10 in rebounding (6.4), assists (3.7) and steals (1.8). He also leads the Pack in minutes played with 512 (34.1). Hodge scored a career-high 30 points and added 10 rebounds vs. UNC on 1/26. It was his 7th game of 20 or more points this season. Over his last 9 games, Hodge has scored 20 or more points 6 times and averaged 21.0 points (189) and 6.8 rebounds (61) while shooting 47 percent from the field (58-124). On 12/14/02 Hodge became the first NC State men's player to record a triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against NC A&T.
MARCUS MELVIN--This versatile junior forward has averaged 17.0 points (51) and 5.0 rebounds (15) in his last 3 games while shooting .565 from the field (13-23). He's also made 19 of 23 free throws during that stretch (.826). Melvin led the Pack at FSU on 1/18 with 21 points and 10 rebounds and was 3-5 from the three-point line. The Fayetteville native is the Pack's No. 2 scorer with 201points (13.4 ppg.) and rebounder (87) with a 5.8 average. Scored a career-high 23 points vs. Northwestern on 12/4/02 and has scored in double-figures in 13 of 15 games. Last season, Melvin was a difference-maker in the Pack's upset of eventual national champion Maryland in the ACC Tournament with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists on 7-12 shooting from the field.
JOSH POWELL-- A shot-blocker, Powell is among the Top-15 in the ACC in that category (1.33). The sophomore was outstanding vs. UNC on 1/26 with 17 points and 9 rebounds. In his last 6 games, the Pack's center has shown overall improvement, averaging 13.0 points (78) and 5.3 rebounds (32) while contributing solid defense. He tied a career-high with 23 points and added 9 rebounds in the loss to Boston College on 1/16. Powell is the Wolfpack's No. 3 scorer with 180 points (12.0 ppg.) and rebounder (79) averaging 5.3 rpg. Last season, Powell was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team. He led the Pack in field goal percentage (.528) while averaging 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.
SCOOTER SHERRILL--The Pack's leader in three-point field attempts and makes (35-90) is also the team's leader in free throw percentage. This season Sherrill has made 17-19 attempts from the charity stripe (.895). The junior guard scored a career-high 22 points vs. Gonzaga on 12/17/02, but since then his point production has dropped. He's averaged 8.1 points (65) over his last 8 games, but has rebounded well during that span averaging 4.5 boards a contest (36).
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The Wolfpack lone senior lead played possibly the best game of his career vs. Duke on 1/22 with 21 points, 6 assists and played tremendous second-half defense on J.J. Redick. The Duke Freshman was held to only 4 points in the final 20-minutes. In his last 4 games, Crawford has averaged 13.5 points (54), 4.3 rebounds (17) and 5.6 assists (23) while shooting .515 from the field (17-33). He leads the Pack in assists (66), steals (35) and three-point percentage (.421). Against Wofford on 12/29/02, Crawford scored a career high 22 points while hitting 9 of 11 field goal attempts. Showed toughness by playing hurt against UMass and UVA with a back strain. Crawford is the team's best defender and leads the Pack in deflections. He is among the ACC's Top-10 in assists and steals.
LEVI WATKINS--In the win over Duke on 1/22, the sophomore contributed with 10 points and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes as the Wolfpack's sixth-man. Scored a career-high 15 points at GT on 1/11 and hit 4 of his 5 attempts from the three-point arc. A 2001 Parade High School All-American, Watkins suffered a torn knee ligament (ACL) vs. Maryland on 12/30/01 and was lost for the remainder of the 2001-02 season. Shedding his knee brace vs. Virginia on 1/8/03, the sophomore forward was outstanding against the Cavaliers with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. He also played tough first-half defense against Travis Watson. The All-ACC center was held to 4 points and 4 rebounds in the opening 20-minutes.
