North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes: NC State at Wake Forest
2/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2003
NC STATE (12-5, 5-2) at No. 14 WAKE FOREST (15-2, 5-2)
DATE:Thursday, February 6, 2003 @ Lawrence Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC (14,407)
TIME: Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network.
AIRTIME: 6:30 p.m. EST (Click for list of stations carrying game)
TELEVISION: espn2
OPPONENT--Josh Howard, a leading contender for ACC Player of the Year honors, scored a career-high 32 points, including the go-ahead three-point play with 21 seconds left, as Wake Forest held off North Carolina 79-75 Sunday in Chapel Hill.
The Demon Deacons shot 65.4 percent in the second half, outrebounded the Tar Heels 47-30, and are off to their best start since going 18-1 in 1996-97. Howard was 11-for-20 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels (11-9, 2-5) lost a season-high fourth straight game despite five players scoring in double figures.
The Tar Heels missed 17 of 20 three-pointers in the first half and fell behind by as many as 10 points. However, they went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to start the second half and took a 52-49 lead with 12:50 left on a steal and fastbreak dunk by Jawad Williams. That set up the close finish as Wake Forest beat the Tar Heels for a third straight time for the first time since 1971.
The score was tied seven times over a 12-minute stretch in the second half, the last time when Williams made two free throws with 46 seconds left. But the Demon Deacons went to Howard on their next possession. He drove the lane, made the hoop and was fouled by Byron Sanders. Williams missed a 3-pointer on North Carolina's next possession with 12 seconds remaining, and Taron Downey made a free throw to seal it. Williams led the Heels with 22 points.
UNC's top scorer, Rashad McCants, averaging 19.1 points, shot 4-for-13 in 20 minutes and did not start the game due to a poor defensive performance in a 20-point loss at Georgia Tech.
Fielding one of the nation's youngest rosters, including four freshmen and three sophomores, the Deacons have exceeded most pre-season expectations. Howard and reserve guard, Steve Lapore, a Northwestern transfer, are the only seniors.
Offensively, Wake Forest is 12th in the nation in scoring (81.4), seventh in scoring margin (+15.3), and 15th in free throw shooting (.756). The Deacons are not the top shooting team in the ACC. In fact, against league opponents, the Deaks are hitting only 42 percent from the field. Where Wake Forest flexes its muscles is on the glass. The Deacons are the nation's No. 1 team in rebound margin (+12.3) and average a staggering 16 offensive rebounds a game. The Wolfpack has been outrebounded by five of its seven ACC opponents.
If the Deaks have weaknesses they are in handling the ball and three-point shooting. WFU averages nearly 17 turnovers and 29-percent shooting from beyond the arc against ACC competition.
Defensively, Wake Forest is allowing ACC opponents 70.3 points a game while holding them to only 41 percent shooting. The Deacons use a variety of defenses and even employed a triangle and two against Clemson.
Obviously, Howard is the man the Pack will have to contain. In ACC games, Howard leads the league in scoring (22.9) and is in the Top-Five in rebounding, offensive rebounding, blocks, free throw percentage, and steals. Teammate, Vytas Daneilus, may be the ACC most improved player. The sophomore is averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds against ACC teams while shooting .535 from the field.
Wake Forest has won the last six meetings, including five in-a-row over the Wolfpack in Joel Coliseum. The winner of this game will take over sole possession of second-place in the ACC race.
PROBABLE WAKE FOREST STARTERS
No. Name
10 Jamaal Levy G
04 Taron Downey G
31 Eric Williams C
05 Josh Howard F
13 Vytas Danelius F
TOP RESERVES:
33 Steve Lepore G
34 Trent Strickland G
00 Chris Ellis F
* Blocked shots per game
A WIN--Would be the Wolfpack's second straight and fifth in the last seven games, improving NC State to 13-5 overall and 6-2 in the ACC--its best ACC start since 1989. The Pack would move into sole possession of second-place in the ACC (a first-place tie should Virginia upset Maryland). NC State would get its second ACC road victory of the season and break a six game losing streak to Wake Forest in the series. The Pack would record its first victory at Joel Coliseum since 1997, breaking a five-game losing streak in that building.
A LOSS--Would be the second in the last three games, dropping the Pack to 12-6 overall, 5-3 in the ACC, and into third-place in the ACC. It would mark NC State's second straight road loss, dropping the Pack's road record to 1-4 this season. Wake Forest would beat NC State for the seventh consecutive time in the series and sixth in-a-row at Joel Coliseum.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE --Overall, NC State is forcing an average of 17.3 turnovers a contest (294) and is converting many of those opportunities into points. In its last 10 games the Pack has scored 188 points off turnovers (18.8 a game). State is averaging 9.5 steals a game (162).
PERIMITER POP--During the current stretch in which its won 4 of 5 games, the Pack has shot .415 from the three-point arc (51-123). In its 12 victories, the Pack is shooting .406 from the arc (116-286) while only .306 in its five losses (38-124). A total of 36-percent of the Pack's scoring has come via three-point shooting. NC State leads the ACC with 154 made three-point field goals.
NIFTY FIFTY -- NC State has shot 50% or better in 6 games this season and won all of them. The Pack is 6-5 when shooting less than 50%. Combined, the Pack is shooting .503 from the field in its 12 wins (321-638) and only .381 in its 5 losses (112-294).
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE --NC State's free throw shooting has been impressive. The Pack is shooting .749 from the charity stripe (280-374). Versus ACC opponents, NC State is shooting .736 from the line (117-159).
BENCHMARKS-- Last season, the Wolfpack bench averaged nearly 20 points a game. This season is a different story. So far, the bench has scored 191 points for an 11.2 average. Its season-low production was vs. Coppin State and UNC with zero points. Its best was 34 against Fairleigh-Dickinson.
LEAD AFTER 20.....WIN AFTER 40--NC State has posted a 9-2 record when leading at the half this season. The Wolfpack is 3-3 when trailing at the break.
REBOUNDING--The Pack has been outrebounded in three of its last four games, including a 46-22 margin on the offensive glass.
NEXT FOR THE PACK-- NC State will visit Virginia on Sunday, February 9, 2003. Airtime from University Hall will be 3:30 p.m.
WOLFPACK PLAYERS TO WATCH
JULIUS HODGE-- The No. 1 scorer in the ACC with a 19.2 average (326), Hodge is also among the league's Top-10 in field goal percentage, rebounding, assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio vs. ACC opponents. He also leads the Pack in minutes played with 546 (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 11 games, Hodge has scored 20 or more points 7 times and averaged 20.3 points (223) and 6.6 rebounds (73) while shooting 47 percent from the field (68-144). 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 16.2 points (81) and 5.0 rebounds (25) in his last 5 games while shooting .537 from the field (22-41). He's also made 23 of 28 free throws during that stretch (.821). Melvin led the Pack at FSU on 1/18 with 21 points and 10 rebounds and was 3-5 from the three-point line. He scored a career-high 23 points vs. Northwestern on 12/4/02 and has scored in double-figures in 15 of 17 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 could be the most improved Wolfpack player this season. He leads the Pack in field goal percentage (.559) and has come on strong recently. In his last three games, the sophomore has averaged 15.3 points (46) while shooting .792 from the field (19-24). Powell was outstanding vs. UNC on 1/26 with 17 points and 9 rebounds. He tied a career-high with 23 points and added 9 rebounds in the loss to Boston College on 1/16. Last season, Powell was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team.
SCOOTER SHERRILL--The Pack's leader in three-point field attempts and makes (40-105) is also one of the team's better free throw shooters. This season Sherrill has made 17-21 attempts from the charity stripe (.810). 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 8.4 points (84) over his last 10 games, but has rebounded well during that span averaging 3.9 boards a contest (39).
CLIFF CRAWFORD-- The Wolfpack lone senior rebounded from a poor performance at Maryland with 7 points and a team-high 7 assists in the Pack's win over Clemson on 2/2. Crawford was sensational 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 7 games, Crawford has averaged 9.0 points (63), 3.3 rebounds (23) and 4.6 assists (32) while shooting .538 from the field (21-39). He leads the Pack in assists (75), steals (39) and three-point percentage (.450). 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--Contributed 6 points, 2 assists and 2 steals at Maryland on 1/30. 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.
