North Carolina State University Athletics
No Slump for Pack Defense In Win Over Purdue
11/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2004
BY TIM PEELER
It was easy to watch Monday night's victory over Purdue in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge and wonder what was wrong with NC State's offense. After all, this is a team that had averaged 91 points in its first four games.
So when the Wolfpack missed its first eight 3-point shots and ended the game with a 33.3 shooting percentage from the field, there were plenty of people wandering through the lockerroom wondering what gives.
But the thing that was particularly encouraging for the Wolfpack was that despite the lack of production on offense, there was no similar letdown on defense. Herb Sendek's team maintained its smothering ways, right to the very end, when it stopped the Boilermakers from scoring in the last minute of a tight game.
"Tonight, our shots didn't fall,'' said junior Ilian Evtimov. "But we kept playing defense. On other nights, in previous years, we might have stopped playing good defense as we did tonight."It may not have been the most beautiful win, but it was a win."
Cameron Bennerman, who scored 11 points off the bench and hit three of his five 3-point attempts, doesn't expect this to be the only time the Wolfpack's offense has difficulties putting the ball in the basket. That will come in due course when the Atlantic Coast Conference season begins, since there are six other teams ranked in the top 25 with the No. 16 Wolfpack. But playing the physical, ugly style that Purdue is used to is probably a good overall test for what will come in January, February and March.
"With the teams in our league, there will be a lot of nights like that. It feels good to know that we are able to pull out a win under those conditions. It's a very encouraging win for us."
Sendek was pleased that his team was able to cut off Purdue's passing lanes and cutting lanes. The Wolfpack forced a turnover on a shot-clock violation in the first half that set the tone for its scrappy play, and it kept forcing mistakes all night long. Purdue coach Gene Keady bemoaned his team's 21 turnovers after the game
The Boilermakers were whistled for eight offensive fouls, six of which were off the ball. The Wolfpack out-scored Purdue 27-14 off turnovers and 8-6 on fast-break points, two good indicators of defensive productivity. And Jordan Collins continued State's newfound aptitude for shot-blocking by swatting away a career-high six shots on the night, five of which came in the second half.
"In some respects, our defense was our best offense," Sendek said. And on a night when the offense wasn't being as productive as it has been in the first four games, the defense was something to count on, as it will be throughout the season. Good teams recognize that there will be nights when shots doN'T always fall, but defense can be a constant."
So far, the Wolfpack has made sure of that by not allowing any of its five opponents to score more than 58 points, continuing the standard it has set in previous years. Last year, State was third in the league in scoring defense, only one-tenth of a point behind league-leading Duke, and second in 3-point field goal percentage defense.
"It's good to be able to get it done, even when we are not shooting the ball too well," said Julius Hodge. "Our defense was our catalyst. I thought we played great. We held them to 53 points. It just proves that when the shots aren't going in, we can get it done another way.''
You may reach Tim Peeler at mailto:tim_peeler@ncsu.edu tim_peeler@ncsu.edu
