North Carolina State University Athletics
Georgia Tech Next for Struggling Pack
1/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - NC State basketball coach Herb Sendek must feel like a plumber who's having a bad day: just when he stops one leak, another one springs up. During a four game losing streak that has dropped its record to 10-5, the Wolfpack has suffered through a variety of breakdowns that have led to defeat and disappointment. And there's really no common thread between the losses. Searching for answers, Sendek will try to plug the holes as quickly as possible before the Pack hosts 8th ranked Georgia Tech (10-3) Sunday afternoon at 5:30.
NC State's four-game skid started with a 63-45 setback against St. John's at the Holiday Festival in New York back on December 30. On that night, offense was the culprit as the Wolfpack managed just 20 percent shooting and 10 first half points. The next time out, defense was the Achilles heel in an 82-69 defeat to hot-shooting West Virginia. Then came last Sunday's 67-66 loss at Miami, a game in which NC State allowed 21 second chance points on 17 offensive rebounds. Prior to Thursday night's home game against No. 5 Duke, Sendek said rebounding had become a chief concern. But against the Blue Devils, the Wolfpack held its own on the boards, only to be undone again by a spotty defensive effort that yielded 51.9 percent shooting in an 86-74 Blue Devils' win.
Duke had its way in the paint on Thursday as center Shelden Williams bulled his way to 18 second half points against a variety of post defenders helpless to stop him.
During its losing streak, the Wolfpack has allowed an average of 50.2 percent shooting, hardly the type of figure one would expect to see for a program that has almost always been very good on the defensive end of the floor.
"We have to play much better on defense than we did on Thursday," Sendek said. "It's team defense. Every team in our league has enough weapons and versatility where they're not confined to just one part of offense. Teams in our league can drive, they can shoot and work inside. Teams in our league have multiple weapons, so we're going to have to become a team that does a better job overall on the defensive end of the floor."
One of those teams that features a wide array of weapons is Georgia Tech. Despite Wednesday night's 91-69 loss at North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets appear to be good enough and talented enough to make a run at a second straight Final Four appearance. But like NC State, Tech has also been hit hard by injuries. Star guard B.J. Elder missed the UNC game with a strained hamstring. On Friday, coach Paul Hewitt indicated that Elder will likely sit out Sunday's contest at the RBC Center. The Jackets may also be without freshman center Ra'Sean Dickey (knee) as well.
With Elder on the sidelines, Tech has suffered losses in two of its last four games.
"Georgia Tech is a very explosive team," said Sendek. "They're tremendous in transition, they have superior athletic ability and they've had an excellent start to their season. They'll present us with another great challenge."
Tech's best player to date has been junior point guard Jarrett Jack, who is averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
On the flip side, Sendek would like to get his best player going again. Slowed by ankle and back injuries, Julius Hodge has struggled over his last few games. Against Duke on Thursday, he missed seven of his 10 field goal attempts and turned the ball over five times.
"I'm just going to continue to coach him like I do with all our guys," Sendek said. "It's obvious he hasn't played his best basketball recently. Not to make an excuse for him, but he's coming off the injury. I think that's behind him now and we need for him to be at his best. That's important for our basketball team."
Sendek says there was nothing new to report on guard Tony Bethel, meaning the junior will miss his third straight game since being diagnosed with colitis on January 3.
For what it's worth, NC State has won the last four meetings in the series with Georgia Tech, including a regular season sweep last year.
