North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Georgia Tech
1/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2005
NC STATE (10-5, 0-2) vs. No. 8GEORGIA TECH (11-3, 2-1)
DATE: Sunday, January 16, 2005 @ RBC Center, Raleigh, NC (19,722)
TIME: Tip-off: 5:30 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network.
AIRTIME: 5:00 p.m. EST
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net
OPPONENT--Georgia Tech, missing two key players, was the latest victim of the North Carolina juggernaut. Jawad Williams paced five players in double figures with 18 points as the No. 4 Tar Heels jumped to an early lead and pounded the eighth-ranked Yellow Jackets 91-69 Wednesday night in Chapel Hill.
Tech played without B.J. Elder, sidelined with a strained hamstring, and freshman center Ra'Sean Dickey, who injured his knee against Virginia on January 8th. Guard Will Bynum left the game midway through the second half after hurting his left leg on a dunk attempt.
However, UNC was so dominating that a complete Georgia Tech team may have struggled. The Tar Heels (14-1, 3-0 ACC) have won their three league games by a combined 90 points and extended their overall winning streak to 14 straight.
Carolina jumped to a 14-5 lead by forcing eight turnovers in the first eight minutes. Nine players scored in the first half demolition and Melvin Scott capped it off with a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 46-28 lead. Carolina shot only 37 percent (17-of-46) in the opening 20 minutes, but outrebounded Georgia Tech 17-4 on the offensive glass. Tech shot just 27 percent (7-of-26) and was 0-for-7 from the arc in the opening half.
Marvin Williams finished with 14 points and Rashad McCants added 12 for the Tar Heels. Sean May had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Raymond Felton recorded 11, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Jarrett Jack did all he could for Georgia Tech with 24 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough. Jack was 6-of-14 from the floor and made all 10 free-throw attempts.
Since Elder went to the sidelines, Tech has lost two of its last four games, but is still one of the best defensive teams in the ACC. The Jackets led the league in field goal percentage defense (.351), three-point percentage defense (.281) and defensive rebounding while ranking second in the ACC in scoring defense (60.4) and blocked shots per game (7.0)
Offensively, Tech is averaging nearly 79 points a game and is deadly in transition. The Yellow Jackets have four players averaging in double figure scoring and at least three who can take over a game.
Jack is a special player who ranks among the ACC's best in six statistical categories. He's second in the league in three-point shooting (.481) and free throw percentage (.893), fourth in field goal percentage (.563), seventh in assists (4.4), ninth in steals (1.9) and eleventh in scoring. In his last four games, Jack has averaged 21.5 points, 6 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
When he's healthy, Elder is tough to defend. In seven pervious career games against NC State, Elder has averaged 13.1 points and shot 40 percent from the three-point arc. Bynum is tremendous off dribble penetration and is capable of having a big game offensively anytime. His 28 points against nationally ranked Gonzaga and 21 versus Miami are solid evidence.
Center Luke Schenscher is a force inside. In addition to consistent scoring, he's the No. 7 rebounder in the ACC and is third in blocked shots per game (2.5).
The Jackets have good depth and normally use at least 10 players. Dickey and fellow freshman Anthony Morrow have been solid contributors. Morrow is shooting 43 percent from the three-point line while Dickey leads the team in field goal percentage (.659).
On Friday, Tech coach Paul Hewitt indicated that Elder would probably miss Sunday's game and that Dickey was very doubtful. However, Bynum is expected to play. For NC State, guard Tony Bethel is expected to miss his third straight game recovering from colitis.
State has won the last four meetings in the series. The Wolfpack swept the Jackets last season, winning 76-72 in Raleigh and 79-69 in Atlanta. The teams will meet again this season on February 13th at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
A WIN--Would break a 4-game losing streak, the Wolfpack's longest since the 2000 season as well as a two game home losing streak. State would beat Georgia Tech for the fifth straight time overall and the ninth straight time in Raleigh. Tech's last win at NC State was on January 24, 1996. The Pack would improve to 11-5 overall and win its first ACC game of the season to stand at 1-2 in the league. State would record its first win over a ranked opponent since beating Wake Forest at Joel Coliseum on March 6,2004.
A LOSS--Would be the Wolfpack''s fifth in-a-row, its longest losing streak since the 2000 season when it dropped seven straight. The Pack would suffer its third consecutive home loss, the longest since 2001 when the Pack dropped home games to Maryland, UNC and Syracuse. State would fall to 10-6 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, the first 0-3 ACC start since 2001. Georgia Tech would break an 8-game losing streak to the Wolfpack in Raleigh, improving to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.
GETTING STOPS --The Pack is tied for No. 3 in the ACC in scoring defense, holding opponents to a very impressive 63.9 points a game while limiting the opposition to .420 shooting from the field and .343 from the three-point arc overall.
A TALE OF FEW TURNOVERS --The Wolfpack is averaging only 12.3 turnovers per game including season-low 5 turnovers against Liberty University. The Pack is No.2 in the ACC in turnover margin (+4.5)
DIALING LONG DISTANCE --State is No. 2 ACC in three-point field goals per game (8.0).
IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE --NC State is averaging an assist on an impressive 60% of its field goals (243-406). The Wolfpack leads the ACC in assist/ turnover ratio (1.32).
A BUMMER WITHOUT BETHEL --NC State is a different team with a healthy Tony Bethel. Unfortunately, in the Pack's last five games, the redshirt junior has been has been limited or unavailable physically (see above). During Bethel's illness the Pack is 1-4.
