North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Georgia Tech
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2005
NC STATE (13-10, 3-7) @GEORGIA TECH (14-7, 5-5)
DATE: Sunday, February 13, 2005 @ Alexander Memorial Coliseum (9,191), Atlanta, GA.
TIME: Tip-off: 5:30 p.m. EST
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network
AIRTIME: 6:00 p.m. EST
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Net
OPPONENT--The return of B.J. Elder was a welcome sight for Georgia Tech. In his first game in more than a month, Elder was a major contributor in the Yellow Jackets 70-62 victory at Clemson on Tuesday night. The senior guard played 20 minutes and scored 11 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer, after missing the previous nine games with a left hamstring injury suffered in a loss at Kansas on Jan. 1.
During Elder's absence, Georgia Tech went 4-5 and slid from the top-10 and completely out of the national rankings. With the native of Madison, Ga., back the Jackets were able to get in sync offensively and shot nearly 58 percent for the game.
Jeremis Smith, a 6-6 freshman, also returned to action after missing 17 games with a dislocated kneecap, marking the first time the Jackets had their entire roster available since Nov. 26.
It took more than a half for Elder to get into the flow of the game, but his presence was exactly what Georgia Tech needed. With the Yellow Jackets down 52-50, Elder took a pass deep in the left corner and nailed his only three of the game. After an inside basket by Isma'il Muhammad, Elder took control again, hitting a short leaner and a driving layup to give Tech a 59-54 lead.
Clemson (11-11, 2-8) led 35-27 at halftime, but went cold and shot only 38 percent in the second half. The Tigers only field goal during a six-minute stretch late in the game was Olu Babalola's 3-pointer with 1:17 to go. However, by that time the Jackets were ahead 67-59 and never looked back.
Tech effectively shut down Clemson's best player. Sharrod Ford, the Tigers top scorer who came in with three straight double-doubles, was held to 3 points and failed to grab a rebound.
Jarrett Jack had 16 points to lead Georgia Tech, while Will Bynum and Muhammad added 13 points each. Babalola's 12 points topped the Tigers scoring. The Jackets turned the ball over 24 times, but dodged a bullet as Clemson managed only 15 points off Tech's mistakes.
Georgia Tech is one of the better defensive teams in the ACC. The Jackets lead the league in field goal percentage defense (.377), three-point percentage defense (.302) and they are a good rebounding team getting back nearly 40 percent of their missed shots. Plus, Tech ranks second in the ACC in scoring defense (65.6) and third in blocked shots per game (6.0)
Offensively, Tech has been struggling and has scored no more than 71 points in any of its last eight games (except a 102-101 overtime win against Wake Forest). For the season, the Yellow Jackets are averaging nearly 77 points a game on 45 percent shooting. They 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 third in the league in free throw shooting (.883), fourth in three-point shooting (.421), fifth in assists (4.6), ninth in steals (1.8), 13th in scoring and 19th in rebounding. After scoring in single digits against Maryland and Florida State, Jack has averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in his last two games.
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. Will Bynum is excellent driving the ball and creating shots or finding the open man and is capable of having a big game offensively anytime. His 28 points against nationally ranked Gonzaga and 30 versus Wake Forest are solid evidence.
Muhammad is one of the most athletic players in the ACC and he's becoming more consistent. In his last 7 games, he's averaged 12.5 points on 51 percent shooting from the field.
Center Luke Schenscher is the No. 6 rebounder in the ACC and is third in blocked shots per game (2.5). In his last 4 games, he's averaged 10.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. However, he sometimes has trouble guarding quicker big men away from the basket.
The Jackets normally use at least 10 players. Two freshmen, Ra'Sean Dickey and Anthony Morrow, have provided depth. Morrow is shooting 38 percent from the three-point line while Dickey leads the team in field goal percentage (.629). Defensive specialist Mario West has become more of an offensive threat lately. In his last four games, he's averaged 6.0 points and shot 63 percent (10-16) from the field.
State has won the last five meetings in the series. The Wolfpack downed Tech 76-68 in Raleigh on January 16th. The Wolfpack shot only 38 percent from the field, but sank eight 3-pointers and was 30-of-37 at the foul line. Ilian Evtimov led State with 17 points, including a key three-point basket after Tech had cut the Pack's lead to 64-61 late in the game.
A WIN--Would break a 3-game losing streak and improve the Wolfpack to 14-10 overall and 4-7 in the ACC. State would beat Georgia Tech for the sixth straight time overall, including two in-a-row in Atlanta. State would sweep the Yellow Jackets for the second straight season and improve its road record to 4-5 (3-4 ACC). Herb Sendek's career mark against Tech would move to 15-5.
A LOSS--Would be the Wolfpack's fourth in-a-row, equaling its longest losing streak of the season. The Pack would suffer its third consecutive road loss and fall to 13-11 overall and 3-8 in the ACC, its worst ACC record since 2001. Georgia Tech would break a 5-game losing streak to the Wolfpack and improve to 15-7 overall and 6-5 in the ACC. The Jackets would win for the fifth time in the last 6 games over the Pack at Alexander Coliseum. Paul Hewitt would improve his career record to 4-7 against NC State
BOUNCE BACK --Julius Hodge bounced back from a season-low 6 points against Virginia to tie his season-high of 27 points in Thursday night's loss at Wake Forest. The senior, who did not enter the game until 9:57 left in the first half after violating a team rule, was 10-13 shooting from the field, 7-8 from the foul line and also recorded 4 steals.
DIFFERENCE MAKER --The return of guard, Tony Bethel, who missed an extended period due to illness, has made a big difference since his return. In his last 4 games, the redshirt junior has averaged 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field (18-35). Prior to his illness in late December, Bethel was among the team leaders in assists, steals and rebounds. The Wolfpack was 3-6 while Bethel was either out or severely limited.
TURKISH TERROR -- Engin Atsur, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, has committed only 15 turnovers all season in ACC games. Atsur is No.3 in the ACC in assist to turnover ratio in league games (2.20). In his last 6 games, Atsur has averaged 11.3 points and shot 50 percent from three-point range (16-32). Against Clemson on Jan. 29th, Atsur scored a career-high 21 points and shot 5 of 8 from three-point range. He's also played some tough defense, holding Duke's J.J. Redick to 8 points, Georgia Tech's Jarrett Jack to 16 and Maryland's John Gilchrist to 13 points.
SIMMONS STEPS UP --Cedrick Simmons has stepped up his game lately. The freshman reserve center scored a career-high 16 points against Virginia on Feb. 5. In his last 6 ACC games, Simmons has averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and has shot 60 percent from the field (18-30) during that span.
WHAT CHARITY? --After leading the nation in free throw shooting a year ago, the Wolfpack's production has fallen off dramatically this season. State is shooting only .691 at the foul line (347-502).
DIALING LONG DISTANCE --State is the No. 5 three-point shooting team in the ACC against league opponents (.398) and No. 3 in three-point field goals per ACC game (8.4).
HOT OPPONENTS & CLOSE LOSSES -- In its 7 ACC losses, Wolfpack opponents have shot a combined 49 percent from the field (174-356) and .432 from three-point range (48-111). Four of State's ACC losses were by a combined 10 points.
CAN'T TURN IT OVER --The Wolfpack is averaging only 12.7 turnovers per game. Although State turned the ball over 20 times Thursday night at Wake Forest, the Pack is averaging 13.1 turnovers in its 7 ACC losses.
BENNERMAN BACK -- Junior guard Cameron Bennerman returned to the lineup Thursday night at Wake Forest after missing the previous 5 games with an elbow injury. Bennerman played 22 minutes and had 6 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 3-6 from the field. However, senior forward Levi Watkins will miss 4-6 weeks after suffering a sprained right medial collateral ligament during practice on February 2nd.
