North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Pack Looks For Early Wake Up Call
1/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
In Saturday's 74-58 loss to Boston College, NC State (10-5, 0-2) stumbled out of the gate, fell behind by double-digits 11 minutes into the game and was never really able to recover against the older, more experienced Eagles.
A repeat performance in the first half of Tuesday night’s home game against unbeaten Clemson (16-0, 2-0) will likely produce a third straight loss in the ACC.
“I’m very concerned,” said NC State head coach Sidney Lowe. “We’ve talked about it and talked about it. We need all five guys. We can’t have one guy relaxed and not doing what he’s supposed to do or not giving the effort that we need from that position. We need all five and that’s the only way we can get off to a good start. It concerns me that we get off slow and we don’t get going. When you get off to a good start, it’s because you’re playing defense. You’re able to get out and run and get some things going. I don’t see us consistently enough coming out that way.”
With his team now 0-2 in the conference, Lowe understands that his team has no margin for error and must excel in all areas if it is to have a chance of competing against the caliber of opposition it will face the rest of the season.
“We’re not shooting the ball well,” Lowe said. “That’s an area where we have to get better. If you look at the two ballgames we’ve played so far in the ACC, we’ve held our opponents to 38 percent shooting, which is great. But on the other hand, we’re shooting about 23 percent from the 3-point arc. And then the rebounding is something that concerns me.”
Indeed, in conferences losses to
And now comes a visit from the nation’s only unbeaten team. Clemson is floating on what coach Oliver Purnell has already called “rarified air.” Now 16-0 following a dramatic 75-74 triumph over Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Tigers are only one win away from tying the school record for consecutive victories at the beginning of a season. The last time Clemson was 17-0, the Reagan administration controlled the White House (1986-87).
“My understanding is that we’re starting to get a lot of mention and notice and that kind of thing,” said Tigers coach Oliver Purnell. “Are there pitfalls? There could be pitfalls, but so far, the guys have handled every situation that we’ve come across. It’s important for me as their coach to remind them why we’re 16-0 and if we don’t continue to do the same things that got us here, that will end very quickly.”
First and foremost, Clemson has defended well. Employing fullcourt, zone-trapping pressure, the Tigers are disruptive and tenacious on defense. No. 2 in the league in steals with an average of more than 10 per game, Clemson is forcing nearly 19 turnovers per contest.
“Watching film, you can see that those guys really take it personal against who they’re playing,” Lowe said. “They’re up on you, they’re in your face and they’re in the passing lanes. They’re playing the way you’re supposed to play. There are certain things that you can teach and there are certain talents that guys have, but I would rather have guys whose talent is that they play hard. That’s what you see there. Everything they do they do aggressively.”
Forward K.C. Rivers leads five Clemson players in double-figures, averaging 14.9 points per game. The return of Garner native James Mays from an academic suspension last year has given the Tigers a big man who defends, scores and rebounds. Mays, who averages over 12 points and seven rebounds per game, hit the game-winning shot in Saturday’s 75-74 win over Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack, which had 32 turnovers in a loss at
“He said it felt great after the game, then [Sunday] morning during practice when we first started he was feeling good,” Lowe said. “Then he started feeling some discomfort when he made a move. We’ve got to see what that is. We’re hopeful that it’s just some scar tissue or something like that.”
Although Atsur didn’t score against
Tip off Tuesday is set for
