Haynes: Pack Looks to Rebound Against Miami

By Tony Haynes

After watching his team get lambasted on the boards in a 79-68 loss at Boston College over the weekend, probably the last thing NC State coach Sidney Lowe needed to see next was the best rebounding team in the ACC.

But on Tuesday night, that’s exactly what his Wolfpack (10-7, 1-4) will have to deal with when the Miami Hurricanes (14-5, 3-3) blow into the RBC Center for a 7 p.m. contest.

In outrebounding NC State 46-25 on Saturday, B.C. did most of its damage in the first half, generating 13 second chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds. In fact, the Eagles finished with just three less offensive rebounds than the Wolfpack’s total on either end of the court.

“They were just more aggressive and physical than we were,” Lowe said.

Enter Miami.

The Hurricanes lead the league in rebound margin (plus-8.8) and on average, are outrebounding their opponents 43-to-34.

“These guys go just as hard if not harder than Boston College,” Lowe said. “They’re big and they’re going to pound the boards. They’re going to send three guys to the offensive boards every time, so we have to be strong, physical and box out.”

In an effort to become stronger and more physical against B.C., Lowe opened the second half with a starting frontline he had been reluctant to use this season. For the first time, sophomore Tracey Smith joined Ben McCauley and Costner in the frontcourt. The combination necessitated a position change for Costner from power forward to small forward. Courtney Fells then moved from the three’ spot back to his old position of shooting guard.

Smith certainly enjoyed the additional playing time on Saturday, scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half.

After the game on Saturday, Lowe intimated that he’d consider using the bigger line-up more for future games. Such a combination will likely force him to tweak his offense and go away from the current four out, one in alignment since McCauley and Smith are strictly post players and usually touch the ball closer to the basket. Having the three bigs’ out there at the same time also changes the spacing off the offense. In addition, the big line-up could force Lowe to use more zone on defense, otherwise, one of his three big men would be forced into the uncomfortable position of having to guard smaller, quicker wing players on the perimeter.

The best of Miami’s rebounders is 6-8 junior Dwayne Collins, who is hauling down 7.7 boards per game. Sixty-two of Collins’ 146 total rebounds this season have been on the offensive glass. The Hurricanes get back 47 percent of their own missed shots, a startling number by any measure. Generally speaking, anything above 40 percent is considered to be excellent.

Miami’s number one offensive weapon is again explosive guard Jack McClinton. Not only has the 6-1 senior taken more 3-point shots than any other player in the ACC, he’s also hitting 45 percent of his long-range attempts. Overall, McClinton is averaging nearly 18 points per game.

Coming off an overtime loss to Virginia Tech at home on Sunday night, Miami will have very little preparation time for Tuesday’s match-up with NC State. The Hurricanes are scheduled to have just one practice between games Monday night after arriving in Raleigh.

NC State athletics department officials are urging fans attending Tuesday night’s game to wear pink in a show of support for Wolfpack women’s coach Kay Yow and her legacy of fighting breast cancer, the disease that took her life over the weekend. There will be a moment of silence prior to the game. Fans who wish to purchase tickets to the February 15th women's basketball Hoops 4 Hope game in Reynolds Coliseum can do so at tables located on the concourse by sections 124 and 109.  Donations for the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer fund will also be collected at the doors before tonight's game.  Checks can be made out to Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund - The V Foundation.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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