North Carolina State University Athletics
HAYNES: Pack Takes Faster Pace to Tech
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY TONY HAYNES
After averaging just 63 points in its first five ACC games, the Pack has found another gear recently, averaging 83 points over its last five.
And while NC State (13-9, 3-6) may not prefer to get into a run-and-shoot affair with Georgia Tech (10-13, 1-9) on Saturday (1:30 p.m.), it likely won’t put on the brakes when it has an opportunity to get some easy baskets either.
“It takes a lot of pressure off your halfcourt offense,” said Wolfpack forward Brandon Costner. “Whenever you can get out and run and keep people on their heels, it helps a lot. You can get people in foul trouble and get some easy baskets. It really opens up the game.”
Since returning to the starting line-up the last two games, sophomore Javier Gonzalez has seemingly re-invigorated the plodding, deliberate Pack, pushing the ball and passing ahead for some cheap buckets. His teammates have responded by sprinting down the court after rebounds and turnovers, knowing that they could be rewarded with a dunk or layup.
“He’s given us that tempo that we want,” Lowe said. “We’ve been able to get the ball down the floor and get some easy baskets and early post-ups. That’s the way I’d like to play. I’d like to get to the point where all five guys can run down the floor and put pressure on the defense.”
During its six-game winning streak against Virginia Tech, a streak that covered four years, NC State had always done a good job of controlling the tempo and turning the Hokies into a halfcourt team.
Last Sunday in
“They thought we were going to walk it down and get into our halfcourt sets,” Lowe said. “I think we surprised them by running.”
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that NC State’s point production has also picked up since Lowe elected to go with a bigger line-up on the floor with Tracy Smith joining Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley. The Wolfpack has outrebounded its last three opponents and in doing so, has gotten more opportunities to get a few more run-outs on the break.
Smith’s presence is also giving the Pack some extra shots with his ability to go to the offensive glass. In Wednesday night’s 82-76 victory over
Turnovers were the story in NC State’s come-from-behind 76-71 overtime victory over Georgia Tech back on January 17. Considering that both teams registered 22 turnovers, the game often resembled a basketball version of Keystone Cops.
Trailing by 10 points with just under five minutes to play, the Wolfpack stormed back to tie it in regulation before winning in overtime.
McCauley and Costner held the upper hand most of the day, outscoring Tech’s frontline duo of Gani Lawal and Alade Aminu 40-13.
After Costner fouled out, Dennis Horner provided a clutch performance for the Pack by scoring six points in the extra period.
Dating back to last season, NC State has dropped nine consecutive ACC road games, a streak it hopes to end on Saturday.
Like the Wolfpack, Georgia Tech has struggled to get over the hump in a number of close games. The most recent disappointment for the Yellow Jackets came on Wednesday in a 76-71 loss at Virginia Tech. Despite being competitive almost every time out, Tech has dropped three in a row and eight of its last nine.
