North Carolina State University Athletics
CARR: Wood Trying to Pack on Pounds
6/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By A.J. CARR
RALEIGH, N.C. - Scott Wood has a lot on his plate these days -- literally.
Like a Big Mac, two double cheeseburgers, fries and a large drink at one sitting. He also devours four other main meals per day and snacks on Gatorade Bars, Snickers, Pop Tarts and peanut butter toast.
While millions are trying to lose weight, Wood is striving to pack on the pounds. Though he doesn’t have an insatiable appetite, adding bulk and strength to his 6-7, 175-pound frame should equip N.C. State’s sharp-shooting sophomore to better deal with the bump-and-grind physicality of ACC basketball.
“I eat everything,'' Wood said. "I would like to get to 190 (pounds) by the time the season starts, but that’s a long shot,"
He had been consuming about 3,800 calories per day, but was burning around 4,500, calculated nutritionist Michelle Rockwell. So she gave him a beefed up meal plan that increased the daily calorie count to 6,000, with allowances for "one or two" fast-food splurges.
"He has a very fast metabolism and works hard; we had to get him thinking five meals, change his mind set,'' said Rockwell, a former track athlete at Virginia Tech. "We figure if he can add 10 pounds it will make a difference."
Four times a week Wood also does heavy weight lifting under the scrutiny of strength and conditioning coordinator Wright Wayne. Then there is time on the court for shooting, working on his ball handling and playing pickup games, all of which is built around summer school classes in Math 107 and Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
“He’s a lot stronger than he was a year ago,’’ said Wayne, but adds “It’s going to take another year or so for him to fill out a lot. He works hard at it.”
TIME TO WIN!
Wood - who started all 36 games as a freshman -- is among a core of seasoned veterans and a heralded recruiting class who have created an aura of new-found optimism in Wolfpack Country.
Expectations are high. So is the pressure to end a four-season absence from the NCAA Tournament.
Much of the hoopla and hopes swirl around ballyhooed newcomers C.J. Leslie, Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown.
“C.J. is extremely athletic, a freak athlete,’’ Wood said. “Ryan is a great passer, good with the ball, a good shooter. Lorenzo is extremely unselfish, can play point guard and is a really good athlete, too. They could make us very dangerous. I think they are ready and can help put us back in the NCAA tournament.
“(But) the ton of hype is unfair, to put that on 18-year old kids,” Wood said.
Every first-year player faces challenges and adjustments. There's the tiring travel, longer season, and academics to balance with basketball, which Wood knows can take a toll.
"It's definitely tough mentally and physically,'' he said. "I felt fatigued, beat up. It's fierce."
SHOOT IT!
Yet as a freshman, Wood transitioned from prep star to starter and carved a respectable season. He made an indelible impression on teammates, fans and foes with his pure shooting style.
Square up. Eyes on the rim. Elbow properly aligned. Follow through.
Wood, who grew up in a Hoosier basketball hotbed of Marion, Indiana, even remembers hearing a voice from the stands shouting “Shoot it!” when he was at half court. Coach Sidney Lowe exhorted him to pull the trigger on his jumper as well, though not quite from that range.
On a good night, he can light it up. Ask Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton.
At Tallahassee last winter, Wood torched the Seminoles for 31 points, making shots from long distances and various angles to spark a Wolfpack road win.
Then, in the ACC Tournament, he buried six treys to help the Pack beat the ‘Noles again and solidify his spot on the All-Tourney second team.
For the season, Wood scored in double figures 11 times, shot 39.5 percent overall and 37.3 from 3-point range. His dad (Scott), mother (Tawny), sister (Shayna) and girlfriend (Taylor Foustnight) were either watching from the stands or in front of the television set.
“I’m big on family,’’ said Wood, who drew strength from their support.
AIM HIGH!
On the court, Wood can do more, be more consistent. When recruited by St. Louis Coach Rick Majerus, the veteran coach gave him some goals that stuck in his mind: Shoot 90 percent at the foul line, about 50 percent from the field, and roughly 40 percent behind the arc.
Wood, who aims to at least reach those marks next season, has been rippling the net since his father -- a former Western Carolina player -- got him started.
“He put me in the gym at an early age; I would shoot about 500 shots everyday and Dad was rebounding,’’ said Wood, who played against older boys."My philosophy is it doesn’t matter how (you look) if the ball goes in.”
While calling him a “big time shooter,” associate head coach Monte Towe cites Wood’s other skills.
“He’s always been really good in a lot of areas,’’ Towe said. “It’s that his shooting has been so good at times he is categorized as a shooter. Last year he was one of our top defenders on the wing, often guarded the best opponent on the wing.
“(Now) he needs to improve his ball handling, dribbling.”
Polite, friendly and member of the Quaker faith, Wood exudes boldness in a uniform.
In a game last season, leading scorer Tracy Smith wasn’t getting enough touches in the low post. At halftime, according to Towe, Wood told Coach Sidney Lowe that he could get the ball to State’s big man from the opposite wing position.
Lowe made the switch, Wood delivered the entry passes, and Smith started scoring.
Then there was that tight NIT game at South Florida, when Lowe demonstrated confidence in Wood the shooter. The potential, game-winning play was designed for the rookie to take the final shot, but the inbounds pass sailed into the backcourt.
With the clock ticking down, Wood retrieved the ball, looked up court and made a long assist to a wide open Richard Howell, who laid in the winning bucket.
“Some kids might have panicked; he was aware of the clock,’’ said Towe, who along with Lowe, bonded with Wood early in the recruiting process. “As you see him continue to physically develop, the sky is the limit.”
And he already he brings a considerable amount to the table, savvy, shooting, defense -- and lots of food of course.
Nutritionist Michelle Rockwell's recommended menu for Scott Wood:
WAKE-UP
Big glass of orange juice (20 ounces)
BREAKFAST
Pop Tarts
OR
2 McDonald's Bagel/egg/cheese/meat sandwiches.
Large Juice (orange, apple, or grape)
OR
Dining Hall: omelet with cheese/meat/veggies, 3three pancakes or French toast with syrup, bowl of cereal, 2 cups of juice
OR (only when you HAVE to)
Pop Tarts
2 PBJ sandwiches
Big glass of juice
MID-MORNING
King size Snickers bar, 20 ounces Gatorade
LUNCH
2 ham, salami, cheese, and mayo sandwiches; apple; Gatorade
OR
2 ham, salami, cheese, and mayo sandwiches; 1 slice pizza; apple; Sprite
OR
12 inch sub from Lil Dinos or Subway or Quizznos or Jimmy Johns with extra meat, cheese, veggies, mayo; Sprite
BEFORE & AFTER WEIGHTS
1 Gatorade Nutrition Shake before
1 Gatorade Nutrition Shake after
1 Gatorade Nutrition Shake before
At least ½ bottle of Gatorade during
1 Gatorade Nutrition Shake + peanuts after
DINNER
McDonald's Big Mac Meal w/ Powerade
Double Cheeseburger
OR
Large stuffed crust pizza with meat
