NC State returned to practice Thursday for the first time since its 84-82 upset win at No. 17-ranked Duke.
The Wolfpack hope the victory ends up being a jumping off point similar to their win at Louisville two years ago Feb. 14, 2015. NC State is currently 14-7 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, and were in a similar situation back then on Valentine’s Day.
NC State topped then No. 9-ranked Louisville 74-65 to improve to 15-11 and 6-7 in the league. That started a stretch where the Wolfpack won six out of eight games to reach the NCAA Tournament.
NCSU head coach Mark Gottfried has heard and experienced the difficulties of winning the next game when the Wolfpack top Triangle rivals Duke or North Carolina. That challenge will be put to the test at the site of what propelled the 2015 Sweet 16 run — at No. 13-ranked Louisville at 1 p.m. Sunday. Having extra time before playing the Cardinals could help the Wolfpack come down from the high of defeating Duke.
“I thought it was important for your team to enjoy that for a minute, there is no question about that,” said Gottfried, who said Thursday’s practice started off slow. “You have to get your into the mindset of on to the next game.
“A lot of people are excited and our players were, but our focus is to shift on to Louisville pretty quick.”
Gottfried said he had 163 text messages awaiting him when he got on to the bus after the Duke win. The team checked out the Bell Tower celebration, but Gottfried wanted to limit the celebration knowing his players would be hearing how great they are for the next week.
“All of that [getting a big win] is great, with our guys getting a great win on the road, but it’s my job and the staff’s job that we are now focused on Louisville,” Gottfried said. “We have to build on it and we have to win two in a row.”
NC State defeated Duke 87-75 in 2015 and then fell 81-79 to North Carolina in the next game. Later that season, NCSU won at North Carolina 58-46, but then fell 79-63 at Boston College the next contest. NCSU junior power forward Abdul-Malik Abu referenced the loss at BC following Thursday's practice.
"We are done and that game [vs. Duke] is over," Abu said. "Just like a bad loss or a good win, you have to move on and get another one."
The Cardinals have had a pair of backcourt injuries to work through. Starting junior point guard Quintin Snider has missed the last three games due to a strained hip flexor. He had been averaging 12.1 points and 4.0 assists per game. Senior guard Tony Hicks, a Pennsylvania graduate transfer, was announced that he’d be missing the next 4-to-6 weeks due to a broken hand, further eroding depth.
Hicks saw his playing increased dramatically with Snider injured, including scoring 16 points in 32 minutes of action in a 73-68 loss at Florida State on Jan. 21. The Cardinals crushed both Clemson and Pittsburgh in the other two contests Snider had missed.
Gottfried said the backcourt is a little different with sophomore Donovan Mitchell taking on a larger role. Redshirt freshman Ryan McMahon and freshman V.J. King will have added responsibilities until Snider returns.
“I think they are doing the same things, but their personnel is a little bit different,” Gottfried said. “They’ll be good at home and they are a terrific defensive team. They get a lot of deflections and turn deflections into fast breaks. They are a great offensive rebounding team.”
Louisville has always collected numerous post players in recruiting, and have six forwards that are at least 6-foot-7 or taller. Three of the centers are listed 6-10 or taller.
“They do have great length,” Gottfried said. “Foul trouble sometimes plays a part in that. Two years ago we went up there, and [guards] Cat [Barber] and Trevor [Lacey] were terrific against their defense.”
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