NC State learns valuable lessons
NC State played a near-perfect first half in responding to head coach Mark Gottfried’s comments this week that the players had to grow up and learn how to compete in the ACC.
The Wolfpack shot a blistering 69.7 percent from the field (23-33) to build a commanding 55-30 halftime lead against No. 21-ranked Virginia Tech. NCSU “slumped” to shooting 58.1 percent in the second half en route to a 104-78 blowout Wednesday at PNC Arena.
The 81-63 loss to Miami was still on Gottfried’s mind following the Wolfpack’s (12-3 overall, 1-1 ACC) dominant showing.
“I thought tonight they came out with great urgency and their attention to detail last two days was much better,” Gottfried said. “We had fewer mistakes on both ends of the floor, offensively with our execution and defensively like we had at Miami.”
NC State reached 100 points for the first time since 2004 and freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. joined Julius Hodge as the only players in Wolfpack history to record a triple-double. Smith scored a game-high 27 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds in being the catalyst of NC State’s offense.
“He is such an electric player and tonight he did just about everything,” Gottfried said. “He did in the framework of everything that we are trying to do.”
Smith said he was embarrassed about the loss at Miami.
“I think that reflected in our play today,” Smith said. “I think we can better than that. I think we can achieve the highest goal in college basketball.”
NCSU fifth-year senior shooting guard Terry Henderson poured in 17 points and three three-pointers in the first half, and finished with 22 points for the game.
The Wolfpack nearly pitched a “perfect game” in the first half.
“For a while it was pretty good and we were doing a lot of things right,” Gottfried said. “Our defense was good and our scoring the ball offensively was good. The way we scored the ball eliminated their opportunity to run a lot.”
Gottfried brought out the phrase “cool jackets” this week, and both Smith and Henderson said this week’s discussion motivated the team.
"I don't play with a cool jacket," Smith said. "I'm on the floor. I'm bleeding after every game, so there is no cool jacket with me."
The loss to Miami was personal to the players.
“We knew we had to bounce back,” Henderson said. “Miami was a good test for us. We knew we had to step everything up — intensity, energy and all that. We have the talent to do it and have all the pieces.”
Junior power forward Abdul-Malik Abu said the standard for how NC State can play has been set.
“We are a super talented team and sometimes the only thing that can beat us is ourselves,” said Abu, who still had fresh memories from last year’s overtime loss in Blacksburg, Va.
NC State Owns The Paint
NC State got crushed in points in the paint Saturday at Miami, 40-16, but Gottfried was more concerned about second-chance points, which the Wolfpack also were at a disadvantage 26-12.
NCSU didn’t have many second-chance opportunities in the first half against Virginia Tech with so few shots missing. However, the Wolfpack crushed the Hokies 62-24 in points in the paint.
“It was a point of emphasis for us that we wanted the ball in the paint and we wanted to get it in there,” Gottfried said. “We felt with our size, we could go in there some.
“That was probably the difference in the game.”
Abu made all nine field-goal attempts to finish with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. The 6-foot-8 Abu knew he was taller than any of the Hokies players.
“I felt tall out there,” Abu said. “They were small and we took advantage. We moved the ball and we defended.
“Once we felt we had the advantage down low and inside the paint, we had to keep attacking the rim. They didn’t have any rim protectors.”
Virginia Tech had three different centers out with injuries. Freshman Khadim Sy got hurt prior to the game while doing a drill. Sophomore Kerry Blackshear has been out all season with a shin issue, and senior Johnny Hamilton suffered a season-ending injury three games into the season. All three players are 6-10 or taller.
“I knew personally I was going to attack more this game,” Smith said. “There was a lot of times I saw a mismatch. They switched every screen. We played a lot tougher down low.”
Wolfpack Finally Record Signature Win
NC State recorded its first win over an opponent from one of the top six conferences in college basketball. The Wolfpack had only had three prior chances, but those opportunities resulted in losses to Illinois of the Big Ten, Creighton of the Big East and the previously mentioned loss at Miami.
Virginia Tech entered the game fresh off a big win over Duke, though history has not been kind to teams in the next game following a win over the Blue Devils.
“I’ve watched a bunch of their games and I watched the way they man-handled Duke the other day,” Gottfried said. “It makes me feel good about our team tonight.”
NC State travels to No. 14-ranked North Carolina at 8 p.m. Saturday. Abu was happy to get the first signature win of the season, but he wants more.
“The ACC is the best conference in America, and we are going to see great teams like that over and over,” Abu said. “This is only the beginning.”
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