Article covers the other teams as well.
OK, Virginia will finish first in the ACC – the only question now is whether the Cavaliers lose a couple of games or finish a historic 18-0. But look beyond Virginia. The next dozen teams sit within three to four games of one another.
And they all still have something to play for. In fact, the top eight or so all have a chance to finish second, third, or fourth, which means getting an extra day off at the ACC Tournament.
So let the competition begin, the battle for the double bye!
NC State (6-4)
Recent history: Who would have thought in early January that NC State would have a chance to sit out Tuesday AND Wednesday in Brooklyn? The dreadful loss at Notre Dame, not to mention all those years in the 90’s when State was relegated to the play-in game, certainly discouraged all thought of a free pass until Thursday.
But this team is trending upward. The Wolfpack played its best game of the season against Notre Dame, scoring efficiently on offense and forcing the Irish into turnovers and a low shooting percentage. State led at one point by 30 and finally settled on an 18-point margin at the final buzzer. I asked Kevin Keatts if there were anything in his team’s play he was unhappy with. The coach responded that he felt his players got a little selfish toward the end of the game and didn’t share the ball as well as he wants.
“I hope to coach the perfect game some time before I’m 75,” Keatts said.
So Saturday was not perfect, but it was pretty darn good. The Pack has now won three straight, 4-of-5, and 6-of-8. That’s what I call trending upward.
Strengths and weaknesses: State played more of the big lineup against Notre Dame, a good rebounding team. Abdul-Malik Abu played his best game of the ACC season. State has of course also had great success recently with smaller line ups-Omer Yurtseven and four guards. So a real plus for the Pack right now is the flexibility Kevin Keatts can wield with his personnel.
State’s ball movement has improved markedly since the return of Markell Johnson. Shooting and rebounding have also improved, though State still ranks in the lower echelon from 3 point range.
Biggest challenge: State ranks dead last in the league, ACC games only, in field goal defense. Teams are shooting 48 percent against the Pack thus far. State has improved in defending shots beyond the arc. If the Pack can make opponents take “tougher 2’s” alongside well-defended 3’s, and continue that 94-foot pressure before the shot, this could be a very interesting February in West Raleigh. State ranks third in the ACC in turnovers forced. This team is healthy now, but needs better play on the road, and more consistent shooting/ball movement against zones.
Future schedule:
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/racing-toward-brooklyn-battle-for-the-double-bye-heats-up/17318072/
OK, Virginia will finish first in the ACC – the only question now is whether the Cavaliers lose a couple of games or finish a historic 18-0. But look beyond Virginia. The next dozen teams sit within three to four games of one another.
And they all still have something to play for. In fact, the top eight or so all have a chance to finish second, third, or fourth, which means getting an extra day off at the ACC Tournament.
So let the competition begin, the battle for the double bye!
NC State (6-4)
Recent history: Who would have thought in early January that NC State would have a chance to sit out Tuesday AND Wednesday in Brooklyn? The dreadful loss at Notre Dame, not to mention all those years in the 90’s when State was relegated to the play-in game, certainly discouraged all thought of a free pass until Thursday.
But this team is trending upward. The Wolfpack played its best game of the season against Notre Dame, scoring efficiently on offense and forcing the Irish into turnovers and a low shooting percentage. State led at one point by 30 and finally settled on an 18-point margin at the final buzzer. I asked Kevin Keatts if there were anything in his team’s play he was unhappy with. The coach responded that he felt his players got a little selfish toward the end of the game and didn’t share the ball as well as he wants.
“I hope to coach the perfect game some time before I’m 75,” Keatts said.
So Saturday was not perfect, but it was pretty darn good. The Pack has now won three straight, 4-of-5, and 6-of-8. That’s what I call trending upward.
Strengths and weaknesses: State played more of the big lineup against Notre Dame, a good rebounding team. Abdul-Malik Abu played his best game of the ACC season. State has of course also had great success recently with smaller line ups-Omer Yurtseven and four guards. So a real plus for the Pack right now is the flexibility Kevin Keatts can wield with his personnel.
State’s ball movement has improved markedly since the return of Markell Johnson. Shooting and rebounding have also improved, though State still ranks in the lower echelon from 3 point range.
Biggest challenge: State ranks dead last in the league, ACC games only, in field goal defense. Teams are shooting 48 percent against the Pack thus far. State has improved in defending shots beyond the arc. If the Pack can make opponents take “tougher 2’s” alongside well-defended 3’s, and continue that 94-foot pressure before the shot, this could be a very interesting February in West Raleigh. State ranks third in the ACC in turnovers forced. This team is healthy now, but needs better play on the road, and more consistent shooting/ball movement against zones.
Future schedule:
- At Virginia Tech
- UNC
- At Syracuse
- At Wake Forest
- Boston College
- Florida State
- At Georgia Tech
- Louisville
http://www.wralsportsfan.com/racing-toward-brooklyn-battle-for-the-double-bye-heats-up/17318072/
