NC State 87, Holy Cross 70 -- In Which CJ Williams Loses His Job
by Akula Wolf on Jan 6, 2010 11:24 PM EST
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Print| Four Factors | NC State |
Holy Cross |
| eFG% | 59.4 | 45.6 |
| Turnover Rate | 11.7 | 24.8 |
| Off Reb Rate | 32.3 | 40.0 |
| FT Rate | 18.8 | 42.1 |
| Pts | Poss | OFF_EFF | DEF_EFF | |
| HC | 70 | 68.6 | 102.1 | 126.9 |
| NCSU | 87 | 68.6 | 126.9 | 102.1 |
A sluggish first ten minutes for the Wolfpack, to say the least, though it wasn't for lack of opportunities. Scott Wood missed a couple of wide open threes from the corner, robbing Tracy Smith of a couple of assists, and a few of the other guys decided to join the party. Still, the game featured another enjoyable 50+ point second half even though Tracy was never at his best, so I'll call it a wash.
Frustrating tonight was our continued inability to make the bounces and loose balls go our way. There's a talent issue at work here, but I swear it feels like the laws of physics and random chance are working in concert against us at every turn.
Tracy did a nice job at the line but wasn't the presence on the boards that we needed, leading to more disappointing team rebounding numbers. Kudos to Richard Howell, who had seven boards in 12 minutes, for picking up some of the slack.
As for C.J., I think we've gotten to the point where it is no longer possible to justify his inclusion in the starting lineup. Sid, post-game:
"Farnold did a great job today. He’s been playing well the last few games. We started him in the second half, and we came out playing much better. He gives you that speed and quickness. He was the difference in our team today. All of our guys off the bench did a great job."
I suspect that Farnold's strong effort, contrasted with CJ's goose egg, is the final straw. I appreciate that CJ isn't forcing things, but there is a fine line between letting the game come to you and being too passive. He was transparent out there tonight. His outside shot has been nonexistent all season and he's not taking more than the occasional two, where he's actually been quite successful. We gotta have more from the two-guard. I don't know that Farnold is the answer--I'd bet on streakiness rather than consistency--but he deserves the opportunity to be that spark.
Maybe CJ can rediscover his identity by coming off the bench. He was an underrated contributor to last year's team in that role, and for whatever reason, his transition to the starting five just ain't working.
[Bonus mini-rant: if we out-fouled Holy Cross by seven, then I'm the fucking prince of Egypt.]
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— Fine effort by Dennis on a sore knee. He hasn’t practiced all week.
— Gotta find more minutes for Vandenberg. Need the defensive rebounding. Painter didn’t play tonight and I’m not sure how he fits in going forward. Can’t rebound, can’t score, prone to turnovers.
— We pressed for a bit in the second half and it actually resulted in turnovers! OMG.
starting lineup
becasue Lowe changed the starting lineup so much last year my preference is that he stay with the current lineup eventhough Degand deserves to start. its more important who plays the most minutes and who is in at the end.
would have loved to see how Degand would have done absent his knee injury. I would bet that the team of two years ago would have made the NCAA’s with Degand as point guard all year-despite Grant and Costner’s issue.
i was thinking Vandenberg will be the starting center in two years and next year if Smith opts for the show (which i think he will), but then i remembered how well Howell played at center in the Arizona game. So maybe if Smith leaves, Howell will move to center.
i am expecting Smith and Johnny Thomas (due to early graduation) to depart next year.
as to Painter
i think it was odd man out for Painter. Lowe had to reduce the number of players getting playing time once Howell came back. Vandenberg improved to the point that Painter was the one. hope he sticks with it because by the time he is a junior he will be needed in that if State gets Lesley, Lesley is one and done opening up the need for Painter.
I really doubt
that Tracy would get drafted at this point (definitely not first round). He will be considered too small to play solely in the post. He will have to show some sort of outside game to get a shot in the league.
My biggest concern with putting Degand in the starting line up would be if we end up with Mays and CJ spending a lot of time together on the court. Degand helps make up for Mays ball handling problems, and CJ would not do that. No matter who the starters are, Javi and Degand need to be on the court as much as possible.
Javi?
I noticed in the boxscore Javi only played 12 minutes. Are we just letting him rest or is his hamstring acting up again?
Havi
didn’t play much the second half becasue he got himself into foul trouble with silly far from the basket bumping fouls.
after the Florida game, i questioned Havi’s playing time. other than the fouls last night, he must be doing something the Coach is having an issue with.
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