Puerto Rico Tip-Off Comes To Horrific End For NC State

Oklahoma State Vs. NC State Game Thread

Oklahoma State Vs. NC State Preview: It's Title Time In Puerto Rico

NC State Advances To Puerto Rico Tip-Off Title Game With 94-76 Win Over UMass

NC State Vs. UMass Game Thread

Cuonznooooooo: Vols Lose To Oklahoma State In Semis

Well, so much for meeting the Tennessee Volunteers in the title game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Cuonzo Martin's boys were beaten 62-45 by Travis Ford's Oklahoma State Cowboys on Friday morning. If NC State beats UMass tonight, OSU is the team it will meet in the championship on Sunday.

Tennessee has been playing without Jeronne Maymon, who is nursing a knee injury. Maymon was one of the Vols' best players last year, so it's not surprising to see them stumble without him. And if NC State loses to UMass, the Pack will still get its game against Tennessee. But let's go ahead and avoid that.

UMass Vs. NC State Preview: The Minutemen Are Ready To Run

Strong Second Half Propels Pack To 72-55 Win Over Penn State

Penn State Vs. NC State LiveBlog! And Game Thread

Penn State Vs. NC State Preview: Tim Frazier Enjoys Shooting

The Nittany Lions will need to improve drastically at the offensive end to have success in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Mark Gottfried Talks Penn State

NC State left for Puerto Rico on Tuesday, but before the trip, Mark Gottfried met with the media to discuss the team's upcoming matchup with Penn State, among other things.

"They are a typical Big Ten team in that they are very physical. They defend in a very physical way. They are not a team that is trying to score 80 or 90 points a night, it will be a deliberate attack."

"[Tim] Frazier is very good. He puts a lot of pressure on you because he's always got the ball in his hands and he's always looking to score... he shot 18 foul shots in their first game as a guard."

Gottfried added that he thinks Penn State would like to play the game in the 50s or 60s. Well, I'm sure they'd like to score 100 points and keep the other team in the 50s or 60s. Coaches need to find new ways of talking about pace. Anyway, yes, Penn State is on the deliberate side, though new head coach Pat Chambers has upped the tempo a bit. Last year they had an adjusted tempo of 64.5 possessions per 40 minutes--up from about 60 the year prior--though that was slow even by Big Ten standards.

They're going to stay back and get after the defensive glass rather than attempting to get out in transition. Given their roster, this is entirely understandable. But we don't have to like it. Let's just have like a 110-95 game. I'd be cool with that.

On To Puerto Rico