2010 Scouting Report / 2010 Game Plan / 2011 Scouting Report / 2011 Game Plan
2011 Stats
2011 Roster
2011 Schedule
| Four Factors | Percent | Nat'l Rank |
| eFG% | 46.0 | 285 |
| Turnover Rate | 19.9 | 143 |
| Off Reb Rate | 35.1 | 86 |
| FTA/FGA | 34.0 | 267 |
| Four Factors | Percent | Nat'l Rank |
| eFG% | 48.4 | 179 |
| Turnover Rate | 19.9 | 108 |
| Off Reb Rate | 28.8 | 274 |
| FTA/FGA | 23.6 | 343 |
When I looked at Delaware State's profile for the first time, I was surprised to find that this team has a number of solid contributors. Solid for the MEAC level, that is--I don't think there are any big schools that regret missing out on these kids. Still, by typical MEAC standards, the talent level is pretty good. Head coach Greg Jackson has been with the program since 2000, and in that time they've finished first or second in the conference seven times. In the middle of the decade, they made an NCAA tournament appearance and followed that up with two consecutive NIT appearances.
Offensively, the whole is not much to look at because they're too one-dimensional. Delaware State is one of the smallest teams in the country, has been for several years now. That handicap severely limits second chance opportunities and free throw attempts, not to mention interior scoring.
To Jackson's credit, his teams maintain an extremely deliberate pace. When you're out-manned, as they are in most OOC games, that's the only way to go. Seven years running they've averaged under 60 possessions per 40 minutes, and this year they stand as the slowest team in college basketball. Good seats still available.
That pace probably helps them keep the turnovers down. About 37% of their field goal attempts come from beyond the arc, which puts them closer to enthusiasts on the enthusiast-extremist spectrum of perimeter-orientation. They're shooting well from three thanks to a pair of 40+% high-volume shooters. They're also excellent at the free throw line when they manage to get there.
Those things have helped them avert disaster, but there's no getting around the lack of tall guys thing. Forty-five percent two-point shooting hurts quite a bit.
Starters
Jay Threatt (5-11, 175) --Threatt led the country in steals per game and steal percentage last season. This year he's stealing the ball at the same rate and ranks in the top ten. He's also assisting on 42% of his teammates' made baskets. He can't shoot but nonetheless presents an interesting challenge.
Desi Washington (6-2, 175) -- Washington is one of those high-volume guys I was talking about earlier--he's shooting 43% outside and attempting about 8 three-point attempts per 40 minutes. His 62.7 effective field goal percentage is a team-high, and very good by any standard. You can also make 623 anagrams out of his name that include the word swish. In fact, you can create an entire hypothetical conversation out of those anagrams.
"Hey, are you Ed Swishgain?"
"Not Ed Swishgain."
"You're sure?"
"No, Ed Giantswish."
"What's the deal with your diction?"
"Ed Gonna Swish It."
"Don't change the subject."
It's too bad. I like the sound of Ed Swishgain. Another one: Denoting A Swish.
Casey Walker (6-5, 175) -- Walker is the other major perimeter threat, a high-usage guy pacing the team with 12.6 points per game. Neither he nor Washington will be attempting very many twos if they can help it.
Terron Stowe (6-3, 255) -- Stowe's weight did him some favors last year; he rebounded well at the offensive end for a 6-3 guy. His offensive rebounding is down this season but his defensive rebounding is better, and that's what the team really needs. Well, they really need both. Could be debatable which makes a bigger difference. He's got no range and I can't imagine he'll have an easy time getting shots off against State's interior.
Marques Oliver (6-7, 220) --If the freshmen and sophomores on this team are any indication, Greg Jackson has a good eye for kids who will excel in his system. Oliver's 2010 debut was outstanding at both ends of the floor; he made 58% of his twos, grabbed a bunch of his team's misses, blocked a lot of shots, and generated a lot of steals. The defense is still there, but an increased workload has hurt his ability to score. He's certain to get pushed around in the paint but has the potential to be a disruptive defender despite that.
Bench
Trevor Welcher (5-11, 160), Chad Wilson (6-0, 190), James Marcellus (6-8, 230). Aside from Oliver and Marcellus, there is only one other guy on the roster taller than 6-7, and he never plays. Marcellus hasn't been much of a factor, either in the rotation or the scoring, at any point in his career.
Wilson is a lightly-used three-point specialist better known for the food-related anagrams derived from his name. Lo, Sandwich! Island Chow. Wild Nachos
| Four Factors | Percent | Nat'l Rank |
| eFG% | 54.0 | 336 |
| Turnover Rate | 28.3 | 1 |
| Off Reb Rate | 39.2 | 344 |
| FTA/FGA | 36.5 | 149 |
| Four Factors | Percent | Nat'l Rank |
| eFG% | 52.0 | 269 |
| Turnover Rate | 21.6 | 144 |
| Off Reb Rate | 42.2 | 338 |
| FTA/FGA | 34.8 | 120 |
Last year's turnover percentage looks like an anomaly, situated as it is between a 19.8% effort in 2009 and this season's figure. Both their steal and block rates have improved this season, yet opponents aren't committing turnovers at anywhere close to the same rate. They probably aren't getting the benefit of as many unforced errors. Conference play should help there.
For an NC State team that can be careless with the ball at times, to put it kindly, the pick-pocketing is a concern. But that's the only leg on which this Delaware State defense stands. Opponents killed this team inside last year (52%). They're killing them inside again this year. Their defensive rebounding is damn near non-existent. On possessions where NC State doesn't turn it over, the odds are very good.
The Pomeroy Predictor likes NCSU by 16.