I am also not entirely sure why we were one free throw missed by a 93%er, which to my recollection would have tied the game, not put BC up by one. It's that type of nonsense I get fed up with.

1/6/2013 8:58:52 PM

id suspend him for financing a tv and computer.

1/6/2013 9:00:10 PM

i think we can all agree that face would be a better contributing TWW poster if he was capable of actually forming his own opinions, rather than blindly quoting wagesofwins and kenpom like some kind of southern baptist saying the earth is 6000 years old because the bible is fact

/not to get on a religious rant

the 'Michael Vick is a Golden God' thread for example, used no stats, but was wildly popular, because he actually formed his own opinion back then

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 9:02 PM. Reason : what happened to face?]

1/6/2013 9:01:13 PM

also whenever you are faced with logic that refutes the narrative youve developed you ignore it

see my last post, as well as the previous "we're in the 30's on kenpom that means we're a bubble team" post

1/6/2013 9:01:53 PM

Sky isn't falling. Had an early loss to a good team before the team had much time meshing, and then barely lost to a team that will likely be in the final four. Lots of top teams have close calls. I'm just happy we won. Not sure we are a top 10 team, but not a bubble either.

And if you want to talk about the biggest dissapointment of the year, look no further than Kentucky.

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 9:05 PM. Reason : .]

1/6/2013 9:04:48 PM

11-7 sounds about right to me, but no way is that a bubble team's record.

1/6/2013 9:05:55 PM

Okay, Ill admit that sometimes i make a one off hyperbolic type statement but the point of my post should be very clear. We SQUEAKED by another awful team. It's pretty clear that we aren't a very good team right now. I try to provide some humor and illustrative statements in my posts because a lot of people don't like dry data filled posts.

People have been skewering me all season for saying we have major problems on the defensive end and that at the moment we aren't a very good team. That's just objective analysis that anyone who doesn't have blinders on can see. My "I told you so" attitude is directly attributed to the fact that I hate when people argue with me when I'm right. I guess I figure if I point out how often I am correct after the fact, people will be less prone to argue with me in the future and just conclude that when I post, I almost always know what I'm talking about.

I'm just not the kind of person who ever talks about stuff I don't know about. You won't see me making comments in tech talk, the garage, etc. There I will ask questions, because I recognize that other people are the experts and that I am the buffoon.

In matters pertaining to sports, girls, finance it's the other way around and I don't appreciate bums questioning my expertise. If that's a character flaw or something, fine. I have it.

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 9:08 PM. Reason : a]

1/6/2013 9:06:48 PM

Quote :

"sometimes i make a one off hyperbolic type statement"

true, like in the same paragraph

Quote :

"It's pretty clear that we aren't a very good team right now."

how many very good teams are there in the country right now face? 5?

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 9:10 PM. Reason : .]

1/6/2013 9:10:20 PM

I was a little harsh....



[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 9:17 PM. Reason : x]

1/6/2013 9:12:15 PM

Find me one post where a reputable sports talk poster (>1000 posts) said you were wrong and that we have a great team that plays solid defense. Youre mistaking annoyance with the way you go about things to disagreeing with you. You post things that most everyone here agrees with but you feel the need to paint it in a "sky is falling" tone, while most reasonable people say "its a long season, lets see how things play out".

1/6/2013 9:13:53 PM

im cool with supsending face for a month or so if you unban mambagrl

1/6/2013 9:18:21 PM

Last year the game against BC in Chestnut Hill was close. We could very well blow them out when they come to Raleigh just like last sesson. I'm not going to read too much into a game where there was no flow, 72 free throws attempted, and played in the lamest atmosphere in the ACC. BC makes you win ugly, just like UVA. When you play those teams on the road expect to have to grind it out and score in the 50s and 60s.

1/6/2013 9:55:54 PM

Quote :

"And if you want to talk about the biggest dissapointment of the year, look no further than Kentucky."

Ken "Biff" Pomeroy has them as his #8 team in the nation currently

He also has UNC 2 spots above State at #36. That's enough for me to take his info with a huge grain of salt.

1/6/2013 10:24:41 PM

I liked when CJ said that BC was one of the toughest atmospheres in the league. He didn't say loudest, just toughest.

Hard to get motivated when no one shows up and no one makes a peep.

1/6/2013 10:27:52 PM

^Women's basketball programs do it game in, game out

1/6/2013 10:36:31 PM

JJ Redick had a better FT% on the road than in Cameron due to how quiet it got in there. He said the noise on the road made him concentrate harder on his shot.

Just saying that noise or lack thereof can affect the mentality of players. It is hard for some players to come out hyped up when the arena is 1/3 full. The great players motivate themselves and bring the same energy to every game whether it be a Final Four game or a pick-up game at Carmichael. I hated Hansbrough like he was the devil, but you've got to admit that he brought the same level of energy for every game.

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 10:44 PM. Reason : ]

1/6/2013 10:39:40 PM

I think face would be a great PackPride poster with his stats. He should get a warm "GTFO with your rational fact based arguments This thread is about opinions."

1/6/2013 10:50:09 PM

i don't understand what people find so offensive about face's posts. like it's a personal affront if someone posts inconsistent opinions.

1/6/2013 11:04:58 PM

Because people generally want to feel positive about something; about the team. His posts are consistently Debbie Downer-like.

1/6/2013 11:07:11 PM

good news guys, we've moved up from #38 to #36 since yesterday...despite not playing any games, we've become better than 2 teams in the nation

but on a serious note, what time do the new AP/Coaches polls come out? I wanna see our ranking!

1/7/2013 9:29:01 AM

Quote :

"i don't understand what people find so offensive about face's posts."

well, for one, they often lead to entire page-long discussions about him and his "predictions" (regurgitated stats), which is exactly what happened itt. I had to skip the last 20 or 30 posts because they're all about him. I might have missed some important information!

1/7/2013 9:44:51 AM

Quote :

"I'm just about done with reading Face posts. Would anyone be upset if I were to suspend him? Anyone? The trolling is getting irritating."

I enjoy face's posts as they are entertaining and he at least keeps threads alive with his posts. I wish I could take some of the drugs he's on so that I could make arguments in his manner. Unfortunately I'd lose my job.

1/7/2013 12:24:19 PM

Quote :

"but on a serious note, what time do the new AP/Coaches polls come out? I wanna see our ranking!"

I think they come out at 1pm ET.

1/7/2013 12:39:18 PM

#20

1/7/2013 12:58:17 PM

^nice

AP #20
Coaches #21
Kenpom #36
Sagarin #27
RPI #15 (does not include BC game)

1/7/2013 1:05:15 PM

3 votes away from #19, also. I'm wondering what will happen if we beat GTech and lose to Duke.

On another happy note, UNC only has 4 total votes.

Watching that game last night was painful. UNC and Virginia both suck. If either team plays us like that we should roll right over them. However, I'd bet 10-1 that UNC will shoot lights out and have the game of their season against us

1/7/2013 1:32:49 PM

can someone post this

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncbexperts/id/8812933/nc-state-challenge-duke-top-spot-acc-college-basketball?addata=2009_insdr_mod_ncb_xxx_xxx

1/7/2013 1:34:01 PM

Nothing earth shattering...

Quote :

"With league play beginning this weekend, the ACC is a league looking for a team to challenge the Duke Blue Devils. Duke has separated itself from the rest of the league not only by playing the toughest schedule, but by winning. But as I wrote Thursday, as good as the Blue Devils have been, they still have some remaining questions -- which makes the search for the league's No. 2 team and top challenger to Duke that much more intriguing. The Maryland Terrapins look like they have a chance to be special, as Alex Len and Dez Wells give them a dynamic two-man combination. But their soft schedule still leaves plenty of questions as they enter conference play. The Miami (FL) Hurricanes still have the potential to compete for an upper-division finish, but they've struggled with injuries. The North Carolina Tar Heels showed promise in beating UNLV, and are very talented, but they've had issues on defense and lack a dominant post presence. The Florida State Seminoles have had a hard time replacing the physical play of Bernard James and consistent guard play of Luke Loucks. This process of elimination leads to a team that is on the rise, and now playing at an elite level: the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Based on how they've played their past five games, I think the Wolfpack are a legitimate challenger to Duke in the ACC. Here's why: I had concerns about NC State coming into the season, despite the fact it ended the season on a high note with a Sweet 16 run, and signed three McDonald's All-Americans en route to becoming the preseason pick to win the league. They justified my skepticism when they struggling out of the gate, exhibiting suspect shot selection and disinterested defensive play. Team chemistry is built on trust, and the loss of three important role players who both embraced and championed their roles was harder for NC State to overcome than most realized. It took a disappointing loss to Oklahoma State in Puerto Rico and a dysfunctional first half against an elite Michigan team to wake up the Wolfpack, but Mark Gottfried once again has a tight seven-man rotation and a team poised to challenge for the conference title. As league play begins, the Pack are playing their best basketball of the season. Their celebrated freshman class has a better understanding of the difference between playing hard and competing, and their upperclassmen are leading the way by playing at an elite level. C.J. Leslie is averaging 20 points in the past five games, and once again leading the Wolfpack in scoring. That's a good thing, because the more engaged he is offensively, the more alert he is defensively. Lorenzo Brown struggled shooting the ball early in the season, which affected his floor game. But in the past five games, he is 28-for-46, and more importantly, has 35 assists to only 13 turnovers. Scott Wood has averaged 14.4 points in his past five games, while making 15 of 33 3-pointers. He is catching the ball in rhythm and in the flow of the offense. Richard Howell has been the most consistent member of the upperclassmen, recording the best season of his career as the anchor of the frontcourt. The only concerns I have for NC State is whether it can play through frontcourt foul trouble, and if the team will be committed on the defensive end for a full 40 minutes each game. But compared to how things looked when they left Puerto Rico, the Wolfpack are in a very good place -- in position to make a run at Duke for ACC supremacy. "

[Edited on January 7, 2013 at 1:43 PM. Reason : format]

[Edited on January 7, 2013 at 1:46 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2013 1:42:29 PM

^page 91

1/7/2013 1:56:04 PM

UVa is second in Pomeroy and doesn't get a mention?

I know we'd all rather go to a parents funeral than actually subject ourselves to watching a game of theirs from start to finish but they are a decent team.

1/7/2013 1:57:16 PM

scary stuff from Shane Ryan. defense needs to get better:

Quote :

"Watch Out for Maryland, Write Off N.C. State In the ACC, there's Duke, and there's everyone else. N.C. State started out in the top 10, but it's become apparent that they can't play defense, and the Boston College scare is the latest sign of their relative mediocrity. Let's take a quick look at their offensive and defensive profile, courtesy of Ken Pomeroy. He tells us that the Wolfpack are ninth in adjusted offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions), and 160th in adjust defensive efficiency. It's a crazy disparity, and I immediately became curious about how teams with similar profiles had fared in the past. Using that criteria- top 10 offense, below 110 on defense (I wanted to be generous to State, hence 110 rather than 150), I looked back through recent history. Here are the qualifying teams I found from the past 10 seasons, along with their tournament results: 2012: Missouri (Round of 64), Creighton (Round of 32) 2011: Colorado (Sweet 16) 2010: Notre Dame (Round of 64) 2009: Arizona (Sweet 16) 2008: Oregon (Round of 64) 2007: None 2006: Gonzaga (Sweet 16), Notre Dame (2nd round NIT) 2005: Gonzaga (Round of 32) 2004: Arizona (Round of 64) 2003: Boston College (2nd round NIT), Dayton (Round of 64), Notre Dame (Sweet 16) That makes 13 teams with one of the top 10 offenses in the country and a very mediocre defense. NONE of them, zero percent, won more than two tournament games … even if they were in the NIT. Only four of the 13 even made it to the NCAA Sweet 16, despite an elite scoring attack. It's not necessarily a novel idea that poor defense is a nonstarter, even when paired with excellent offense, but it is interesting that, at least in the past decade, there's not a single exception to the rule. This year, the two teams who fit the criteria are N.C. State and our old friends Notre Dame. And guess what? Smart money says neither of them will make it past the Sweet 16 either."

1/7/2013 2:27:56 PM

It's January 7th. Our defense can still improve to an acceptable level by tourney time.

1/7/2013 2:32:07 PM

You're deluding yourself if you believe that. We don't even know how to hedge on screens (except Rich). Church league basketball defenses can get that right.

[Edited on January 7, 2013 at 2:35 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2013 2:34:42 PM

also without meticulously going through each of those team's rosters, we have more talent on this team than just about all of them

1/7/2013 2:35:52 PM

I have seen us play good defenses for several minute stretches. We just need to commit to doing that more often and not only in the second half when we're threatening to lose the game.

1/7/2013 2:39:56 PM

there's a lot of time left to get the team playing good defense, you're just being a defeatist if you think otherwise.

1/7/2013 2:40:12 PM

Yep, we have a roster full of true athletes, and the team has had stretches where we played great defense. We'll surely be playing better defense once we close in the tournament. We have to.

1/7/2013 2:44:24 PM

^^^^^^^ somewhere in the world, face smiles

Quote :

"UNC and Virginia both suck."

I know Virginia isn't popular on here, or in general for that matter, but anyone that beats Wisconsin in their gym has my respect. And props to them for frustrating the hell out of UNC and their top 10 scoring offense and holding them to a season-low 52 points.

[Edited on January 7, 2013 at 2:46 PM. Reason : ]

1/7/2013 2:46:02 PM

Yeah, at this point in the season I don't think it's as much about learning better defense (or rebounding for that matter - our guys always have terrible positioning), but more about playing with energy. We create most of our point gaps in games by playing with a lot of intensity and creating turnovers for fast break points.

It was really evident in the BC game that Gottfried told not only Rich to lay off of tight D in the first half to avoid fouls, but CJL too. Both of them moved out of the way when guys were driving from wings. Granted the officiating was BS and tight as all hell, but there were a few times where they wouldn't bother contesting shots that they should have. Point is, we're not stopping even shitty offenses in half court sets.

1/7/2013 2:46:22 PM

for the record, I too think this team can play much better defense. in watching them, it seems more like mental lapses than anything else.

the difference in offensive and defensive efficiency numbers is pretty glaring though.

1/7/2013 3:02:16 PM

it ain't good, that's for sure. but it can get better, by god it must get better.

1/7/2013 3:04:36 PM

Our spacing on defense is horrible. We never challenge the passing lanes and give too much cushion to good shooters around the perimeter. Inside Leslie needs to learn to react sooner and actually get in position to stop a drive. What is crazy is that we are amazing in transition and if we could only force a few more TOs per game, we'd be blowing people out of the gym. Unfortunately we just can't and won't play with any intensity on defense.

1/7/2013 3:31:26 PM

it happened last year. we played a lot better defense at the end of the year and ended ranked in the 60's for def eff

1/7/2013 3:34:24 PM

^^pretty sure we challenge the passing lanes a lot, resulting in many steals that lead to fast break points

of course you could argue we play the passing lanes too much, and when we don't get the steal, it leaves wide open perimeter shots for the other team

1/7/2013 3:36:25 PM

We rank 7th in the ACC in steals per game and 8th in turnover margin, with it being negative.

[Edited on January 7, 2013 at 3:43 PM. Reason : ie we're pretty mediocre]

1/7/2013 3:42:45 PM

Anyone else ever feel bad for UVA? They are up and down so frequently in both basketball and football that they never have a consistent winner in either.

Then again...baseball, lacrosse, and soccer seem to go pretty well over there.

1/7/2013 6:16:56 PM

i certainly don't feel worse for them than i do us.

1/7/2013 6:52:12 PM

Quote :

"also without meticulously going through each of those team's rosters, we have more talent on this team than just about all of them"

off the top of my head

the sweet 16 arizona team had jordan hill, chase budinger and jerryd bayless

the missouri team that lost to norfolk state was probably comparable. ricardo ratliffe was senior year howell on steroids.

im sure the oregon team had a ton of talent because how else could they have been good? was aaron brooks still in college in 2008?

we wouldnt be the only team in the history of college basketball to take a top 5 roster and waste it. scott drew does it nearly ever year.

1/7/2013 8:23:07 PM

Quote :

"That makes 13 teams with one of the top 10 offenses in the country and a very mediocre defense. NONE of them, zero percent, won more than two tournament games "

It could've been an interesting article - if he could've provided more research for comparison, like:

top-10 defensive + sub-110 offensive teams' results

any sub-110 defensive teams regardless of offense that advanced

the opponents of the 13 teams listed above, especially the sweet-16 ones (perhaps those teams lost to, um, other top-10 offensive teams? I mean if only top-10 offensive teams made the elite 8, which is a joke in itself, 2 would be left out every year anyway

1/7/2013 8:43:08 PM

wat?

1/7/2013 9:07:18 PM