Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="LETTERL, post: 4890121, member: 4687"] I think the grind of the regular season, and relying so much on just 6 players, is finally taking a physical, and mental, toll. After holding Notre Dame to 43 points last Thursday, we have now given up 80 or more points in the last two games...and both GT and UNC shot more than 50% from the field; for the season, teams have been shooting around 35% against us. That shows lack of energy and effort on defense. Georgia Tech made some incredible shots last Sunday...and you can understand a team having a night when everything falls for them. UNC also had one of those nights; there was a desperation heave by Deja Kelly at a shot-clock horn that somehow found its way into the basket...just like that mid-court left-handed bank shot Kara Dunn hit in Raleigh in the final minute of OT Sunday. There was also a lot more one-on-one ball last night instead of team ball as the players tried to take it upon themselves (unsuccessfully most of the time) to shoot us back into the game...when they were actually shooting us out of the game. Going 3 of 21 from the field last night in 2Q was killer...but on top of not shooting well after a hot start, we left Donarski and Zelaya wide open for THREEs, which they nailed with ease. It was exactly the nightmare scenario I considered, and feared: UNC finally has a good shooting night when NC State was cold. NC State started 6 of 9 from the field and ended the first half making only 5 of its next 28 shots. 14 missed layups. More turnovers than assists. NC State looked so good early in the season, when everyone was fresh but doesn't look anything like the early version now. Despite what [USER=6927]@Plebe[/USER] thinks about our conference, it is a tough grind game-after-game and sometimes, even your best effort won't be good enough, because almost every team can beat you if they get hot. I'm hoping the ladies can regroup once the regular season wraps and they get a few days rest before the ACCT...but based on their play the last two games, I would no longer be afraid of NC State if I am one of the other 15 teams in their region in the upcoming NCAAT bracket; that would be one of my early picks for an upset loss. Gee...this makes it sound like the sky is falling and that the sun may never shine again. Sometimes, we fans lose perspective, and I think I'm a victim of that now. I mean, geez...State has only lost 4 games in a season when noone except the players probably thought this kind of great season was possible, and it has been exciting. I hate to see what could be a special season get ruined and tarnished but all I can do is support the ladies and wish them the best. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

Forum statistics

Threads: 164,445

Messages: 4,396,587

Members: 10,209

Latest member: gemini*trvl