NCSU 82, UVA 72

Box Score


From the preview:

Positive signs for the Wolfpack:

1) Julius Hodge had only 5 FGA in the first matchup. He'll be more productive this time around.

2) Just to reiterate--Virginia is not a good shooting team. The team's performance in Raleigh was one of its best in-conference performances.

3) UVA has the worst defense in the ACC.

4) Pete Gillen could decide to sit Elton Brown again. He'll regret it.

5) Timeout!!!!!

How did it go?

-- Julius Hodge again totaled a mere 5 FGA, but he was 11-15 from the free throw line, and he added 8 dimes. So he didn't increase his field goal attempts, but his impact was still much more significant.

-- Virginia had an adjusted field goal percentage of 47.5% for the game (that ain't good).

-- NC State's offensive efficiency for the game was a beautificent 124.8. Not what I'd call a ringing endorsement of UVA's defense.

-- Brown logged 20 minutes, scoring 5 points in unimpressive fashion (2-5 from the field, 1-6 from the line). Jason Cain was far more impressive (13 pts and 8 boards) in a similar amount of playing time.

Virginia seniors Devin Smith and Elton Brown were a combined 7-18 from the floor. I feel badly for those guys.

NC State got balanced scoring from Ilian Evtimov, Julius Hodge, Tony Bethel and Jordan Collins. The Pack shot 54.9% (adjFG%) for the game, bolstered by a blistering 60% (adjFG% again) in the second half.

The two teams had nearly identical turnover rates and offensive rebound rates.

Cameron Bennerman didn't log any playing time for NC State, and that has been cause for a lot of speculation. Foul trouble was very much a problem in the game--four Wolfpack players had at least four fouls. Fouls limited Engin Atsur and Ilian Evtimov to less than thirty minutes each, but the extra minutes went to NC State's freshmen.

If there are off-court issues, it's a shame. Bennerman is second on the team in points-per-minute to Julius Hodge, and his loss (if it spans future games) is a significant detriment to the team.

Oh well--on to Wake Forest. According to ESPN's College Gamenight, Wake scored 61 second half points against Georgia Tech on 33 possessions. That's an offensive efficiency of 184.8. Ho-lee crap.