I hope we really do use that loss to get fired up and blast these bums out of the damn arena.

Srsly.

[2] Go Pack!

[Edited on November 21, 2007 at 12:59 AM. Reason : dos]

11/21/2007 12:59:36 AM

anyone know how I can watch this from work?

11/21/2007 9:27:47 AM

quit your current job and get a job at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, being an usher

11/21/2007 10:28:38 AM

espn360

11/21/2007 11:01:18 AM

i see improvement, but not to the point we need to be

NCSU- 76
Rider 64

11/21/2007 1:27:56 PM

I don't agree with Lowe making Ben come off the bench. Unless he is sick, which may be the case. Ben earned his place as a starter by being by far our most consistent player last year. He's also still the best passer on the team and has the second most playing experience next to Grant. If Hickson is any kind of player, he'll be just as effective coming off the bench. Look at the year UNC won their championship. Marvin Williams was way more talented than Jawad Williams, but he came off the bench the entire year. I don't think benching our hardest worker and most consistent contributer in favor of a freshman, albeit extremely talented, sends the right message to the team.

11/21/2007 1:45:33 PM

^ I totally agree. If he is sick thats one thing, but I don't think he is. I undertand giving PT to the best players, but I think Ben IS one of the best players.

11/21/2007 1:51:36 PM

If nothing else, I want to see Costner/Fells/McCauley play like they have a pair

11/21/2007 1:52:24 PM

If he really has a hard on for starting Hickson, move Costner to three and bench Fells. Who knows, maybe Fells is just one of those guys that plays better off the bench.

[Edited on November 21, 2007 at 2:13 PM. Reason : woops]

11/21/2007 2:06:57 PM

I don't see how you could NOT start Hickson until someone else on the team can out play him for the position in practice or on the court.

11/21/2007 2:19:20 PM

college basketball is a business, not church ball.... No one automatically gets playing time, based on anything other than what is happening right here and now. In that regard, stupidity would be to not start hickson.

Plus starting hickson and letting him shine (while still being a top 25 team) would look great for blue chippers considering coming here.

11/21/2007 2:33:57 PM

THIS IS DIVISION ONE BASKETBALL.

11/21/2007 2:38:12 PM

Quote :

"If nothing else, I want to see Costner/Fells/McCauley play like they have a pair"

McCauley still plays hard, Fells needs to pick up his offense, and Costner needs to pick up everything

at least from their performances last game

11/21/2007 2:52:24 PM

Quote :

"Ben earned his place as a starter by being by far our most consistent player last year."

thats the keyword here...this is a new year and you have to earn your spot

the only reason he isn't starting is because hickson is out preforming him in practice and games

and i dont know why people keep insisting costner play the 3...it's obvious that he's put on some fat over the summer and he's not fast enough and would get burned everytime...i'm sure there's a reason why lowe hasn't put ben, brandon, and jj on the floor at the same time

11/21/2007 3:16:48 PM

until they decide to play and quit acting like a spoiled 3 yr old, leave their asses on the bench.

11/21/2007 3:19:37 PM

^^^^GO PLAY INTRAMURALS BROTHER!

11/21/2007 3:35:12 PM

lets go pack! get hype!

11/21/2007 11:18:43 PM

Hickson was named rival.com's freshman of the week:

Quote :

"No one in ACC history had scored 30 points in his first game as a freshman. Not Michael Jordan. Not Ralph Sampson. Not Tyler Hansbrough. Not Kenny Anderson. J.J. Hickson announced his arrival with authority. Hickson, a five-star power forward ranked the No. 10 player in the class of 2007 by Rivals.com, scored 31 points and made all 12 of his field-goal attempts in his debut as NC State crushed William & Mary 66-47. He followed up with a double-double, going for 22 points and 13 rebounds in a 65-63 upset loss to New Orleans. For his efforts, Hickson is Rivals.com's National Freshman of the Week for the week ending Nov. 18. "First off, it was good just to get out on the court," Hickson said. "We had nine days off since our last exhibition game, and it seemed we were one of the last teams to finally tip off the season. "Both games my teammates did an excellent job of getting me the ball down low in exactly the right spots where it was easy for me to adjust and get off a good shot." At 6 feet 9 and 242 pounds, Hickson is a load on the block. He works hard to get good position, and he knows what to do with the ball when he has it. He was 10 of 18 from the floor against the Privateers, making him 22 of 30 (73.3 percent) through two games. He also had three blocks against UNO. "I tried to be a presence down low blocking shots, and also was focused on being tougher on the boards and getting more rebounds," he said. "It's always good to score, but for us to win games we have to play solid defense and win the battle on the boards." "

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=742139

this tournament will give him even more national exposure



[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 8:15 AM. Reason : haha and i just noticed they have him listed as a guard under his picture]

11/22/2007 8:14:26 AM

Here's the thing about starting Hickson over Big Ben. Hickson is a monster inside, he knows this, other teams know this. So when he gets the ball, everyone swarms to him. But Hickson, being beastly, doesn't care if all five defenders are on him-- he's going to get his shot off. And most of the time, this works out.

But with Big Ben, there seems to be much more flow to the offense (this statement based on last year). BB looks to set other teammates up, almost like a point guard playing under the basket ... he's probably the best passer on our team. While he's not the monster Hickson is, he's not far behind, and has incredible touch around the basket.

If I were the coach, I'd start McCauley at PF and Hickson at C, benching Costner until he finds his game again. What we lose in shooting, we make up for in toughness. In the long-run, this glut of big guys is going to be a great problem to have. In the short-term, it's kind of a headache.

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 9:56 AM. Reason : ]

11/22/2007 9:46:58 AM

Also, Rider is not a bad team. I think we'll win, but it will be closer than most people imagine.

Us- 77
Rider-69 (if it's indeed Rider 69, that will be the shit)

11/22/2007 9:54:29 AM

turkey and ncstate basketball on HDTV...SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/22/2007 11:19:32 AM

is the game in HD?

11/22/2007 11:24:19 AM

^Yes, all games are in HD if they are broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2. I believe there are a couple that might be on ESPNU instead (consolation games).

Anyone know where I might can find this on the internet? Im stuck at the parents without real cable.

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 11:34 AM. Reason : -]

11/22/2007 11:32:49 AM

Quote :

"I don't think benching our hardest worker and most consistent contributer in favor of a freshman, albeit extremely talented, sends the right message to the team."

no, actually that would be hickson. he goes to the gym to practice at like 6am before participating in team practices. all i've heard about the guy is how great his work ethic is and how determined he is to improve. there's no question that hickson deserves to be starting.

11/22/2007 11:35:56 AM

Quote :

"all games are in HD if they are broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2."

wrong

11/22/2007 11:54:02 AM

Anyone know of a way to watch this game online other than ESPN 360?

11/22/2007 12:05:53 PM

GO PACK

11/22/2007 12:14:50 PM

.

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 12:17 PM. Reason : .]

11/22/2007 12:17:01 PM

yeah id love to watch online too but no 360 for me

11/22/2007 12:25:43 PM

sc and penn state arent looking too hot

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 12:51 PM. Reason : slfdj]

11/22/2007 12:49:20 PM

man, fuck this, everyone thats gonna be at my grandparents house today is a Duke/Favre Fanatic. Theres no way im gettin away from the Green Bay game to watch this. DAMNIT

11/22/2007 12:58:05 PM

Quote :

"wrong"

Actually, right, although maybe I wasnt clear...I meant all Old Spice Classic games...most are on ESPN/ESPN2, but a couple are on ESPNU.

11/22/2007 1:02:01 PM

man, this gym is fuckin empty. Big difference from the other tournaments i've seen on tv the past few days

11/22/2007 1:23:57 PM

yeah, people really turned out for this one

11/22/2007 1:25:53 PM

when are the state fans gonna show up down there in that middle school gyM??

i predict a 30+ pt performance from Hickson...he's playing in a school gym

11/22/2007 1:45:01 PM

i'll go with 20+ for hickson for the safe bet

11/22/2007 1:50:24 PM

any know where audio is

or video?

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 2:13 PM. Reason : video]

http://www.wralfm.com/Article.asp?id=68145 audiohttp://www.wralfm.com/Article.asp?id=68145

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 2:14 PM. Reason : link audio]

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 2:30 PM. Reason : GO PACK!!!!!!!!]

11/22/2007 2:07:02 PM

DESTROY DESTROY

11/22/2007 2:16:28 PM

this isn't a school gym. its disney's wide world of sports.

11/22/2007 2:21:27 PM

GO PACK

[Edited on November 22, 2007 at 2:27 PM. Reason : alk]

11/22/2007 2:25:05 PM

Well....McCauley gets the start over Hickson...

11/22/2007 2:34:35 PM

boo... 2 early fouls
1 McCauley
1 Costner

11/22/2007 2:37:39 PM

announcers sound like they are about to fall asleep

11/22/2007 2:37:59 PM

11/22/2007 2:38:20 PM

nice hustle Costner... bad shot tho

11/22/2007 2:39:13 PM

hahaha my dad just said "go back to football, this crap has been 2 to 1 ever since we turned it on" hahaha

11/22/2007 2:39:53 PM

ghey 3 by rider... we just watched him the whole time

11/22/2007 2:41:17 PM

snazzy dunk at least

11/22/2007 2:42:32 PM

where in the hell is his jacket?

11/22/2007 2:42:55 PM

he only wears the jacket on special occasions

11/22/2007 2:44:19 PM