roberta
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| Quote : | "NC State is starting to believe
posted: Saturday, February 3, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry
NC State started to believe it could beat North Carolina after taking out Virginia Tech earlier in the week.
According to NC State assistant coach Monte Towe, the Wolfpack took a basic approach toward Saturday's stunner. If they could beat Virginia Tech, which beat North Carolina, then why couldn't they beat the Tar Heels, too?
Well, they did, by never believing they were inferior. Towe said by phone Saturday that having a healthy Engin Atsur at the point, after spending most of the season watching him heal from a hamstring injury, is the main difference with N.C. State right now.
And the feeling around the locker room, according to Towe, is that Sidney Lowe won't let this team quibble. He said Lowe's demeanor and NBA background of coming up with ways to score is helping this team continue to improve and define itself as a gritty bunch.
Towe said that Lowe is also reaching back into the NC State past for inspiration. The most famous Wolfpack alumnus, David Thompson, was at Saturday's game in Raleigh and Towe said he spoke to the team after the game. Getting Thompson and past players like him back in the fold and guiding this program has boosted the Wolfpack's confidence.
Final nuggets
• Texas' Kevin Durant continues to impress the Longhorns' staff with his unselfishness and his thirst to get better. Earlier this week, after Durant poured in 37 points and 23 rebounds at Texas Tech, he asked coach Rick Barnes how he could improve his defense. That was the first thing he said to Barnes after Barnes congratulated him on an offensive job well done.
• Florida got quite a scare late Saturday when junior wing Corey Brewer fell awkwardly in the final minutes against Tennessee. But Florida officials said Brewer just has a bruise on his right knee and that no X-rays were needed.
• Saturday night was another reminder that Phog Allen, not Cameron, is the best, loudest and most intimidating basketball arena in the country. The alma mater sound, the Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant, the swaying of the crowd, and the deafening noise at times, make The Phog a true treasure in the sport.
• OK, start the campaign halfway through the ACC: if Boston College stays in the top three in the league, then the Eagles should and could sweep player and coach of the year awards. Al Skinner has done a marvelous job since the dismissal of Sean Williams. He got an eighth player, Tyler Roache, to contribute, and he coached Tyrelle Blair into being a decent big man replacement for Williams -- not to mention how he maximizes everyone else. As for ACC Player of the Year, it's hard to go against senior Jared Dudley, who put up 30 points and 11 boards on the Hokies Saturday and is averaging 18.9 points and 8.7 boards.
• Did you see that Rhode Island beat Fordham 45-44 and shot 28 percent?
• OK, stand up if you thought Kansas State would be 6-2 in the Big 12 without Bill Walker? Keep your hands up if you're voting for Bob Huggins right now as Coach of the Year in the Big 12? (Mine is up for now at the midway point).
• Duquesne scored 111 points in a win at St. Bonaventure and just like Ron Everhart said, the Dukes got close to 100 shots when combining field goal attempts (83) and free-throw attempts (15).
• New Mexico assistant athletic director Greg Remington said no one from UNM is contacting or instructing anyone to look at candidates to replace current head coach Ritchie McKay. That does contradict the e-mail contact that at least two coaches received from a middle man, ESPN.com learned. Stay tuned. " |
 2/4/2007 9:31:11 AM
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