The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
52 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK BASKETBALL PREVIEW Stats To Watch 1. Points allowed: It has been proven that NC State will score points under head coach Mark Gottfried. They have done it by both feeding a star and sharing the wealth, which is what they'll have to do this winter. The absence of NBA Draft lottery pick T.J. Warren also means they're going to have to step it up on the defensive end. Last year, NC State ranked 11th in the ACC in scoring defense (69.6 points allowed per game). The Pack also ranked 11th in the league in field goal percentage defense (.426), which may be the more important statistic in the high-possession games it likes to play. 2. Assists: The Pack did a nice job taking care of the ball last season — it ranked 32nd nationally in turnovers with 10.4 per game — but was not as effective sharing the ball and setting each other up. That must increase this year with a more balanced approach. Anthony Barber has the keys of the offense to himself this year, and had a respectable assist-to-turnover ratio of more than 2-to-1 as a rookie. He should take another step forward as both a facilitator and scorer, and form one of the league's top starting guard combinations with Trevor Lacey, who is also a gifted scorer capable of handling the ball. 3. Free throw percentage: Missed free throws at practice now draw the refrain of, "Saint Louis" because they played such a big role in the Pack's NCAA collapse after leading by 16 with eight minutes left in regulation. The poor showing at the charity stripe was the difference in the team's elimination game, and could be the difference between being a one-and-done or breaking through in the Big Dance. Free throwing shooting has declined every year of the Gottfried era, going from 70.4 percent in his debut campaign to 65.7 percent last year — goodbye, Scott Wood — which ranked 301st nationally. That needs to change, but will be a tall order with a young squad. Senior guard Desmond Lee is the only returner who shot at least 70.5 percent from the free throw line last year, so it better be a team-wide focus. Best Opposing Players • Guard Marcus Paige, North Carolina: The Tar Heels return nine of last year's 11 rotation players and add a trio of McDonald's All-Americans, but there is no question this is Paige's team. He ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring (17.5 points per game) and sixth in assists (4.2 per contest) last year, but should not have to do as much in this campaign. There is more talent around the redshirt junior than a year ago, and he has torched NC State in four career games with averages of 23.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game to go along with an assist-to-turnover ratio of more than 3-to-1. • Guard Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia: The Cavaliers went from the NIT to Sweet 16 last year, while sweeping the ACC regular-season and tournament titles. The ver - satile 6-5 guard was a huge reason for the turnaround; nobody puts up huge numbers in Tony Bennett's defen- sive-minded and share-the-wealth system, but Brogdon still earned first-team All-ACC laurels from the league coaches after he led the Cavs with 12.7 points per game. The redshirt junior was the only player in the league to score in double digits in all 18 ACC contests and will lead another strong squad, although he is the Cavs' only returning player who averaged double-digit points and more than five rebounds per game last year. • Forward Montrezl Harrell, Louisville: The 6-8 forward was a first-team All-American Athletic Confer - ence selection and the league's Most Improved Player last year as a sophomore. He became a force inside and shot 60.9 percent from the floor to rank sixth nationally en route to averages of 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He also logged an impressive 97 dunks to shatter the previous school record of 59. Harrell only got stronger as the year wore on and he helped lead his team to the AAC Tournament title and a Sweet 16 appearance. He posted 11 double-doubles in the final 22 games, was listed on the AAC's all-tourna- ment team and averaged a double-double (12.3 points and 10.7 rebounds) in three NCAA Tournament games. His success should translate to the ACC. • Center Jahlil Okafor, Duke: For the second straight year, Duke boasts the best incoming big man in college basketball, and there isn't much of an argument. The Chicago native was ranked as Rivals' No. 1 prospect in the class of 2014, and he is incredibly skilled for a 6-11, 270-pound center. He was named the Preseason National Player of the Year by CBSSports.com, which noted: "Okafor is going to remind people of Tim Dun - can." Several are already calling him the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, which would make him the sixth Duke player to make the professional jump after just one year of college. Guard Malcolm Brogdon led UVa with a scor- ing average of 12.7 points per game last year. PHOTO COURTESY UVA ■ What They Are Saying About The Pack • "When you have your league's ninth-best offense and 12th-best defense and you make the NCAA Tournament anyway, you're doing something right. Maybe that 'something' is scheduling to the RPI, or maybe it's winning the big ones. Whatever it is, keep doing it." — John Gasaway (ESPN Insider) • "Warren took 37.3 [percent] of NC State's shots when he was on the floor, according to Kenpom.com. That was the third-highest rate in the country last season. Recent history indicates that the Wolfpack might be just fine — and could be even better. Since 2010, eight players from major-conference schools have taken 34 percent or more of the available shots when they're on the floor. None of those teams experienced a significant drop-off in victories the next season, and most actually improved their record with a more diverse attack." — Powell Latimer (The Greensboro News & Record) • "Each year, the Wolfpack seems to play some of their best ball when the ACC Tournament comes around (6-3 record in last three years) to complement a regular-season résumé highlighted with a few upsets of the ACC favorites. With T.J. Warren gone, can the Pack make it four straight? Sophomore Cat Barber is expected to take a big step forward, and the offense should be helped with the addition of Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey." — Chip Patterson (CBSSports.com) • "Gottfried didn't get enough credit for cajoling an NCAA Tournament win out of last year's group. Juggling personali - ties and creating a hierarchy were Gottfried's biggest problems in a disappointing 2012-13 season. He adroitly managed both tasks last season in his best work at NC State. The parts are in place for another NCAA bid, especially if Lacey is as good as expected. It will require more consistency from Barber and [forward Kyle] Washington, but the ingredients are there for the program to continue its forward momentum." — Athlon Sports College Basketball 2014-15 Preview • "Perhaps their best player next season is TREVOR LACEY, a transfer from Alabama who sat out a season due to NCAA rules. Lacey can score on his own and has the basketball IQ to get open. This incoming class includes three prospects who help fill needs, give them depth for the future. Abu is a power forward who should work his way into the starting lineup. He goes hard, has a physically imposing body, and can score and rebound. Mark him down as one of the better freshmen in the ACC next season. The Martin twins, Caleb and Cody, add versatility on the perimeter and a scoring punch to the roster." — Paul Biancardi (ESPN Insider) • "The backcourt is the Wolfpack's strength, but the frontcourt is its key — because if they don't get stellar play up front, they won't be good enough to reach the NCAA Tournament. And the frontcourt is a series of question marks." — Gregg Doyel (Lindy's Sports College Basketball Preview) Returning Leaders Points: Fifth-year senior G Ralston Turner (10.5) Rebounds: Sophomore F Lennard Freeman (5.7) Assists: Sophomore PG Cat Barber (126) Blocks: Sophomore F BeeJay Anya (46) Steals: Senior G Desmond Lee (26) Three-pointers made: Turner (77) FG percentage: Anya (.587) FT percentage: Lee (.725) Minutes: Turner (940) PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN