The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/89497
BKB PREVIEW 12-13 step forward. Thomas De Thaey needs to take advantage of an opportunity." The 7-1, 264-pound Vandenberg isn't lacking in experience. The Australian has played in 53 career games and has three career starts. He played in seven games last year, accumulating 14 points, 19 boards and five blocks, before his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury. He played his last game against Syracuse Dec. 17. Vandenberg's offseason priority was to work with strength and conditioning coach Bob Alejo and get in better shape. Van- denberg said he lost 16 pounds and has improved his fitness. "It's better than it was, but sometimes that improves as you play," Gottfried said. "We'll see if he gets into the rotation, and I anticipate he will, and he's going to play a lot. How good he is going to be is how good a shape he is in. "He's worked hard this summer and I think he's done a very good job with his body and his conditioning is better. He has to become a very good player for us this year inside." The 6-8, 244-pound De Thaey, who is from Belgium, was typically the eighth man in the rotation last year. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game, logging playing time in 19 con- tests. He played in only four of the last 16 games. Gottfried was encouraged by De Thaey's play in Spain and the Canary Islands in August. "Thomas was good," Gottfried said. "Some of our workouts, even when we got back, Thomas has had some days where he has been really good. "Thomas is a guy that when he knocks three or four three-pointers in a short scrimmage, he gets your attention a little bit more. That is something he likes to do. He is that European guy that loves to pick and pop, and float around the perimeter. He becomes a lot more valuable when he makes some shots. He has done that some- times." NC State's depth took a hit when ris- ing senior center/power forward DeShawn Painter transferred to Old Dominion to be closer to his grandmother, who eventually succumbed to cancer during the summer. Painter was the ultimate insurance policy in case Leslie or Howell missed time with foul trouble, or if injuries or suspensions No. Name 13 Thomas De Thaey PF 14 Jordan Vandenberg C 1 Richard Howell 5 C.J. Leslie PF C 38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 6-8 6-9 6-8 7-1 257 200 244 264 R-Jr. So. Sr. Jr. As a sophomore, Leslie averaged 15.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in 16 regular- season conference contests. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN occurred last year. The 6-9, 235-pound Painter averaged 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20 minutes a game last year (seven starts), and added 21 blocks. The Wolfpack also lost 6-8, 203-pound sophomore forward Tyler Harris, who transferred to Providence. The wild card in the frontcourt could be freshman forward T.J. Warren of Durham, N.C., who Rivals.com ranked No. 17 over- all in the country in the class of 2013. ■ 2012-13 NC State Frontcourt Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Hometown (Previous School) Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler) Holly Springs, N.C. (Word of God Christian Academy) Dendermonde, Belgium (Canarias Basketball Academy) Melbourne, Australia (Australian Institute of Sport) "I certainly would've liked to be sitting here with a veteran senior, 22 minutes a game guy that was fairly reliable," Gott- fried said. "I think that loss is bigger than most people are anticipating. Between Jordan and Thomas, and maybe even T.J. some — T.J. may have to play some inside — we have to replace that." Warren, who made the McDonald's All- American team, prefers to play small for- ward, but at 6-8 and 233 pounds, he could be called upon to play some power forward in case of injuries or foul trouble. "With him, 80 percent of everything he'll be doing is as a perimeter player, but then 20 percent will be where he needs to be around the basket as well," Gottfried said. "We are asking him to learn a couple of positions for us. I think he needs to." ■