Sunday, November 22, 2015

Weekend Update 27 NOV 2015

Not much to talk about other than NCSU football and basketball.

Work is pretty much the same - busy but unremarkable. Home life is pretty much the same - unremarkable house chores. Which is good actually - no problems or issues. Nice and steady. Unremarkable.

NC State Football

State has played well in the losses to Clemson and Florida State. Clemson is for real. I hope the go unbeaten and win the National Championship.

Yesterday at the State - Syracuse game was great. State had the game under control from the start. The score was closer than the game was due to a couple of late 'Cuse scores.

State has got to figure out these penalties that we are committing. 10 yesterday for 98 yards. That's going down the entire football field - backwards. We can't do that next week against UNC-CHeats or we won't win.

Speaking of penalties - there were 3 player ejections yesterday due to 'extra curricular activities' and one unsportsmanlike penalty against the Syracuse bench.

The weather was perfect. Sunny chilly morning that warmed up nicely by the noon-thirty kickoff. It got just a little nippy after the sun went behind Vaughan Towers late in the game - but not too much.

Visited the LaRocca & Raynor Tailgate before kick off. Those folks know how to do a tailgate. It's a blast hanging out with the LaR kids during the game. More accurately, it's a lot of fun watching Chip playing with the LaR kids during the game.

This season has gone by fast. Next week is the last game vs. UNC-CHeats. Carolina has a really good football team. Far better than their no-show 'fans' deserve.

With all the talent they recruit - the UNC coaching staff has finally put it all together. State will have to play an outstanding game to beat them. If we can put together the same type of game that we've played against Clemson, FSU and Syracuse - we can win. IF we stop committing bonehead penalties.

NC State Basketball

If Trever Lacy had not turned pro early and if Kyle Washington had not transferred (for more playing time) and with Terry Henderson transferring in - NC State would have been a legitimate top 25 team. Possibly a top 15 team. Instead, we lost Lacy and Washington - and Henderson got injured the first game. Torn ligaments - out for 8 weeks - yikes!

And boy does it show.

Individually, our guys are great. Talented, tough, experienced. Abdul-Malik Abu al-Bostoni is a beast. Caleb Martin is a power forward. Cat Barber is a future NBA star. Freshman recruit Maverick Rowan plays like an experienced junior. Lennard Freeman - solid go to guy.

Put them all together - and we can't play for s#*t.

Every year Coach Gott's teams start out a little shaky with a learning curve to go through. We steadily get better as the season goes on. By NCAA Tournament time - we're a team nobody wants to play.

This year - we have the most talent since Gott arrived - even with the loss of Lacy and Washington. This is also the worst looking team yet.

It is going to be a steep learning curve. Or, maybe it will suddenly 'click' and they'll play like the team they should be. Who knows? But from watching the first two games - it's no fluke that a much smaller, far less talented William and Mary team beat us.

State is in New York City to play a 4-team mini-tournament against NCAAT calibre teams. If our guys don't 'get it together' in a hurry - we'll leave NY City 0 - 2.

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