Tobacco Road Report

By Michael

NC State downed Virginia Tech 72-64, setting up an All-Tobacco Road final in the ACC Conference Tournament. The Wolfpack continue on their magical run, but have been fortunate to face three similar teams. That will change today when they meet North Carolina.

Sometimes the stars are aligned in your favor. For NC State, they have been for three days now. First, the suspension of Gerald Henderson left the Dukies thin on the front line. As a result, the Wolfpack were able to pound it in to Costner and McCauley while using their defensive length in Atsur, Grant, and Fells to frustrate the Duke perimeter offense.

That formula worked against Virginia and Virginia Tech as well. Both these teams are led by their backcourts and have weak frontcourts. In this regard, NC State has received a very favorable path to the ACC Champtionship Game.

TRR isn't surprised that the Wolfpack are riding McCauley and Costner to victory. Costner has some serious game and would receive a lot more attention if he played elsewhere on Tobacco Road.

What has been surprising to TRR is the way in which State's length on defense on the perimeter has caused problems for opponents. Atsur, Fells, and Grant have played exceptionally well on the perimeter. The proof is in the pudding. Consider that Singletary and Reynolds were unable to get it going offensively for 40 minutes and Dowdell only managed 15 points on 6 of 19 shooting. This meant that the supporting casts of both teams had to step up, something that TRR has mentioned all season. Unfortunately for these clubs, they didn't.

To win today, NC State will have to continue to shoot lights out and control the tempo. Carolina will run fresh bodies at State all afternoon. Look for Brandon Wright's length to curtail the inside play of Costner. Carolina can also run a series of big defenders in Thompson and Stepheson should Wright tire or get into foul trouble.

If Costner is curtailed inside, NC State will need to get it going from beyond the arc. This is a double-edged sword in TRR's opinion...make the threes and you'll be fine, miss them and the Carolina break will eat you alive.