shootingshooting

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009. A 7th ranked Wake Forest traveled to Raleigh to take on the inconsistent Wolfpack at the RBC Center. Wake Forest, a team that held the nation's top ranking earlier in the season, was widely expected to dispatch the Pack. The game was not televised on any network, the interest in it paling in comparison to the fervor over the UNC @ Duke game scheduled to take place later that evening.

I was fortunate enough to witness the Wolfpack show up for once. I arrived at the half and had no clue what the score was. In the elevator to the arena level, a staff member mentioned a 12 point difference. It was folly of me to assume that the Wolfpack were trailing. Apparently fired up about being up at the half, the Wolfpack continued momentum early in the second. After a few three's from Costner and some properly executed defense (Teague was absolutely shut down), the Pack boasted a 20 point lead. As is tradition, the 8 minute mark proved itself to be all but a brick wall. Around this time is when N.C. State began to make stupid mistakes, allowing themselves to turn the ball over and give Wake Forest a chance at the game. The players all seemed to refuse to shoot the ball. They'd kill the clock as much as they could, eventually heaving an ugly shot just to avoid a shot clock violation. After missing several of these shots and allowing Wake Forest to capitalize on them, the game was no longer secure. In the last two minutes, Wake Forest was able to narrow the margin to only 5 points. Despite the Pack's best efforts, they were able to hold onto the lead as the game clock expired.


I've been to a LOT of basketball games at the RBC Center, and I think this is the first time I've seen the court get rushed. I'm glad I was able to be there as the Pack pulled out its biggest win of the season to date, especially since the only other people to witness it were the fans in the building.

After the game, Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio was both impressed and upset. "One time, we didn't box out the shooter on a free throw. You learn to do that in the third grade."