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Here's Why N.C. State Will Finish Ahead of Duke
Here's why N.C. State will finish a strong second this season in ACC basketball.
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By Dane Huffman
For all the talk about N.C. State’s point guards, you’d think the Wolfpack will play four on five this season.
That’s not the case at all.
The Wolfpack doesn’t need Chris Corchiani to suit up and play. All it needs is adequate play at point guard – a steady hand bringing the ball up, a reliable outside shot – and this team is off and running.
North Carolina will sweep through the ACC in the regular season, but the Wolfpack will be right behind, a solid second in a league that will be Triangle-centric. The focus on the Wolfpack’s point guard play overlooks the fact that at four positions, N.C. State is as good as anyone.
Brandon Costner? He’s better than Cedric Simmons and he’ll play in the NBA.
Gavin Grant? He shines when he’s not at point guard and was marvelous in State’s ACC Tournament run.
Ben McCauley? You have to love a guy who hustles like he does.
Courtney Fells? You can’t help but wonder what his numbers would be on a lesser team.
Add J.J. Hickson to this and you’ve got a team that looks like a Final Four contender.
State will find a decent point guard, and that’s all they need. If the Baltimore Ravens can win a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer, N.C. State can thrive in the ACC with even modest play at point. N.C. State was picked Sunday to finish third in the ACC, with North Carolina first and Duke second.
But at season's end, you'll see the Pack right there at No. 2.
In Durham, they’ll argue that Duke is still Duke, and if there’s any rightful rival to Carolina, it’s the Blue Devils. Duke has won seven of the last nine ACC Tournaments, and sure, the Devils will be one of the ACC’s better teams.
But Duke is no juggernaut, as last season showed. To say “Duke is Duke” is to create the expectation that what happened in previous years flows into future performance. Just pull on the jersey, crank up the Crazies and the wins will come.
Well, no they won’t.
Last year, the Devils turned the ball over so much the statue of Washington Duke on East Campus dropped its head in disbelief.
And the toughness so evident on the best Duke teams was missing. The Blue Devils lacked the muscle of their rivals and were overmatched by burly opponents. All the talk of Duke’s youth overlooked the essential fact that the Blue Devils really weren’t that good.
The Blue Devils will be better this year, even without Josh McRoberts. Kyle Singler might be great as a freshman, and the rest of the team will be improved.
But better than the Pack?
No.
State's run through the ACC Tournament last season was a taste of what's to come, when the Wolfpack will threaten Carolina and finish a solid second in the ACC.
Duke may be Duke, and Carolina may be Carolina, but N.C. State is on the rise in West Raleigh.
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