Game #16: North Carolina State (ACC)

Well, now the games start for real. After two months of decent, but not great competition, we finally get in to conference play, with the lone out of conference game being against Michigan State on Saturday. While I hope every game from hear until April 4th is a blowout, we all know that probably won't be possible as the coaches are all familiar with each other (no coaching changes last year).

A few notes about tonight:

A win matches the best start in school history

A win sets the school record for consecutive victories

A win gives Brenda her 100th at Maryland

Game is on the radio and the internet.

Tonight, we open at home for the first time in four years, which was also against NC State. NC State comes into the game with a record of 11-3, but are 2-3 on the road and at neutral sites. The Terps are 8-0 in similar games this year. The Pack has lost to Purdue, Arizona (In OT), and Nebraska. They are 2-1 against Terp Opponents having beaten UC Santa Barbara (64-55) and Temple (59-57) to go along with the previously mentioned loss to Arizona.

NC State will also play the game without coach Kay Yow on the bench as she is battling cancer. Be gracious Terp Fans and send her a message here.

As a team they are averaging 64.4 ppg, while allowing 52.1 ppg. They outrebound opponents by over 4 a game, while shooting just a shade over 40 percent. They create 20.1 turnovers a game, but also commit 16.6 per game. They look to have balance all over the court with 10 players seeing action in all 14 games this year.

They average around 6' in height with their tallest player Gillian Goring at 6'7. She has only seen action in 8 games. The Pack is led by 6'1 guard Shayla Fields 11.3 ppg. She looks to be an off guard as she is averaging only 2.9 rpg, and has taken 48 three-point shots. Khadijah Whittington is essentially their only post player as she is averaging nearly double figures in both points and rebounds. She hasn't shot a 3 all year, but leads the team in blocks with 20. Marquetta Dickens is their other post player, but tends to be foul prone as she has fouled out 3 times and is only averaging 5.6 rpg. Ashley Key and Keisha Brown, who comes off the bench, both like to shoot the 3 and sit on the perimeter.

Keys to the Game

Runs - Make a few early and control NC State's Runs. you keep NC State in the game and they will get confidence. They seem to play better in the second half, so the start of the second half will be key.

Control Whittington - She's their only force down low, so attack her and get her in foul trouble and we should be able to control the paint.

Watch out for Brown - She's their secret weapon off the bench and has to be taken into account when she checks in.

Guard the three-point line - We didn't do a great job of that against Marist.

Sa'de - Her first game against "real" competition in almost two years. I want to see how her speed translates against teams with like abilities.

Continue our torrid shooting - It only opens up the inside more for Jade, Harper and Langhorne.

Articles

Washington Times

Washington Post

Tuesday's Opponents' Results
George Mason beat Fordham, 59-42
Temple beat Florida, 85-80
UNC-Greensboro beat Chattanooga, 71-68
Marshall lost to East Carolina, 73-51
Middle Tennessee beat North Dakota State, 93-63
Mississippi beat Nicholls State, 87-50
Clemson lost to Charlotte, 65-62
Florida State beat High Point, 67-39
North Carolina beat Georgia Tech, 69-57 (UNC trailed at halftime)
Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech, 74-54

Opponents in action
TCU plays UNLV
Miami and Duke square off
Virginia plays Richmond