The Wolfpack likes to keep the same lineup if it can and that has been a chore at times for Coach Mark Gottfried.
"Part
of the game over the course of a 30-game season, you're going to have
some of those and you have to be good enough to roll on," Gottfried said
of lineup issues.
There have been injuries and a disciplinary
action that have factored into his lineup decisions. But mostly, the
Wolfpack has been successful this season and so Gottfried prefers to
maintain a routine for his players.
"Most people do, especially
if you're winning," he said. "I do think players get in a rhythm, even
players coming off the bench."
The Wolfpack needed a contingency
plan prior to Sunday's game at Miami in case senior guard C.J. Williams'
shoulder injury prevented him from playing. But he was ready by game
time and so the Wolfpack avoided another lineup change.
Gottfried said the ability to deal with potential changes and real changes will help shape how the season plays out.
"I'm
not a guy who makes a lot of excuses," he said. "If a guy is out, for
whatever reason, then we have to step forward and play and move on."
This
is particularly relevant for N.C. State, which has used a rotation of
seven players for the most part, with a couple of others filling in for
spot duty.
NOTES, QUOTES
--N.C.
State owned a share of first place in the ACC after five games. With a
4-1 league record, the Wolfpack is one victory shy of last season's ACC
win total. In order to keep their place atop the standings, the Wolfpack
will have to win Jan. 26 at rival North Carolina, which is a half-game
behind the trio of first-place teams. While it will be a late-January
showdown, it's something worth coveting for an N.C. State program with a
limited number of big games in recent seasons.
--Coach Mark
Gottfried has used some of his ESPN connections for additional exposure
for his program. The Wolfpack granted an ESPN crew all-access
accommodations to take a behind-the-scenes look at the team recently.
That segment is scheduled to air on ESPNU on the eve of the Wolfpack's
visit to Chapel Hill to play rival North Carolina. Gottfried had been
working as an ESPN commentator prior to taking the N.C. State job last
spring.
--N.C. State won two ACC road games so far this season,
something it hadn't done since going 4-4 in 2005-06. The Wolfpack have
two home games in its next seven games.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're
going to try to run and score a lot of points." -- Coach Mark
Gottfried, whose team has at least 71 in six consecutive games,
including all five of its ACC games.
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
--at North Carolina, Jan. 26
N.C.
State will need to lace up the sneakers for this potentially fast-paced
game and the Wolfpack's depth is bound to be tested against a deep
North Carolina team, which will be without starting G Dexter Strickland
for the first time since his season-ending knee injury. But the Tar
Heels are well-stocked and their interior players C Tyler Zeller and F
John Henson will provide a big challenge for F Richard Howell in the
lane.
--vs. Virginia, Jan. 28
The Wolfpack has shown the
preference for a faster pace and Virginia will make every attempt to
reduce the tempo. This will be the Wolfpack's only home game during a
four-game stretch and keeping track of Virginia F Mike Scott will be one
of the key assignments.
FUTURES MARKET
The
Wolfpack has uncovered another offensive weapon in junior C DeShawn
Painter. He could emerge as another option because of a nice mid-range
shooting touch. His ability to fill in for foul-plagued F Richard Howell
in Sunday's victory at Miami was significant because he came within one
point of matching a career high by scoring 18 points. And he logged 33
minutes, so his durability was another plus. He's the only true post
player coming off the bench for any prolonged stretches and he has set a
foundation that could bode well.
PLAYER NOTES
--G
Scott Wood is the third-leading three-point shooter among active ACC
players with 188 for his career. He has been going back-and-forth with
Florida State's Deividas Dulkys between the third and fourth place on
the active list for ACC players in this category.
--F Richard
Howell has seven double-doubles this season after producing one Jan. 19
against Boston College. The junior entered the season without any
double-doubles.
--G C.J. Williams was in the starting lineup at
Miami three days after suffering a shoulder injury against Boston
College that made him listed as doubtful for the game. Williams has
started every game this season.
