NIT Thread

[HUSID74]

I have no confidence in Pemba to lead this team next year...he has disappointed greatly when the lights shine bright. Can't blame him totally for the loss but a great part of it is due to his putrid first half...the charge into NC's big guy was the coup de gras… What was he thinking.

Overall, proud of our effort here but this was a winnable game against a motivated P5 team in a sellout arena and hostile crowd...yet again we just come up a bit short...shame that that will be the epitaph for this team and season.

But overall a great year and hopefully the foundation for better things to come.

[Wags]

This was been a very tough ending with the final two games, but the fact that it literally took the entire season to have the only losing streak of the season underscores the great year they had. Not the final outcome they or any of us wanted, of course, but this still goes down as one of the great seasons in program history. That's still a lot to appreciate coming from 7-25.

I fear for the future, because losing a guy like JWF, this might be the high-water mark for a little while... unless they can find that next great scorer to succeed him, build effectively (and more balanced) around whoever that'll be, and make the necessary adjustments (mainly defensively) that will be needed to finally achieve the goal of dancing in the NCAAT.

[triplec2195]

I have no confidence in Pemba to lead this team next year...he has disappointed greatly when the lights shine bright. Can't blame him totally for the loss but a great part of it is due to his putrid first half...the charge into NC's big guy was the coup de gras… What was he thinking.

Overall, proud of our effort here but this was a winnable game against a motivated P5 team in a sellout arena and hostile crowd...yet again we just come up a bit short...shame that that will be the epitaph for this team and season.

But overall a great year and hopefully the foundation for better things to come.

I actually think that Buie is the leader of this team both on and off the court. Eli is a well spoken young man but his talking needs to be more on the court. We get out rebounded 49 to 32 and offensive rebounds their 19 to our 9 and only lose by 6 which clearly doesn't tell the whole story a very close game throughout. We get within 2 after Justin hits a three, get a stop and Ray misses a pretty good look at a three. Eli just can't make it happen in this game and misses on a breakaway dunk gets call for two foolish offensive fouls on just really bad judgement plays and is almost non-existent which is similar to the game he played last year in the CAA tourney.
I'm proud of this team and the tough performance in this game for most of our players in a hostile environment. We stayed composed for most of this game and Justin pretty much didn't force just took what he could get from their defense. A disappointing loss in a tough fought battle IMO! Now I'll ask again how do we make up for Justin's loss in points etc. next year?????? Almost forgot a very nice performance once again by Taylor without him this game isn't close.

[Wags]

Joe didn't in any way blame the loss on this and he credited NC State, but he did acknowledge that he was disappointed with the seed they got and said having to go to a place like historic Reynolds Coliseum (now Valvano Arena) might've been worth 10 points in favor of the Wolfpack. Fair thing to say. They deserved better based on the season they had, and I think had they played the way they played tonight (not that there weren't a few problems with that, but pretty good overall), with a better seed, at an easier place to play, they might've won.

[daHUPride]

I have no confidence in Pemba to lead this team next year...he has disappointed greatly when the lights shine bright. Can't blame him totally for the loss but a great part of it is due to his putrid first half...the charge into NC's big guy was the coup de gras… What was he thinking.

Overall, proud of our effort here but this was a winnable game against a motivated P5 team in a sellout arena and hostile crowd...yet again we just come up a bit short...shame that that will be the epitaph for this team and season.

But overall a great year and hopefully the foundation for better things to come.

I actually think that Buie is the leader of this team both on and off the court. Eli is a well spoken young man but his talking needs to be more on the court. We get out rebounded 49 to 32 and offensive rebounds their 19 to our 9 and only lose by 6 which clearly doesn't tell the whole story a very close game throughout. We get within 2 after Justin hits a three, get a stop and Ray misses a pretty good look at a three. Eli just can't make it happen in this game and misses on a breakaway dunk gets call for two foolish offensive fouls on just really bad judgement plays and is almost non-existent which is similar to the game he played last year in the CAA tourney.
I'm proud of this team and the tough performance in this game for most of our players in a hostile environment. We stayed composed for most of this game and Justin pretty much didn't force just took what he could get from their defense. A disappointing loss in a tough fought battle IMO! Now I'll ask again how do we make up for Justin's loss in points etc. next year?????? Almost forgot a very nice performance once again by Taylor without him this game isn't close.

Eli play at the end of the season wasn't what it was in the start of the year - and we needed him to have more good games then he had in the tournys.
But Eli (and TC and JR) are constantly battling and getting the s*** kicked out of them down low against bigger, much bigger and physical too - especially last night. Last night how many 2nd and 3rd shots did NCSt get?
I expected more from EP - but he is also giving up a lot for the team on D.
As stated above "without (JT)" where would we be - JT was such a big add to this HU...as the season progressed he became the 2nd most valuable player on the team - his game was solid, never forced himself to things he shouldn't - I will miss him in short life here.
I think next year we have a foundation - DB will be what he is - maybe a point or 2 more; EP and TC can score and they will get more looks; I think JR is still best suited for instant O and energy coming off the bench...you assume Kante is the main focal point of our bigs - so that is 4 starters and our first man off the bench.
We need another big to start and another guy off the bench - is there a JC or immediately eligible transfer out there - I am going with a YES.

[triplec2195]

Yes good points being made here and C.J. Bryce seemed like he was owning Eli but it wasn't only Eli's fault. Joe said in the post game presser that they had 29 second chance points to our 9. That's the game right there forget about everything else pretty much. We have nothing to be ashamed off being down by 2 with 46 seconds left as a matter of fact everything to be proud of here except we needed to crash the boards and didn't. We played poised for the most part and only turned the ball over 9 times. They turned it over more then we did and if this game is played on a neutral court I believe the end result may well be a different story here. As almost always RANK HAS ITS PRIVILEGES as Joe stated we shouldn't have been a 7th seed. We got screwed once again. Still kudos to this team for a great year and thanks to everyone for these special memories!!

[Wags]

I know it looked bad for him to close the season this year, but I wouldn't give up on Eli just yet (hmm, where have I heard someone say that before? Oh yeah, Dave Gettleman). It's sometimes tough for a player to get into a rhythm when the first option is such a great scorer, takes so many shots (and should, because JWF was efficient). The whole dynamic will be a lot different with JWF gone. That should allow Eli to emerge more next year, with more shots and scoring opportunities for him. The problem is he'll never approach being the type of scorer JWF was, but he may not need to be. If he can emerge as the first option in place of JWF, and has a lot more help in a much more balanced way (because he'll need it), that might still be enough for HU to contend next year. We'll see, but the whole thing will be vastly different next year. Eli should be able to get back to where he was and maybe a little better that way, and on a more consistent basis, than what he showed down the stretch of this season.

[HUSID74]

Not to make excuses but that 7 seed was atrocious. I know most of you guys said it didn't much matter but it surely did. First, we get a team that was ranked 33 rd in the NET...33rd....then we play before a PACKED and loud Reynolds Gym which has HUGE historical meaning to the fans and the team....did you see the atmosphere at most of the other arenas where games were played...reminded me of the CAA Championship!

Proud of the guys and this program, but we need to get bigger and more physical to compete and win post-season games...maybe that will help defensively as well...going with four guards was our best option this year against our schedule but it doesn't work against better and more physical teams.

[Cards]

As I and others have mentioned, we got killed on the boards last night, and likely was the main reason for the loss. So now, what do we have to look forward to next year that could remedy that situation. EP, TC, and DB will return. JR replaces JWF. JWF is definitely a stronger player in terms of playing down low and getting rebounds, boxing out, etc. IK replaces JT. Well, we all have heard that IK is a beast with a high ceiling, and lets hope that is true (because it is still an unanswered question, as he has little college experience). In any case, does anyone think that IK will do a better job down low and on the boards than JT did the second half of this year (after he got his playing legs under him). I don't think that is a realistic expectation. So, the result is that in effect we have not maintained our size, but rather, we have even gotten smaller. I see this as a glaring problem - maybe not so much in conference play (as IK might turn out to be another Cacok - who is also only 6'7"), but in tournaments pre-and post season, and any time we play against a P5 or even A-10 type teams (such as VCU).

HU must get bigger. ST is not the answer as he does not play to his 6'8" height. I am hoping and praying that HH can fill that role, or that we can pick up a transfer or grad who can step in (a la Koons). Without getting this type of help, I fear that HU is severely handicapped every time we play a higher level team - and when we lose to every higher level team, we get the same level of respect, seedings, and rankings that we all complain about (whether they are deserved or not). With the projected starters we have next year, we will have a "nice" team and may win 20 games, and will be in the "conversation", bet we certainly will not be over the hump. Sorry to say, but I thinks its a realistic assessment.

[cactus]

As I and others have mentioned, we got killed on the boards last night, and likely was the main reason for the loss. So now, what do we have to look forward to next year that could remedy that situation. EP, TC, and DB will return. JR replaces JWF. JWF is definitely a stronger player in terms of playing down low and getting rebounds, boxing out, etc. IK replaces JT. Well, we all have heard that IK is a beast with a high ceiling, and lets hope that is true (because it is still an unanswered question, as he has little college experience). In any case, does anyone think that IK will do a better job down low and on the boards than JT did the second half of this year (after he got his playing legs under him). I don't think that is a realistic expectation. So, the result is that in effect we have not maintained our size, but rather, we have even gotten smaller. I see this as a glaring problem - maybe not so much in conference play (as IK might turn out to be another Cacok - who is also only 6'7"), but in tournaments pre-and post season, and any time we play against a P5 or even A-10 type teams (such as VCU).

HU must get bigger. ST is not the answer as he does not play to his 6'8" height. I am hoping and praying that HH can fill that role, or that we can pick up a transfer or grad who can step in (a la Koons). Without getting this type of help, I fear that HU is severely handicapped every time we play a higher level team - and when we lose to every higher level team, we get the same level of respect, seedings, and rankings that we all complain about (whether they are deserved or not). With the projected starters we have next year, we will have a "nice" team and may win 20 games, and will be in the "conversation", bet we certainly will not be over the hump. Sorry to say, but I thinks its a realistic assessment.

Agreed on needing to get bigger to beat higher level teams. Would like to see Buie, Coburn, Pemberton with two forwards out there to start, and Ray off the bench in the 6 man role again (he's a shooter and defender, terrible taking it to the basket). Someone from the group of Trueheart, Hughes, Radovic, or a juco/grad type player needs to fill that role. I wouldn't give up on Trueheart yet as he's certainly capable of it. The problem with adding another Koon type player is if you look at the team right now, its very forward heavy already and all the guards are juniors or seniors. They really need to add 2 guards, including a PG of the future. Can Schutte give them 10 mins a game? Or is someone unhappy with their playing time this year going to transfer out?

buie SR
coburn JR
pemberton SR
ray JR
Kramer (redshirt)
Trueheart JR
Radovic JR
Hughes FR
Kante SO
Schutte SO

[daHUPride]

As I and others have mentioned, we got killed on the boards last night, and likely was the main reason for the loss. So now, what do we have to look forward to next year that could remedy that situation. EP, TC, and DB will return. JR replaces JWF. JWF is definitely a stronger player in terms of playing down low and getting rebounds, boxing out, etc. IK replaces JT. Well, we all have heard that IK is a beast with a high ceiling, and lets hope that is true (because it is still an unanswered question, as he has little college experience). In any case, does anyone think that IK will do a better job down low and on the boards than JT did the second half of this year (after he got his playing legs under him). I don't think that is a realistic expectation. So, the result is that in effect we have not maintained our size, but rather, we have even gotten smaller. I see this as a glaring problem - maybe not so much in conference play (as IK might turn out to be another Cacok - who is also only 6'7"), but in tournaments pre-and post season, and any time we play against a P5 or even A-10 type teams (such as VCU).

HU must get bigger. ST is not the answer as he does not play to his 6'8" height. I am hoping and praying that HH can fill that role, or that we can pick up a transfer or grad who can step in (a la Koons). Without getting this type of help, I fear that HU is severely handicapped every time we play a higher level team - and when we lose to every higher level team, we get the same level of respect, seedings, and rankings that we all complain about (whether they are deserved or not). With the projected starters we have next year, we will have a "nice" team and may win 20 games, and will be in the "conversation", bet we certainly will not be over the hump. Sorry to say, but I thinks its a realistic assessment.

Agreed on needing to get bigger to beat higher level teams. Would like to see Buie, Coburn, Pemberton with two forwards out there to start, and Ray off the bench in the 6 man role again (he's a shooter and defender, terrible taking it to the basket). Someone from the group of Trueheart, Hughes, Radovic, or a juco/grad type player needs to fill that role. I wouldn't give up on Trueheart yet as he's certainly capable of it. The problem with adding another Koon type player is if you look at the team right now, its very forward heavy already and all the guards are juniors or seniors. They really need to add 2 guards, including a PG of the future. Can Schutte give them 10 mins a game? Or is someone unhappy with their playing time this year going to transfer out?

buie SR
coburn JR
pemberton SR
ray JR
Kramer (redshirt)
Trueheart JR
Radovic JR
Hughes FR
Kante SO
Schutte SO

All fair assessments - Cards.
I like Ray coming off the bench - so I agree with you on what our starting lineup will be and what spots we need to fill.
We'll need to start filling the pipeline with guards - the JFW, DB, EP era is coming to an end - and we have a pretty fair group of bigs on the roster.
If there is anything this staff has excelled at and can sell playing time to a that transfer with credibility is getting those transfers that play a year or two.
Taylor, Dwyer, Koon, Upshaw and Nesmith - are all transfers that contributed - some much more then others - and actually wouldn't be embarrassed send that 5 out against anyone. So I expect that we will land another transfer.

[HUSID74]

We NEED another big...hopefully Taylor comes back, small chance, we have signed a 6-7 kid in Cramer, but I don't know if he will play next year, we're hot on Chereef Knox, 6-5 out of Philly and we have Hughes who could be the missing link.

Don't look for much from the guys on the bench this year; I think at least one will leave, giving us another scholarship.


Hopefully we sign one of the two pgs, Burgess or Tommy Bruner, sign Knox and get a big transfer or another SG.

[HUSID74]

AND...for those of you who thought that NC State mailed it in see this:

https://www.wralsportsfan.com/brownlow- ... /18272012/

[triplec2195]

So based on what has been posted here it looks like we have signed our next PG NOT DEFINITE but close to being done. There r players on this team that have some upside but we don't know how much E.G. Hughes, Kante, Radovic and Schutte and Stafford the jury is out on. It's difficult for us to access where these guys r as far as their basketball development which makes it difficult to determine what r immediate needs are. If we have filled the PG position we still need a SG IMO to replace some of the lost scoring vacated by Justin. Even if Jalen is the obvious heir to the throne we will need someone to spell him. Do we need a backup to Kante? Answers to the above will answer that. As for right now its painful to think of Justin in the past tense!

[garyg]

We NEED another big...hopefully Taylor comes back, small chance, we have signed a 6-7 kid in Cramer, but I don't know if he will play next year, we're hot on Chereef Knox, 6-5 out of Philly and we have Hughes who could be the missing link.

Don't look for much from the guys on the bench this year; I think at least one will leave, giving us another scholarship.


Hopefully we sign one of the two pgs, Burgess or Tommy Bruner, sign Knox and get a big transfer or another SG.

Be careful using the missing link words...last time you used them was regarding Wormley...LOL

[HUSID74]

I still think Wormley could have been a serviceable player in the right situations...6-4 athletic, did you see him in his senior day start? He was electric.

We could have used him for defense against some of the bigger guards in the league, for pressing and to give us a bit more height which killed us in some games.

Oh well, water under the bridge as they say.

[garyg]

I agree with you...staff needed to find a way of utilizing his talents/attributes and they came up blank on this one...

[cactus]

As pointed out by Dooku yesterday the downstairs big board of team history in the hallway has the wrong score listed for the nit loss vs nc state.

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