NCAA BK

Wed, Jan 16, 2013 - 7:00 PM ET
Game Preview
 

NC State-Maryland Preview

Share This Story

Updated Jan 15, 2013 3:51 PM ET
     
 

North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried believes his team's experience will help it avoid a letdown following its biggest win of the season.

Having experience against Maryland's top perimeter threat could also help.

The No. 14 Wolfpack can match their longest win streak in 24 years Wednesday night when they travel to face Dez Wells and the Terrapins.

North Carolina State (14-2, 3-0 ACC) won 84-76 over then-No. 1 Duke on Saturday to hand the Blue Devils their first loss. C.J. Leslie scored 25 points for the Wolfpack, who took advantage of a raucous home crowd that stormed the court after the win.

North Carolina State will now go on the road to try to match the 11-game win streak of the 1988-89 team after the emotional victory.

"We've got four returning starters that have been through this league," Gottfried said. "I think they're very well aware of the fact that each game counts as one game."

N.C. State ended a nine-game losing streak to Maryland (13-3, 1-2) with a 79-74 victory last season, as Leslie had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Scott Wood added 19 points.

The Terrapins' top two scorers from that team are gone, but they have added Wells - a Xavier transfer and Raleigh native who was a high school teammate of Leslie. The 6-foot-5 Wells, averaging 12.2 points, nearly joined the Wolfpack - who are very familiar with him.

"I think it probably helps," Gottfried said. "When players know each other, they usually know their games sometimes better than we do. So, yeah, I think that probably works the other way too with Dez. He knows our guys pretty good too."

Even without the talented Wells, N.C. State leads the nation in field-goal percentage at 52.8. Five players average double figures in points, and freshman forward T.J. Warren is among the nation's leaders with his 67.2 shooting percentage.

Maryland could provide a challenge since it leads the ACC in defensive field-goal percentage at 35.3. The Terrapins enjoyed a 13-game win streak since a season-opening 72-69 loss to then-No. 3 Kentucky, but they've dropped their last two.

Coach Mark Turgeon is considering using a third straight different point guard. Pe'Shon Howard was scoreless with one assist and three turnovers last Wednesday in a 65-62 home loss to Florida State before Seth Allen had four points, four fouls and no assists in Sunday's 54-47 defeat at Miami.

The Terrapins had a season-low four assists Sunday, and Turgeon may shift sophomore Nick Faust to point guard.

"Nick has got experience, so if I move him to the point, he played there last year, he'll be able to do it pretty quickly," Turgeon said.

Faust fouled out in 12 minutes off the bench last season against the Wolfpack. Center Alex Len, averaging a team-high 13.8 points in 2012-13, was a bright spot in that game with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

N.C. State has lost its last four visits to College Park since an 85-69 win Jan. 23, 2005.

"We're going to go into a tough environment," Gottfried said. "I'm sure they are going to be excited and ready to play us."

Tagged: North Carolina State, North Carolina, Maryland, C.J. Leslie

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NCAA BK Videos

Kansas lands top recruit Posted: May 14, 2013
Reid Forgrave on Kansas landing top recruit Andrew Wiggins. Find out if he think...

Burke bolts for NBA after 2 season Posted: Apr 14, 2013
Wooden Award winning guard Trey Burke talks about opting to head to the NBA afte...

Zeller to enter NBA draft Posted: Apr 11, 2013
Hear what Indiana's Cody Zeller has to say about entering the NBA draft.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/885881/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_885000/ff_885881_xl.jpg&w=100 74.95 Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black
    Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Georgetown_Hoyas/browse/featuredproduct/1030243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1030000/ff_1030243_xl.jpg&w=100 119.95 Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue
    Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Duke_Blue_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/1032710/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1032000/ff_1032710_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue
    Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oregon_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/1052002/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052002_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green
    Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Ohio_State_Buckeyes/browse/featuredproduct/1052645/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052645_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet
    Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Indiana_Hoosiers/browse/featuredproduct/1124528/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1124000/ff_1124528_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Cri..
    adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Louisville_Cardinals/browse/featuredproduct/1127200/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127200_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red
    adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/1127218/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127218_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey ..
    Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Gonzaga_Bulldogs/browse/featuredproduct/1155821/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1155000/ff_1155821_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue
    Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions Adjustable Hat – Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Hurricanes/browse/featuredproduct/1177723/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1177000/ff_1177723_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Cham..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft