In a mid-table ACC clash, N.C . State (18-11, 7-7 ACC) will take on Miami (17-10, 8-6 ACC) at 9 p.m . today in the RBC Center. The Hurricanes will look to avenge their 73-78 loss to the Wolfpack at the BankUnited Center in January. With both teams looking to book a berth into the upcoming NCAA championships, it will be a must-win game for the Pack, who are on a four-game losing streak. Unlike the Pack, the Canes boast strong credentials following wins over then No. 5 Duke, and more recently, against No. 16 Florida State. Since the last time the two battled, the Pack has been on a downward slope, winning just three out of nine games, whereas the Canes have managed to win seven of their 10. Sophomore guard C.J . Leslie, who is averaging 13.9 points per game this season, 18 in the last six and 21 in the last three, claimed the team was only concentrating on the upcoming game. “We are just focusing on the next game right now,” Leslie said. “We are not focusing on the NCAA Tournament right now. It will come when it comes.” Junior guard Scott Wood is averaging 12.3 points per game despite shooting just 4-28 in the last four games and 7-38 in the last five. Wood’s cold stretch has coincided with the Pack’s losing streak and Leslie said she felt it was just a phase the Indiana native was going through. “He is just in a rut, he has just got to find a way to get himself out and get shooting, get to the gym, just find a way to get his touch back,” Leslie said. “He is a good shooter and he knows that, he is just having a bad run and he just needs to find himself.” Senior guard C.J . Williams, who will be playing in his last ever home game, was in a nostalgic mood. Williams said he had developed as an individual ever since he came to State. “Definitely got here quickly [senior day], I still remember the date when I first walked in here, my first day being on college campus by myself was a different experience,” Williams said. “I definitely feel these four years have been great for me, I definitely feel I have grown not only as a basketball player but as a man. “I have become better and a more independent person.” Despite losing to Clemson in overtime, Williams said the team would fight until the end in its bid to make it to the Nationals. “We need this game; we are still in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament and we know we have to finish strong and one way to finish strong is to get a big win against a team that just beat Florida State,” Williams said. “We got a win on them so they will want revenge but we have to come out with a high level of energy and intensity and get this one. “We are just worried about getting it done each individual game and win each individual game.” Coach Mark Gottfried , whose team is 1-9 against the top 50 teams in the nation this year, felt Miami forward Kenny Kadji would prove to be the biggest threat for the Pack. Kadji is averaging 16.3 points in the last three games. “The real difference for them has been Kenny Kadji ,” Gottfried said. “He seems to have taken his game to another level. Part of it I think is conditioning, new coaching staff, new system, but I think that that group [Miami] has played very well since our game.” State has been a bubble team all season and Gottfried believed its destiny was not in its own hands. “When you’re on the bubble, it has a lot to do with what you do. But it also has a lot to do with what everybody else is doing,” Gottfried said. “Winning, losing, somebody making a late run, somebody winning a conference tournament, who knows. You’re at the mercy of a lot of variables when you get to this point.”
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Pack on alert as Hurricanes come to town
Rishav Dey, Deputy Sports Editor
• February 27, 2012
• February 27, 2012
Sophomore forward C.J. Leslie drives around a Florida State defender during the basketball game in the RBC Center Saturday, Feb. 18. The Seminoles defeated the Wolfpack 76-62. Photo by John Joyner.
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