After Saturday’s non-conference game, the rest of the regular season schedule for the Pack (14-8, 2-5 in ACC) consists of only conference competition.’ Sizing up the competition, State rounds out the bottom of the conference in 10th place as it prepares for its upcoming game Wednesday against University of Virginia, (13-6, 4-2 in ACC) as it looks to capture its second road ACC win of the season.’
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The two teams have already met this season and as the Pack looks back on its ACC play so far this season, the team may highlight this one as one it let slip away. The Pack had the lead for most of the second half, but due to a lackluster performance from the free throw line, where the team was 10-26, the Cavaliers battled back and were able to take the road win against the Pack, 70-62.’
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After the game, head coach Sidney Lowe said the team’s lack of mental toughness contributed to the loss. In addition, the Pack was unable to capitalize on its free throws against Virginia. Senior forward Dennis Horner echoed his coaches claims.’
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‘Free throws can make or break a game,’ Horner said after the Virginia game on Jan. 9. ‘[Virginia] made the last 17. That’s going to finish a team off. It’s an easy basket and you have to make them.’
According to Tracy Smith defeating the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va. on Wednesday would constitute a huge victory for the team and would provide some payback to the Cavs, after they let the last game slip away from them.’
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‘It [would be] a big win for us,’ junior forward Smith said. ‘They came here and stole one from us, we’ve got to go down to Virginia and steal one from them.’
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With the non-conference game against North Carolina Central on Saturday, the team was able to learn how to play and win, even when not everyone is 100 percent and healthy.’
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‘We’ve been playing some tough games, everybody is sore, and body hurting,’ Smith said. ‘We had to put that behind us, fight through that fatigue, we just had to step up and play hard.’
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The Cavaliers are in the ACC title hunt, sitting in third place, and will be coming over its huge 15-point win over the UNC Tarheels in Chapel Hill last Sunday.’ The team is lead by forward Sylven Landesberg, who is third in the ACC, averaging 18.2 points per game.’
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Also the Pack will need to look to go out sharp on the offensive side of the ball and will not be able to afford another long scoring drought as the Cavaliers are the number one team in the ACC in three-point shooting and third in the ACC in scoring defense, allowing only 61.6 points per game.
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Tip-off for the State vs. Virginia game will be at 7 p.m. and aired on ESPNU.
