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.HomeTeam NewsRecruit NewsVideosWhere are they now?DonateFriday, November 20, 2009IT'S OFFICIAL: We've MOVED!!0comments2:44 PMPosted byWolfpack Hoops We're changing our look and our location. We've updated the site to make it much easier to navigate, and we've moved to PackInsider.com. WPH and WPP will both still be around, and we'll still be providing the same coverage, just at a different location. Feel free to head on over to PackInsider.com since we will no longer be updating this website.
Thanks! and see you over at Pack Insider!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PACKINSIDER.COMGlenn Wilkes Classic Preview: NC State vs. Akron26comments8:58 AMPosted byWolfpack Hoops Labels:09-10 Wolfpack TeamNC STATE WOLFPACK vs. AKRON ZIPS When: 3:30pm Where: Daytona, FL Records: NC State (1-0), Akron (0-1) Television: None (Online Streaming from GlennWilkesClassic.com) Where To Watch In Raleigh: The Brickhouse Sports Bar and Grill (3801 Hillsborough St.)
On Friday afternoon the Wolfpack will take on the favorite to win the MAC, the Akron Zips. Sporting a senior laden line-up, the Zips are an experienced squad looking to notch their first win of season. Last week, Akron fell to Austin Peay (whom the Pack will play on Saturday) in true heartbreaking fashion. With 5:26 left to play, Akron held a 12 point advantage, only to see Austin Peay reel off the next 17 points, en route to the victory.
With the Zips, it may not be the starting five you need to focus on. In their opening game, the bench players out-scored the starters 47-30, led by junior guard Steve McNeese with 14, and the infamous three point threat, 'Humpty' Higgins with 12.
Friday will mark the third time NC State has faced Akron. The Pack has won the first two contests rather handily (in 1947 and 1969). NC State also owns a 3-0 record against all MAC teams.
The Wolfpack will most likely be without senior Farnold Degand (coaches decision- grades) according to head coach Sidney Lowe at his weekly radio show. The absence of Degand, the fastest player on the squad, could certainly hamper the Pack's attempts to push the pace. This will mean finding ways to score out of the half court set, when forced to do so. Lowe is tinkering with a few ideas, including moving the sharp shooting freshman, Scott Wood, to the two, enabling him to get more floor time. He also mentioned allowing Tracy Smith to operate out of the 4, meaning freshman Jordan Vandenberg could see extended time this weekend. Vandenberg has been a shock to fans who figured his lack of recruitment equated to a lack of talent. That theory has been put to rest as Vandenberg is now a fan favorite thanks to his presence in the middle, his intense nature and his sneaky athleticism.
Another reason you may see a bit more of Vandenberg is to off-set Akron's 7 foot freshman, Zeke Marshall. Marshall, a heralded freshman who shunned schools such as Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech for Akron. Ranked as the 7th best center in the nation, he chose Akron, in part, because he wanted to bring a small school to national prominence and doesn't think you need to play in a power conference to get drafted.
"A lot of high-ranked players are starting to go to smaller schools," Marshall said to ESPN. "You can make The League without going to a big school."
Although, at the end of the day, the team with the most baskets win, limiting turnovers and pressure defense will certainly be a deciding factor in this one, as usual for NC State. The Zips only committed 9 turnovers in their first contest, a number expected for an experienced roster. The Pack also, surprisingly, only had 9 turnovers in their opener. A surprisingly low number, taking into consideration the amount of freshmen logging minutes for State.
The Glenn Wilkes Classic will certainly be a test for this young NC State team. Playing three games in three days away from home will tell a lot. It will help head Coach Lowe get a gauge of who to play and when to play them. It will tell if this young team is ready for to compete against the big boys, and it will test the togetherness of a team that swears by their chemistry. It should be an exciting weekend. Stay tuned, as we're in Daytona covering it every step of the way.Thursday, November 19, 20092012 Center Uchebo Commits To NC State!81comments10:38 AMPosted byWolfpack Hoops Labels:Joseph Uchebo (recruit),Recruit News,Recruit VideosWith the 2010 recruiting class already solidified as a Top-10 class, Coach Lowe reached a couple years into the future, and received a commitment from 7-foot center Joseph Uchebo in the 2012 class.
Joseph Uchebo is a 7-foot, 220 pound sophomore center in the 2012 class. Originally from Nigeria, Uchebo played for Mt. Zion in Durham last season. Currently, he is at Oak Ridge Academy, but his transfer papers have been submitted, that could land him at Word of God Academy in the near future. Uchebo is supposed to be a tremendous soccer player, making him much more athletic and agile than most 7-footers. This young man's game is raw, but ESPN states that he has a skilled inside presence and quickness. Uchebo's ceiling is very high, and many believe he could end up being one of the top players in his class before it is all said and done.
Uchebo was at NC State's Red Rally at Reynolds and has been up to practice on numerous occasions. This coaching staff continues to show that they have an eye for talent early on in the recruiting process.