Mike Krzyzewski thinks N.C. State is an NCAA tournament team, so does ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried is not as sure.
"Without question, we have a long way to go," Gottfried said Monday on the weekly ACC teleconference.
N.C. State's 18-7 overall and 7-3 in the ACC with its biggest three-game stretch of the season approaching. The Pack plays Krzyzewski's Duke team on Thursday, in Durham, followed by a visit from FSU on Saturday and the return game with North Carolina on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Those three teams are tied for the ACC lead at 8-2 and each one of those three games represents a chance for the Pack to notch a resume-building, if not clinching win.
Lunardi, who handles ESPN's weekly tournament projections, has the Wolfpack as one of the last four teams in the 68-team field, which would put them in Dayton, Ohio for the "First Four."
Gottfried, who worked at ESPN the previous two seasons before taking the State job in last April, said he noticed Lunardi's projection but didn't think much of it.
"As a former member of the media, one thing I do know, Joey Brackets — who I love — his list will change at least 100 times between now and Selection Sunday," Gottfried said.
"There's a lot of chatter about who's in and who's out but the only way you get into the tournament is to win games."
N.C. State has won three straight in the conference to improve to 7-3 in the ACC but all of its wins are over teams behind them in the league standings.
N.C. State goes to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday where it hasn't won since 1995 and hasn't beaten Krzyzewski since 1988.
Krzyzewski spoke highly of Gottfried's first team, which has already surpassed the conference win total of the previous five State teams.
"I think they've earned everything that they've gotten," Krzyzewski said. "I think they're an NCAA team and I think they will be tough down the stretch for a lot of people."
Duke throttled State last year at Cameron, 76-52, and won in Raleigh, 92-78. Since State's last win at Duke in '95, the Blue Devils have gone 29-5 against the Wolfpack.
-- J.P. Giglio
Monday, February 13, 2012
Krzyzewski likes Wolfpack's NCAA chances
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12 comments:
pack has some recruits next year....look out!
Just because you're tied for 3rd in ACC does not mean anything. NC State didn't beat anyone out of conference. The ACC sucks this year, even the league best teams were beat by UNLV (UNC) and Temple (Duke). With BCS money the league should much better than this. The league deserves 4 bids max (UNC, Duke, UVA, FSU). ACC fans are the biggest homers alive.
ACC schools stink....The SEC is the best basletball conference...GO UK!!! 2O12 NCAA Champs...
ACC: 5 Natl Championships this century...how many does your conference have???
UK is the best team in the country but the rest of the SEC sucks. If I were a Wildcat I'd be concerned if Vandy was my hardest competition.
At Anon 2:14. SEC is the best conference? Please. The Big East or Big Ten would make mincemeat out of them. SEC is about as good as the ACC.
ACC is weak....SEC has the 2012 NCAA CHAMP...which is UK! UNC and Duke are both out in the 2nd round. FSU out in the 1st and NCSU won't make it after they get beat by Duke by 30 this week.
NC STATE get beat by 30 at DUKE...GO DUKE!
UK and UNC are the only fanbases I know of that consistently crown themselves "champs" before the season's over...2008 (UNC) and 2010 (UK) come to mind. You just look like fools...I will laugh when a team like Mizzou or 'Cuse wins it this year!
UNC and UK are not that good. Good inside game, but that's it. Either team plays Duke will lose...We are the best and will be #1 in the end...Duke is the BEST in college basketball....could beat the NBA'S Bobcats...a team owned by a UNC Alum that is highly overrated...not in the same class kOBE.
UNC is the worst in college basektball...should not be in the Top 25...NCSU has no chance against DUKE!
How does this article look now? Funny.
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