If you take away anything from this game, it should be that NC State basketball missed its first 10 3-point attempts and still entered halftime with an eight-point lead.
“We didn’t take very good threes, their zones messed us up,” said head coach Will Wade. “Our shot quality wasn’t what it needed to be.”
The Wolfpack (2-0) found the right shot quality in the second half, making 10 of its next 20 3-pointers on its way to a comfortable 94-70 win over UAB (1-1). The guards — senior Quadir Copeland and sophomore Paul McNeil Jr. — led the team with 18 points apiece, with McNeil’s consecutive made 3-pointers to start the second half signaling the end of what was a close game.
“[Wade] was just telling us to trust our shot and our shot will fall,” McNeil said.
That maxim took the Wolfpack to the finish line, but did not serve the other team well. The Blazers shot 4-for-25 from three, with many being airballs.
“Some of it was us, some of it was they just missed an open shot,” Wade said. “[No.] Four was a little rattled after the airball — or, airballs.”
UAB’s No. 4, Ahmad Robinson, missed the rim completely on two 3-point shots and earned a chorus of “airball” chants when he touched the ball afterward. UAB head coach Andy Kennedy was looking for a better performance from Robinson, too.
“It’s hard to survive when a guy you think is potentially your leading scorer goes 2-for-12 and 1-for-7,” Kennedy said.
As a member of NC State’s 1986-87 ACC Championship team, Kennedy’s memories with the Pack are warm, but his welcome to Lenovo was anything but. The boos were deafening as the announcer called his name in the Blazers’ lineup.
“That’s what they should do to the opposing coach,” Kennedy said. “I’ve got great memories from my time at NC State.”
The only time the crowd was louder was when UAB missed two free throws in a row. A Chick-fil-A promotion gives everyone in the Raleigh area a free sandwich when the opposing team misses consecutive free throws, which also happened on opening night.
“That was the loudest the arena was all night,” Wade said. “It’s a great promotion, gets everybody into the free throws.”
Wade earned a technical foul tonight, making two games in a row of free food for the fans and free throws for the other team.
“Hopefully this is it,” Wade said when asked about his growing streak. “I was not trying to get the technical today … this is a little softer than I’m used to.”
The Wolfpack take the court again at 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 against the UNCG Spartans.
