Utah Jazz assistant coach Sidney Lowe, who played and coached at NC State, was arrested Monday on charges that he failed to pay North Carolina state income taxes for three different years.
Read about it by clicking here.
Hurricanes’ Tlusty is NHL Third Star of the Week
The National Hockey League today announced that Carolina Hurricanes forward Jiri Tlusty has been named its Third Star of the Week for the week ending Feb. 17. The New York Islanders’ John Tavares and the Anaheim Ducks’ Viktor Fasth were named first and second stars, respectively.
Tlusty, 24, netted four goals, added two assists (6 points) and was plus-6, as the Hurricanes earned victories against the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs last week. The Slany, Czech Republic, native currently ranks third among Carolina skaters in goals (5) and fifth in points (9), playing primarily alongside Eric Staal and Alexander Semin. He is tied for ninth in the NHL in plus/minus for the season (+10).
The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night at Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, Hurricanes Radio Network). Following the game, the team will return to Raleigh to host the Winnipeg Jets at PNC Arena on Thursday. For information on 2012-13 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.
– News release
Maryland 83, Duke 81: what the coaches and players are saying…
Head Coach Mark Turgeon
Opening Statement:
“Our fans were great from beginning to end, passionate. I told our players before the game there is a lot of pride in Maryland basketball. We didn’t perform well last week. For them to show up in droves, I know it was Duke but the students lined up and came early. There was a lot of pride. There was also a lot of passion about Maryland basketball. We talked about pride and passion, and playing with those two things tonight, for us and for our fans. Our fans were just tremendous. We never quit, we never had a doubt we were going to win the game.
“I am really proud of my kids. I worked them really hard this week and challenged them in a lot of different areas. I told them before the game you don’t have to do anything extraordinary you just have to play to our level. We weren’t extraordinary all the time but we played to our level, we continued to compete. For our young guys, our young team, it’s one thing to play Duke close, it’s another thing to beat them. We figured out how to beat them by two, it’s a great win for us.”
On if it’s a break through win:
“It’s a great win. I challenged Alex [Len] about being Mason Plumlee’s little brother. He treats you like a little brother. He said I am tired of being a little brother since I have been here. It’s time for us to step up and act like one of the big guys on the block. Obviously we aren’t we are only 6-6 in the league. We beat a really good team tonight. Is it a break through win? We will see how we react from it. I am going to keep a foot on them. We have a lot of basketball ahead of us. A lot of big game and a lot of road games ahead of us down the stretch. I hope it is though, a confidence builder and a break through win for us.”
On Seth Allen:
“He made a lot of plays late, and he is hard to keep in front of you. We were running a play for Alex [Len], but our action distracted the defense and allowed him to get to all the way in deep. There was no doubt in my mind he was going to make them. [Tyler] Thornton was getting into him a little bit and I think it made Seth relax a little bit. I don’t know what 14 times 500 is but we shot that many free throws this week. The key was that we got to the foul line. We haven’t shot 34 free throws in a long time. We drove the ball and were aggressive and got to the line and made a lot. We shot 7,000 free throws this week. We still weren’t great but it was a better percentage.”
On the last play:
“We set a double screen for Logan [Aronhalt] on the baseline. Told him they were going to switch, which they did. Jake [Layman] went right into a cross screen for Alex [Len]. I told Seth [Allen] if the switch you throw it right to Alex. There was a lot of holding and grabbing going on, which happens late in the game. Seth just went by him and got all the way to the rim. We drove the ball, we have lost a couple of games where we shot jump shots but we drove it and got to the line. The kid grew up tonight.”
On Alex Len:
“He was tremendous all night. He was great on ball screen defense, and on protecting the rim. He picked up fouls three and four really quick, but he was dominating the game. He fouled, and I should have taken him out the one before the fourth foul. He was great, and I have been hard on Alex. For us to have a chance to make a run down the stretch we need Alex to continue to play at this high level.”
On defensive play and defending Seth Curry:
“He was phenomenal to start and he did it off the drive. Our entire game plan was that Duke had to beat us from two. They were one for six at halftime [from three], and being who we are we broke down a little bit in the second half. They missed some open ones for us also, but we did a nice job. Seth Curry is a winner and he makes big shots. Curry played really well tonight. I thought we did a great job defending him in the second half. Dez Wells and Nick Faust played really well. We went hard on our players this week—our guys were really sore on Thursday, so we dialed them back Friday to save some energy for tonight.”
On this game as a personal win:
“It has been a hard week. I take a lot of pride in my coaching. I don’t do a lot of things well, but I like to think that I can coach fairly well. It has been a hard week on my family, hard on my son last week. He had to leave the stands because the fans were so hard on his dad. This win was for my family and the fans. I know what this win means for our fan base, and I really wanted to beat Duke. This means a lot to me. Over the summer I said if we beat Duke I am going to be in the stands with our fans.”
Senior Forward James Padgett
On containing Mason Plumlee:
“We were just trying to execute defensively and force them to take tough shots. We played big bodies on him like Shaq [Cleare] to make him go through us and not just around us; so I think that’s what helped us out a lot.”
On the feeling in the locker room:
“The team is excited. It’s a big win for us that hopefully we can use as a momentum builder going into the last couple games in the ACC. Everyone is excited, but we’re not content. We’re going to continue to work and continue to get better.”
On when Seth Allen took the final free throws:
“[I was thinking] hopefully he makes these so we don’t have to go into overtime, and we come out with a big win. It was a great opportunity for Seth to step up and show he’s maturing.”
Sophomore Guard Nick Faust
On what the win means:
“It was a big win for us, for the school.”
On the win:
“It was a great push. We got this win and we’re just trying to strive to get this next one, so you know hopefully we use this in the right way, and beat Boston College on Wednesday.”
On the crowd:
“They were big. The crowd was into it almost every play. We got them into it and they just gave us a push at the end. You know, they’re a great team and the crowd really helped us a lot.”
Freshman Guard Seth Allen
On his play:
“[Coach] said to play through [the turnovers]. That’s a big test of your maturity, to go through the next play. I just tried to have amnesia, and tried to play every time.”
On the team’s improved free-throw percentage:
“…Coach told us we had to make 500 free throws as individuals before this game, so I just got comfortable in my routine and tried to knock them down.”
On Alex Len:
“One of our big keys was to play inside-out and let Alex [Len] go at [Mason] Plumlee. He was picking up fouls, and Alex kept attacking him. Alex played a great game.”
Sophomore Center Alex Len
On his play:
“I watched a lot of film this past week. I just took it as a challenge. I didn’t play well at their place, so it was a huge challenge for me to play against them.”
On the win:
“It’s all about the team. I really don’t care about how many points I score or how many rebounds I have. It’s a big win for our team and our program. I know our fans have waited for this win for four years.”
On the team’s play:
“We were getting stops [early] and that gave us confidence. We were really good on the defensive end.”
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Opening Statement:
“That was a terrific game. Congratulations to Maryland. I thought the week of preparation they had for this game… they were fresh, they were determined ,and it was a tough team for us to play. In saying that, I thought our kids played like crazy. We had five guards out there a lot of the time. I actually thought Quinn [Cook]’s shot was in. For Rasheed [Sulaimon] to make those three free throws with that amount of pressure, and at different junctures when they got a 10 point lead… This has been an exhausting schedule for our team since NC State. We’re playing on fumes and I think you could tell that. Mason [Plumlee] looked exhausted the whole game. He’s been great. We’ll keep him, we believe in him, but that’s what happens. His teammates really did a great job. They showed so much heart to come back. They had to win the game, we didn’t lose it. Our kids fought like crazy.”
On what adjustments they could have made:
“Tonight’s not about rotations or X’s and O’s. We don’t have any bigs. If Mason’s not playing, we’re just trying to survive. We’ve been trying to survive since Ryan [Murphy] went out and Mason’s carried us. Tonight, he wasn’t playing that well. Then you’re just trying to do whatever you can. Our team believes we can win. Our program believes it can win. I’ve got a bunch of winners in there, they don’t have positions. They’re just going to play their butts off and try to win a basketball game.”
On surviving adversity:
“I’m not going to single anyone out. There’s not strategy really in this. You’re trying to survive. You’re trying to get five guys out there to fight. There’s a lot of improvisation done in this game as a result of us not being able to do the normal things we’ve been doing. Our kids reacted well to them… I can’t ask any more from those kids and what they gave tonight. They put themselves in a position to win; they were just not able to win tonight.”
On what he thinks about the end of the Maryland/Duke rivalry:
“We don’t look at any rivalries; we look at each opponent the same. I’ve said that every time I’ve come here. I have a great deal of respect for Maryland. If it was such a rivalry they’d still be in the ACC. Obviously they don’t think it’s that important, or they wouldn’t be in the Big Ten. I respect their basketball program and the job their coaches have done and their players have done over the years. We’ve had some great games with them, but we have great games against a lot of people. A lot of people want to beat us, and they’re one of them.”
Senior Forward Mason Plumlee
On Maryland’s play:
“All their bigs played very well today. They made it difficult for us on both ends of the court. We weren’t able to execute”
On his play tonight:
“I don’t think it was so much [Maryland’s] defensive coverage—I just have to show up. I didn’t show up to play today and I let my teammates down. That’s not how I’ve played all season. I hope it doesn’t happen again. It’s all on me.”
Senior Guard Seth Curry
On the game’s final minutes:
“We were sharing the ball. We had a small lineup out there so we could move the ball. We also made some free throws that helped us get back into the game. It was hard to get in a rhythm though. The refs were calling a foul on every possession.
On all of the late fouls:
“It was frustrating. You just want to be able to play. Both teams played well the whole game, but the game changed when they called a foul and stopped play every possession. It wasn’t fun.”
Sophomore guard Quinn Cook
On the team’s toughness:
“We fought hard in the last ten minutes. We had a lot of players who stepped up big with all our foul trouble. Tyler [Thornton], Rasheed [Sulaimon], and Seth [Curry] all stepped up and played well. When Mason [Plumlee] gets all of the defense’s attention, other guys have to step up. Coach got us back in the game, so we just have to get better.”
On the missed three-point shot at the buzzer:
“I thought it was in when I got it off. But, it went off the glass and bounced out. Coach drew up a great play, and we got a good look at the end.”
Pack wins their 7th (close) ACC game as Wood keeps making shots
Following Saturday’s 90-86 overtime victory over Virginia Tech, N.C. State has won seven ACC games this year by four points or fewer. And what would they be without the three-point shooting of Scott Wood.
Following a last-second three at Clemson for a win and a six of 11 performance against the Hokies, not to mention a season’s worth of evidence, it appears that the Wolfpack’s fate this year will rest on the long-range shooting of the 6-foot-6 senior from Marion, Ind.
Scott has played more minutes than any other Pack player and while he isn’t usually the top scorer (in fact his 22 against Virginia Tech was the first time he’s been the Pack’s leading scorer in a game), he is the player that steps to the front when the game is on the line. Against Virginia Tech, a pair of shots – one late in regulation and one giving the Pack the lead in overtime – may have salvaged State’s season.
If the Pack were 5-7 instead of 7-5 there would be a big question mark about making the NCAA tournament and even being in the top half of the league. This is a team that was predicted to win the ACC. A losing record in the ACC would be disastrous after such a build up.
If the Pack can keep winning these squeakers, they can be contenders for second or third place in the league going into the ACC tournament and then who knows what can happen. Especially if Wood keeps hitting the big threes.
UNC’s team effort comeback win over Virginia could have saved season
This could have been a season-saving victory for the UNC Tar Heels, who defeated Virginia 93-81 at home Saturday after losing at Miami and Duke over the past week. Virginia played well. It’s not often that you’ll beat a team by 12 when that team shoots nearly 60 percent.
Carolina scored 53 points in the second half, which is a point more than the Heels scored the entire game when they played at Virginia in early January.
Even though P.J. Hairston was the scoring star of the game with a career-high 29 points, this was a team effort.
Marcus Paige kept the Tar Heels in the game in the first half, after they got down by 10 points, with some key baskets and some key assists and he finished with 17 points.
Reggie Bullock, who has been fighting a cold and back and knee pain, had 11 points, four assists and four steals.
James Michael McAdoo, who was doubled teamed most of the way, hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
And Dexter Strickland, who was able to get down court quickly on fast breaks, scored 12 points, had six assists and only turned the ball over once.
That all being said, only two other players – Brice Johnson, who had six points, and Leslie McDonald, who has seven – played more than eight minutes.
Since going to the shorter lineup, minutes have greatly diminished for Johnson, Desmond Hubert, Jackson Simmons and Joel James (who has been out with a concussion).
Carolina improves to 17-8 and 7-5 in the ACC while Virginia falls to 18-7 and 8-4 in the ACC. It’s important to note that the Cavs have yet to play league leaders Miami and Duke.
For more on the game, please click here.
Wolfpack, Rodon falls to Appalachian in baseball season opener
No. 8 NC State baseball fell 6-3 to Appalachian State in its season-opener, Friday, in front of an opening day record 2,396 fans at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Pack sophomore Carlos Rodon (0-1) suffered the first loss of his collegiate career after allowing five earned runs over six innings while striking out eight. Friday’s outing marked the first time that Rodon exited a game with the Wolfpack trailing. It also represents his first loss since May 21, 2010, when Rodon was a high school junior.
Appalachian State (1-0) jumped out to a terrific start behind a three-run homer from Jaylin Davis. The Mountaineers added to that lead with solo shots from Preston Troutman and Noah Holmes in the second and fourth innings. NC State (0-1) rallied with two runs in the fourth, and another in the eighth to make it 5-3. An unearned insurance run in the ninth set the final margin at 6-3.
Sophomore Trea Turner scored twice and stole two bases for the Wolfpack in a 2-for-4 outing with a double. Senior Tarran Senay drove in two RBIs while Jake Fincher and Will Nance accounted for the Pack’s other two hits.
Appalachian State’s Jamie Nunn (1-0) earned the win on one earned over six innings, fanning five Wolfpack hitters. Rob Marcello (1) claimed the save with a perfect ninth.
Hector Crespo led off the game with a single up the middle. Will Callaway followed one out later with a single to short to set the table for Davis’ homer to left. Holmes homered on the first pitch he saw in the second to make it a 4-0 game. Troutman built on that lead with a solo shot to right with one out in the fourth.
The Pack rallied in the fourth behind Turner’s lead-off double, a chopper sent over the third baseman’s head. Brett Austin walked to put runners on the corners with one out for Senay. Senay grounded to second, but a pair of errors on the attempted double play sent Turner and Austin to the plate to make it 5-2. Turner started another rally in the 8th with a line drive single to center. After stealing second and third, Turner scored on Senay’s sac fly to left.
NC State returns to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start in game two of the three-game series. Live stats and streaming coverage will be available on GoPack.com. Fans can tune into 88.1 WKNC for radio play-by-play, or follow @NCStateBaseball on Twitter for live updates.
UNC’s Emanuel dazzles in baseball opener
Junior left-hander Kent Emanuel opened the Diamond Heels season in impressive fashion Friday afternoon as he shut out Seton Hall in a 1-0 North Carolina win.
Emanuel surrendered just four hits on the afternoon as he became the first Tar Heel since 1967 to throw a season-opening shutout. The Woodstock, Ga., native struck out five batters and did not issue a walk in leading the top-ranked Tar Heels to the 1-0 win.
The Tar Heels were able to scratch out a run against Seton Hall right-hander Jon Prosinski in the sixth inning, the only blemish on the senior’s final line.
Carolina had been held in check the first time through the lineup before freshman Skye Bolt opened the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single through the right side.
Junior Brian Holberton battled Prosinski through a good at bat before drawing a walk and making Bolt the first player on either team to reach second base on the day. Junior catcher Matt Roberts moved the pair into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and flipped the lineup over for Chaz Frank.
Frank fell behind 1-2 in the count before hitting a shallow fly to center field. Bolt tagged up from third and slid in just under the throw from center fielder Zack Granite.
The Pirates threatened against Emanuel in the final two frames but the southpaw was able to escape danger. Scott Kalamar opened the eighth with a single through the middle and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Kyle Grimm.
Emanuel was able to corral a comebacker for out number two before getting Dillon Hamlin swinging to end the frame.
Another leadoff single opened the final frame, and a dropped throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt put two on with nobody out in the ninth for Seton Hall.
A sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run into scoring position to put the pressure on the Tar Heels. Emanuel was able to strike out Giuseppe Papaccio looking for the second out of the inning.
Sal Annunziata hit a high chopper back to the mound but Emanuel was able to make a leaping grab and a throw to first to seal the game away.
Bolt finished his collegiate debut with a pair of singles, while Parks Jordan and Michael Russell each added a single.
The Tar Heels and Pirates are set to square off again on Saturday with first pitch tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m.
What they’re saying about Duke’s close win over Carolina
North Carolina led Duke by 10 points in the first half, led by four at the break and seven early in the second half but Duke, in foul trouble for much of the game, hit some big shots and watched the Tar Heels miss free throw after free throw as the Blue Devils edged UNC 73-68 in Durham Wednesday night.
Duke overcomes slow start to beat UNC 73-68
Rapid Reaction: Duke 73, UNC 68
Plumlee leads No. 2 Duke past UNC, 73-68
Duke 73, UNC 68: What UNC and Duke coaches and players are saying
Tar Heel grit not enough to stop second-half Devil strength
Canes beat first-place Devils to finish road trip 4-1-1
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Eastern Conference-leading New Jersey Devils 4-2 to go 4-1-1 on their six-game, 12-day road trip.
“It was a gutsy effort by our team,” said goalie Cam Ward, who stopped 26 shots including one in the last minute that barely missed tying the game. An empty net goal wrapped it up.
“It’s been a long trip,” he said. “To finish with two points against the first-place team is a huge confidence builder.”
Patrick Dwyer, who scored one of the Hurricanes goals, agreed but expanded on the confidence angle. “It was huge for our confidence,” Dwyer said. “To have such a successful road trip speaks to our confidence.”
Dwyer gave a lot of the credit to Ward.
“He’s been spectacular this whole road trip. He really stepped up,” Dwyer said. “Our success drives off goaltending and those guys have been great.”
It took a big power play goal by Jiri Tlusty to break a 2-2 tie and give the Hurricanes the lead for good. Tlusty also scored the empty net goal with 34 seconds left.
An in-depth look at UNC’s starts in ACC play
Brian Barbour of TarHeelBlog.com does some interesting analysis about how slowly North Carolina has started ACC basketball games. He looks at what has happened before the first TV timeout of each contest and breaks down the starting lineup’s performance with each starter’s points and shooting accuracy… or lack thereof.
He also goes in depth regarding these five observations.
#1: James Michael McAdoo has been awful at the start of games.
#2: The starting backcourt is horrible shooting the ball.
#3: Reggie Bullock is a man on an island.
#4: Desmond Hubert is a non-factor.
#5: The offense is the problem more than the defense.
To read the entire article, please click here.