‘We can’t do that.’ What NC State’s defense was missing in Pack’s loss to Virginia Tech
After beating Wake Forest, N.C. State’s locker room was filled with talk about winning with defense.
“Defense, defense, and more defense,” Pack guard D.J. Horne said Tuesday.
And Saturday? After Virginia Tech scored 51 points in the second half to nail down an 84-78 win over the Pack at PNC Arena, there was not much more that could be said.
Defense wins games. Bad defense can lose games. The Pack’s defense in the final seven minutes of the second half was bad as the Wolfpack lost its second ACC home game.
For much of the sloppy but hard-fought game, the Pack was able to contain and slow the Hokes’ top two offensive threats, Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor. But with the game on the line, with a road victory in sight, Pedulla and Cattoor gave Virginia Tech big baskets and winning plays.
“In the first half we did a really good job on Pedulla and Cattoor, and at the end of the game we didn’t,” NCSU coach Kevin Keatts said. “I thought those guys drove us. They made big plays when they needed to.”
Pedulla, averaging a team-high 16.3 points, had four points at halftime and Cattoor three points as Virginia Tech led 33-32. Pedulla would finish with 13 points and eight assists, and Cattoor had 19 points, picking up eight at the foul line.
“In the second half we let those guys get comfortable and when they got comfortable they started playing really good basketball,” Keatts said.
Virginia Tech (11-7, 3-4 ACC) had 20 turnovers. In most games, that kind of number can be decisive. But not Saturday as N.C. State (13-5, 5-2) turned the ball over 18 times and wasted too many possessions in a six-point game.
“I thought it was more us being indecisive and not being the aggressor,” Wolfpack guard Jayden Taylor said. “When we come out and we’re the aggressor, we don’t turn the ball over a lot at all. Credit to them, but that’s kind of self-inflicted as well. Something we’ve got to clean up.”
Both teams had ugly, careless turnovers. What bugged Keatts was in having a team that had made so few turnovers earlier in the season and now has averaged about 14 the past four games.
“We forced 20 turnovers and we did some good things,” Keatts said. “I just didn’t think we did a great job defending. This particular team hasn’t been one of those groups who give up straight-line drives. Guys were able to get all the way to the rim on us. Just not good enough.”
Pedulla shredded Clemson and Miami this season with 30-point games but the junior guard seemingly could not find a good rhythm Saturday. Then, it all came together in the final eight minutes.
Pedulla hit a 3 to give Tech a 56-54 lead with seven minutes left in regulation. He twice put the ball on the floor and drove down the lane for scores.
“At the end, Pedulla got in the paint whenever he wanted it,” Taylor said.
The Hokies would hit their last nine shots and shoot 62.5% in the second half.
“We just couldn’t stop ‘em,” said the Pack’s Casey Morsell, who had 19 points. “I think we got a little fatigued toward the end of the second half and that’s on us as players.”
Taylor said there was a “weird vibe” in the locker room after the game. Keatts was disappointed, he said, Everyone was.
“He was disappointed in the way we came out,” Taylor said. “Just us. It wasn’t anything they did necessarily, but just the energy we came out with and the focus, it just wasn’t there today.
“That’s on us. We can’t do that.”
The Wolfpack will play its next two games on the road – at Virginia on Wednesday and then at Syracuse. The Pack has a 3-0 ACC road record, beating Boston College, Notre Dame and Louisville.
The Pack smacked Virginia 76-60 on Jan. 6 at PNC Arena. The Cavaliers should be amped up for the rematch at their place.
In the ACC, a slip can quickly become a skid. The Pack wants to avoid that by rebounding with another road victory.
“It’s crucial,” Taylor said. “We’ve got to get this next one. There’s no ifs, ands and buts about it. We’ve got to get it.”
