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The bright side: NC State went to Syracuse without its two leading scorers and still nearly won.
The not-so-bright side: State started 6-1 and is now 7-6 and has only won one of its last five games.
So losing to Syracuse hurts.
The Pack is without Devon Daniels, who is injured, and now without DJ Funderburk.
Earlier in his career, Funderburk was suspended after getting multiple tickets and then getting four boots on his car and then trying to drive the damn thing. The last thing he needed was a suspension as a senior, supposedly a team leader, and it’s certainly the last thing his team needed.
The only reason given was “university policies” and apparently State coach Kevin Keatts was blindsided.
Under the circumstances, State did very well to nearly win this game. Alan Griffin saved it for Syracuse, hitting two free throws with :04 left to give Syracuse a 76-73 lead.
With the loss, State falls to 11th place in the conference. And while it’s fair to say that State’s struggling, just about everyone deserves an asterisk after a season like this.
More interestingly, look at the teams below State: Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Miami have all shown that they are capable of competing with anyone and Boston College, just 3-10, has certainly had its moments, notably losing to Duke by just one.
But BC has been shut down and has had to postpone its last four games.
Clearly there’s a world of difference between first place and 3-21 but its hard to fault any tame for struggling this season. Who’s not?
One game Monday - other than Duke at Miami, discussed elsewhere - as hot Georgia Tech visits Louisville. It’s hard to bet against the Yellow Jackets right now.
Monday’s ACC Action
- Georgia Tech at Louisville || 2:00 || ACCN
- Duke at Miami || 7:00 || ESPN
- NC State falls to Orange despite career highs from Hellems, Bates
- NC State’s DJ Funderburk is a late scratch for Syracuse game
- NC State’s Keatts talks about the loss to Syracuse
- NC State’s Keatts talks about D.J. Funderburk
- Watch Jim Boeheim’s news conference after Syracuse game vs. NC State
- Jim Boeheim: SU center Bourama Sidibe might play on Wednesday
- Syracuse clamps down on defense in 2nd half to beat NC State (Donna Ditota’s quick hits)