Little respect for an opponent usually translates to less effort.
I remember thinking North Carolina State wasn’t much of a threat when they arrived at the KFC Yum! Center for the regular season game against the University of Louisville. The Wolf Pack had a 14-11 won-lost record and had lost five of their last six games.
Even texted a good friend in North Carolina, an alumnus of NC State, wishing him luck. He texted back, “We’re not very good this year.”
UofL was ranked seventh in the Associated Press poll with a 20-4 record at the time. The Wolf Pack wasn’t considered much of a threat by many of the UofL fans in the crowd of 22,410 that day. Or by the players themselves.
Big mistake, the Cardinals appearing to simply go through the motions that day, up by five halfway through the first half, owning a 31-30 lead at intermission. Still no problem, the Wolf Pack will surely go away.
NC State was cornered, desperate for respect, struggling to remain relevant, sensing that Louisville didn’t want to be there, consistently a step slow, not attacking the basket, not making three’s, their heads still not in the game.
NC State guards Anthony Barber and Trevor Lacy would burn the slow-footed, half-hearted Cardinals on defense, scoring 21 and 14 points, respectively. NC State smell blood, went on top 46-43 at the 13:04 mark and never trailed again in a 74-65 win over Louisville, giving their season new life.
The Wolfpack held Louisville to 33 percent shooting and dominated near the basket, outscoring the Cardinals 32-16 in the paint. N.C. State outrebounded Louisville 47-37 with Caleb Martin and Beejay Anya each grabbing 10. Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier would manage only seven and three points, respectively. It was a game they would rather brush aside, an off day, and forget.
The Cardinals were handed their butts that day. A lesson they can’t afford to forget. The humbling will be very much on the minds of Louisville players on Friday, totally focused on NC State this time around.