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aztarheel · 01-30-2007, 02:28 PM

Steve Victory JOURNAL – Regular season 2024-25

State’s run to the Final Four begins on a rather interesting note. They have to work hard to get past Norfolk State in the opening round of the Preseason ACT. Final score: 79-75. Whew! The Pack pummels TCU in the second round 89-52 but then loses to #13 Providence in the championship game 71-70. Once again, Victory falls agonizingly short in a preseason ACT final (part of his legacy as a coach?).

The loss makes State players mad, and the Wolfpack goes on a pleasing 13-game winning streak! They win at Arizona 79-68. They win at Notre Dame 71-65. They roll at Washington 82-55. They cruise at Ohio State 87-65. And they beat the teams they are supposed to like Stony Brook, St. Peters, LaSalle, Charlotte, etc. Various players step up at different times. Michael Stokes stones Stony Brook with 28 points. Toni Zupic rejects UNC-Charlotte nine times. John Henry, Deon Brown, Andre Baker all get double figures in scoring multiple times. The Pack enters ACC play holding a #7 ranking in the nation.

The makings of the perfect championship season, right? Ha! This is Steve Victory remember? Something’s got to crack somewhere.

That something is a bone in Jon Henry’s foot (ala Derrick Whittenburg in ‘83). One of Victory’s leading scorers falls funny in an early ACC game against Duke, and the unraveling begins. The Devils crush the Pack 83-59. And this is after State lost to Georgia Tech a few nights earlier 79-78. Unfortunately, it gets worse before it gets better.

After ripping up North Carolina in Chapel Hill 90-61 (breaking from character—it pains me to write that), State loses another player to injury against Clemson. Deon Brown dislocates his knee (I’ve done that, it’s no fun) and is out for a month. (I was out a lot longer). And we’re still not done with injuries.

A couple nights after Clemson, SG Michael Stokes falls victim. He’s out two months with his ailment (can’t remember what it is). Counting the two redshirt guys, State is down to eight players dressing out. Victory is doggedly determined not to break up either of the redshirts, so he puts a patchwork lineup on the floor to end the ACC season. It isn’t pretty but it could be a whole lot worse.

The record the rest of the way: 5-7, with a four-game losing streak in the middle. College of Charleston even sneaks in and beats the Pack in a late-season meeting. Argg. That didn’t sit well with Mr. Victory. Andre Baker tried to carry the team, leading the scoring many nights but he could only do so much.

Thankfully, the injuries starting healing up by late February, and players started trickling back in. Deon Brown comes back by game 28 and helps the Pack beat Maryland. Jon Henry is back on the roster as NCSU gets ready for the ACC tournament… The final regular season tally: 22-10, 8-8 in the ACC. A final ranking of 25 in both polls. A bittersweet taste overall considering the 13-1 start and the ever-increasing expectations.

The Wolfpack will get an NCT berth but to where and which seed?

01-30-2007, 02:28 PM	#178
aztarheel High School JV Join Date: Sep 2006	Steve Victory JOURNAL – Regular season 2024-25 State’s run to the Final Four begins on a rather interesting note. They have to work hard to get past Norfolk State in the opening round of the Preseason ACT. Final score: 79-75. Whew! The Pack pummels TCU in the second round 89-52 but then loses to #13 Providence in the championship game 71-70. Once again, Victory falls agonizingly short in a preseason ACT final (part of his legacy as a coach?). The loss makes State players mad, and the Wolfpack goes on a pleasing 13-game winning streak! They win at Arizona 79-68. They win at Notre Dame 71-65. They roll at Washington 82-55. They cruise at Ohio State 87-65. And they beat the teams they are supposed to like Stony Brook, St. Peters, LaSalle, Charlotte, etc. Various players step up at different times. Michael Stokes stones Stony Brook with 28 points. Toni Zupic rejects UNC-Charlotte nine times. John Henry, Deon Brown, Andre Baker all get double figures in scoring multiple times. The Pack enters ACC play holding a #7 ranking in the nation. The makings of the perfect championship season, right? Ha! This is Steve Victory remember? Something’s got to crack somewhere. That something is a bone in Jon Henry’s foot (ala Derrick Whittenburg in ‘83). One of Victory’s leading scorers falls funny in an early ACC game against Duke, and the unraveling begins. The Devils crush the Pack 83-59. And this is after State lost to Georgia Tech a few nights earlier 79-78. Unfortunately, it gets worse before it gets better. After ripping up North Carolina in Chapel Hill 90-61 (breaking from character—it pains me to write that), State loses another player to injury against Clemson. Deon Brown dislocates his knee (I’ve done that, it’s no fun) and is out for a month. (I was out a lot longer). And we’re still not done with injuries. A couple nights after Clemson, SG Michael Stokes falls victim. He’s out two months with his ailment (can’t remember what it is). Counting the two redshirt guys, State is down to eight players dressing out. Victory is doggedly determined not to break up either of the redshirts, so he puts a patchwork lineup on the floor to end the ACC season. It isn’t pretty but it could be a whole lot worse. The record the rest of the way: 5-7, with a four-game losing streak in the middle. College of Charleston even sneaks in and beats the Pack in a late-season meeting. Argg. That didn’t sit well with Mr. Victory. Andre Baker tried to carry the team, leading the scoring many nights but he could only do so much. Thankfully, the injuries starting healing up by late February, and players started trickling back in. Deon Brown comes back by game 28 and helps the Pack beat Maryland. Jon Henry is back on the roster as NCSU gets ready for the ACC tournament… The final regular season tally: 22-10, 8-8 in the ACC. A final ranking of 25 in both polls. A bittersweet taste overall considering the 13-1 start and the ever-increasing expectations. The Wolfpack will get an NCT berth but to where and which seed? Last edited by aztarheel : 01-30-2007 at 04:04 PM.