Wolfpack could be back to shortened deck – Gaston Gazette

RALEIGH North Carolina State could have to call on its experience with playing shorthanded given the short turnaround to Monday nights Atlantic Coast Conference basketball road assignment at Virginia.

The Wolfpack lost forwards Manny Bates (neck) and Pat Andree (right ankle) to injuries during Saturdays victory against Clemson, putting their availability for Monday night in doubt, particularly with the condensed timeframe between games.

This is a long season, N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts said. This is a marathon. Its going to be ups and downs and trials and tribulations throughout the whole season, and weve just got to figure out how to win games, both ways.

Just when N.C. State was starting to feel whole again with top scorer C.J. Bryce having returned from a four-game absence due to a concussion, the team could be down to seven scholarship players at its disposal, if Bates and Andree arent able to take part at Virginia a place where the Wolfpack hasnt won in 15 years.

The 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman Bates, a starter in all 18 games this season and significant shot-blocking presence, left less than 8 minutes into Saturdays contest. He didnt return after taking a blow to his neck while trying to defend a drive by Clemson standout Aamir Simms, a 240-pounder.

Andree, the 6-8 graduate transfer who N.C. State uses off the bench, suffered the ankle injury during a scramble for a rebound with 1:25 remaining in the game. He was in visible pain on the bench, before being taken back to the teams locker room.

We have so much talent on this team, Bryce said. Were a couple down right now, but we have that next man up mentality, and were going to continue to build.

Bryce played the full 40 minutes against Clemson, even shifting over to point guard from his natural wing position and relieving Markell Johnson for a segment toward the end of the first half.

That marked a substantial increase compared to the 22 minutes Bryce played three nights prior during the Wolfpacks defeat of Miami, his first game back from the concussion.

I didnt want to play him 40 minutes and I didnt even know that, to be honest with you, until I picked up the stat sheet, Keatts said. I thought Id subbed him out for a minute, but it says a lot about him. Give our training staff and our coaches and strength coaches a lot of credit, because theyve done a tremendous job getting him able to play that many minutes.

Tip-off

Who:North Carolina State (13-5, 4-3) at Virginia (12-5, 4-3)

When: 7 p.m. Monday (ESPN)

Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Va.

Series:N.C.State leads 66-63, but Virginia has won eight straight meetings. N.C.State hasnt won a road game at Virginia since March 2005.

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Wolfpack could be back to shortened deck - Gaston Gazette