CAT-QUICK BARBER, NC STATE HOSTCAT-QUICK BARBER, NC STATE HOSTBUCKNELL SATURDAY AT NOONBUCKNELL SATURDAY AT NOONNC State (4-3) vs. Bucknell (3-4)NC State (4-3) vs. Bucknell (3-4)

DateDate Saturday, Dec. 5

TimeTime 12 p.m. ET

LocationLocation PNC Arena – Raleigh, N.C.

TicketsTickets GoPack.com

TelevisionTelevision FS South (Wes Durham, Mike Gminski)

RadioRadio Wolfpack Sports Network (Gary Hahn, Tony Haynes)

Game NotesGame Notes NC State | Bucknell

SeasonSeason

StatisticsStatisticsNC State | Bucknell

Live StatsLive Stats GoPack.com

Social MediaSocial Media @PackMensBball | Facebook

There's no denying how important guard play is in college basketball, and NC State

has discovered its curator for an effective offense this season.

A starter and double-digit scorer last season as a sophomore, Cat Barber has taken

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on the responsibility of team leader and "quarterback" of the Wolfpack. Utilizing his

speedy frame, Barber has led the Pack's aggressive, up-tempo offense to critical

points in the paint and foul shot opportunities.

Through the first seven games of the season, Barber is second in the nation with 79

free throw attempts. Not only has he shown the speed and ability to get to the

basket, he's converted 88.6 percent of his foul shots, which is fourth in the ACC.

This effort to get the ball in the hoop has inspired praise from NC State head coach

Mark Gottfried. "He's so quick, I'd love to get him on the line as many times as

possible in an effort to take advantage of the way the game is being called this

year," the fifth-year head coach said.

Last week, Barber won the ACC's Player of the Week award, proving his

effectiveness for the Pack.

During NC State's trip to Brooklyn for the Legends' Classic, Barber averaged 21

points and 7.5 assists against Arizona State and LSU. The leadership of the junior

guard led his squad to a key win against LSU, which at the time was nationally-

ranked.

When asked about maintaining his persistent offensive pedigree, Barber said, "I

came a long way. Learning to play smart and run the offense has helped me

understand when to pick my spots to attack the basket."

As the week continued, Barber led the Wolfpack with 37 points on 19-for-22 foul

shooting in an 87-79 win against Winthrop. The effort sustained in Cat's 39 minutes

on the floor during the Winthrop game showcased the stamina and the willpower

necessary to spark the Pack's offense.

"Cat Barber is really good, 22 free throws is a ton. You don't look at a stat sheet

very often and see that from a single player," said Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey.

"Before the game, we said he lives there. They send his mail to the paint because

that's where he lives. He is just constantly on the attack, putting foul pressure on

you. That's a heck of a performance by him."

With the Pack figuring out the flow of the offense with many new pieces, Barber's

persistence in getting to the line will be a key element to the team's offense as NC

State pursues another March Madness run.

-- by Cherif Gueye

THE STARTING 5 - THE STARTING 5 - The Top 5 Storylines For This GameThe Top 5 Storylines For This Game

1. CAT, THE BIG CAT OR CAT DADDY 1. CAT, THE BIG CAT OR CAT DADDY

Known famously as 'Cat', the NC State starting point guard is known by his family as

Big Cat and Mark Gottfried has referred to him as Cat Daddy. Regardless of the

moniker, the junior point guard has been one of the nation's premier players in the

first month of the season. Barber is second in the ACC in both points perBarber is second in the ACC in both points per

game (20.3) and assists per game (6.3)game (20.3) and assists per game (6.3) and is also averaging 5.9 rebounds. He

Week

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VIDEO: Highlights vs. Winthrop

was voted ACC Player of the Weekvoted ACC Player of the Week this week after scoring a career-high 37

points in Friday's win over Winthrop, and that came averaging he scored 21.0 points

per game in the Pack's two games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Barber is

currently second nationally in both free throws made (70) and attempted (79).

2. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL SCORE 57 POINTS ON SATURDAY 2. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL SCORE 57 POINTS ON SATURDAY

Cat Barber exploded for 37 points in last week's win over Winthrop, but he has quite

a way to go until he matches David Thompson. Saturday marks 41 years to the day

when Thompson scored a school-record 57 points in the Pack's 144-88 winThompson scored a school-record 57 points in the Pack's 144-88 win

over Buffalo Stateover Buffalo State. Thompson dropped his 57 points on 27-for-37 shooting from

the floor. Thompson also grabbed 17 rebounds and became the seventh player in

ACC history to record 50 points in a game. Additionally, Monte Towe recorded 14

assists, which at the time was a school record.

3. HOME SWEET PNC 3. HOME SWEET PNC

Saturday's game will be a chance for NC State to regain its winning ways at home.

The Wolfpack, in its 16th season at PNC Arena, is closing in on 200 wins at the

multi-purpose building in west Raleigh. State owns a 194-75 all-time record in the

building. Mark Gottfried owns a 55-19 mark at PNC Arena, which is the eighth-

largest home court in all of college basketball.

4. PACK NOT HUNTING FOR THE '3' 4. PACK NOT HUNTING FOR THE '3'

One question coming into the season for NC State would be how to replace the

long-range shooting of Ralston Turner and Trevor Lacey. The duo combined for 172

made 3-pointers last season. That really hasn't been NC State's style in recent

games, as the Pack ranks 318th in the nation by shooting 27.8 percent of its shots

from3-point range. Caleb Martin and Maverick Rowan have combined to make allhave combined to make all

of the team's 37 shotsof the team's 37 shots from beyond the arc. Martin is second in the ACC with 3.14

made treys per game and Rowan is tied for ninth with 2.14. Aside from Martin and

Rowan, the rest of the team is 0-for-15 from 3-point range.

5. A ROTATION BUILT FOR POSTSEASON - ALREADY 5. A ROTATION BUILT FOR POSTSEASON - ALREADY

It's not uncommon for a team to tighten its rotation at the end of the season, as

conference and national tournaments approach. NC State, however, has been forced

to go with a condensed lineup, playing essentially a seven-player rotation. In the

two games in Brooklyn, seven players played all 425 possible minutes (Shaun Kirk

appeared for 0:06 of game time vs. Arizona State). NC State's primary seven-player

rotation has played 1,406 of the season's possible 1,425 minutes (98.7 percent). NC

State has three of the top eight players in the ACC in minutes played: Cat Barber

(2nd, 38.7), Caleb Martin (3rd, 36.9), Maverick Rowan (8th, 33.7).

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