Duke vs. NC State preview

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by LuvDaBears, Oct 8, 2003.

  1. LuvDaBears

    LuvDaBears New Member

    Sep 4, 2002
    USA
    Okay kids...the day we've all been waiting for is nearly here. It's the match between this year's bottom feeder, Duke, and perennial bottom feeder, NC State, Friday night in Durham.

    The genius coaching ways of John Rennie vs. the low key and always reserved George Tarantini.

    What a night this will be at Koskinen stadium. Look at all the great story lines surrounding this epic ACC battle.

    Will Tarantini leave the field during the first half, to go use a porta-potty as he has been known to do in the past? Will Rennie utter ONE word of encouragement to at least one of his players at anytime during the game?
    Will Tarantini speak spanish the entire 90 minutes?
    How many times will Rennie pull up his warm-up pants, because his gut is getting bigger with each loss.

    This game will have it all kids...don't miss it!
     
  2. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Here's my question: How many more games do we think Duke will win this year.

    They started off 2-0 and are 0-7-2 since. Here's what they finish with, with the clubs current record.

    10/10 - NC State (6-5-0)
    10/17 - Virginia (5-5-0)
    10/21 - Dartmouth (4-2-2)
    10/24 - UNC-Greensboro (5-2-2)
    10/26 - Charlotte (4-5-1)
    10/31 - @Wake Forest (6-3-0)
    11/5 - South Florida (4-4-2)

    If there really is a Soccer God, the State game should end in a tie. Virginia and Wake should get by the Dookies as well. So, how many of the four non-con games do we see Rennie winning?

    I say 2 plus a tie, which would give Duke a record of 4-10-4 heading into the ACC Tourney. Assume they lose in the first round of that and you've got the worst season in Duke soccer history in decades.

    So, if NC State does lose to this team, than it basically shows that despite all the gains they've made, they still have a ways to go if they can't beat the worst Duke team maybe ever.

    So, I say the pressure is on State. This is the first time in YEARS they've actually played an ACC game they were SUPPOSED to win. How will Tarantini handle it. Probably not well but the question is really does he have enough talent on the field to win anyway. I say he does but they are still NC State.

    Which is why I'm wussing out and picking a tie.
     
  3. KinleyDog

    KinleyDog New Member

    Aug 20, 2003
    i'm gonna go with a 2:0 win for state. the first goal coming because tarrantini has better entertainment value than rennie (altough worse hair days). the second coming because aaron king is a bad a$$ mutha' forward (shut yo' mouth).
     
  4. k1v1n

    k1v1n New Member

    May 4, 2002
    The Pack will be without the services of John Queeley who picked up the red card for the rather nasty take down of Steven Curfman. When I saw the foul I said to my lovely wife, "I hope this isn't a red." Well it was, and it was deserved. A truly stupid foul! Where the Pack defense has been solid of late they are not particularly deep. The absence of Queeley will be a factor.

    I've also been expecting the return of Bryant Salter, but it hasn't happened yet. I can't imagine State rushing him back for this game. I'm going to make a point to inquire about his injury Friday night.

    That said, State still wins by a couple.
     
  5. PB04

    PB04 New Member

    Aug 27, 2002
    K1V1N - I was a little concerned when I saw Queeley wasn't going to be available, but State can put in another experienced defender, Chiedu Chukwumah, who had been hurt most of the year. He's been healthy for a couple games but was playing outside mid because there wasn't an open spot in the defense.

    BTW being the ex-ref you are - was the Wake Forest PK deserved? I heard it was questionable.
     
  6. k1v1n

    k1v1n New Member

    May 4, 2002
    Chiedu played in the back some last Saturday when they lost Queeley. He wasn't anywhere near as effective as John. True, he has some experience playing the position, but Queely is developing into one of the finest defenders in the ACC. I think they'll miss him. I hope I'm wrong.

    I wouldn't have called that foul. I thought Jorge made a brilliant play. BTW, I'm thinking Jorge may be developing into one of the best keepers in the ACC. I'd be at a loss to say who's playing better right now.
     
  7. LuvDaBears

    LuvDaBears New Member

    Sep 4, 2002
    USA
    State probably wins the game because Rennie will naturally leave his best players sitting on the bench for most of the match. It seems that Rennie has developed a real fondness for leaving talent on the bench, i.e. Trevor Perea the past two seasons, and Ian Carey this season. Duke's most dangerous attacker is Adogwa, so I figure he'll get about 10 or 15 minutes playing time.
     
  8. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What a waste college soccer is. If a player is any good, then he will get away from the amateur egomaniacs known as "college coaches".
     
  9. LuvDaBears

    LuvDaBears New Member

    Sep 4, 2002
    USA
    Mario...right on dude. D1 coaches are all about themselves...their big money camps...their egos...etc. Kids go from successful club environments to college, where half of them quit within two years due to all the bullsh**, crappy coaching, dishonesty, etc.

    In D1, players are simply commodities.
     
  10. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Well, in fairness, it's the same way in the pros, too.

    But, I definitely think we need to see an improvement of college coaches. I am optimistic that lots of former MLS players, and even a few coaches, will return to college and have a better feel for coaching the game at a higher level based on their playing experiences and better understand what it takes to prepare players for a higher level.

    It will take time, but I am optimistic.
     
  11. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Gotta love the Shaft reference, KD!

    And you're right, King is a stud. He is one of the best-kept secrets in college soccer but I bet after this year's ACC Tournament, every MLS scout will know about him.

    And, at the rate he's going, leading the ACC in scoring, he should be in place for ACC and maybe even national honors.

    The guy is just a big, tough, strong player and he should get better at State, even playing for Crazy George.
     
  12. LuvDaBears

    LuvDaBears New Member

    Sep 4, 2002
    USA
    I wish I was as optimistic as Sandon, but the problem is that most administrations don't care about olympic sports. They just don't pay attention, and they couldn't care less about developing players. Most of these D1 coaches are hell bent on doing whatever they can to make sure their profitable camps stay full, and when it comes to REAL coaching, they're lost.

    Sandon is right...in the pros, players are commodities. But there's a huge difference...they're getting paid a salary. You also don't see pro coaches lying through their teeth to their players. They tell it to you straight...at least the pro coaches that I know.

    College soccer is like a shell game. These coaches keep the players guessing all the time...and it breaks down confidence, comraderie, etc. These guys constantly play mind games with their players, telling them one thing, and then doing another.

    We need young coaches who have played during the last decade. Young guys with integrity who will be open and honest with recruits, instead of telling 90% of their players just what they want to hear.

    I know he was a basketball coach, but Dean Smith was the model of integrity and class. For example, Dean would recruit a player for four years, making a commitment to that kid. He wouldn't recruit over that kid if he had a bad game or two, like so many soccer coaches. Hell, one bad touch, and some of these coaches bench a kid for several games.

    Dean would make a commitment to that kid when recruiting him, and he would commit himself to developing that kid into a player. He knew it took time. He wouldn't stockpile a bunch of point guards, and then have to deal with playing time issues.

    From what I've seen, it's very rare when a soccer coach in college actually commits to a kid, the same way a player commits to him. It should be a two way street, but it's not.
     
  13. KinleyDog

    KinleyDog New Member

    Aug 20, 2003
    college coaches

    ldb, i basically agree with you that college coaches are a bunch of "pig headed sucka' fools" (ok, sandon, where's that one from?), but i gotta believe that some really care about their players. one that i'm aware of (althought not a head coach) is craig reynolds at uva. he's smooth with recruiting and communicates well with his players once he's hooked them. i've often wondered why he hasn't moved on.
     
  14. KinleyDog

    KinleyDog New Member

    Aug 20, 2003
    a.king

    i've only seen him once, so my reference point is only the spanking he put on the uva defenders. it was pure child abuse. seeing him gain ground on those defenders then overtake them on the attack made a definite impression on me.
     
  15. Carolina

    Carolina Member

    Dec 6, 2000
    CONCACAF
    How would you rate the 7 ACC coaches in this regard?
     
  16. LuvDaBears

    LuvDaBears New Member

    Sep 4, 2002
    USA
    Kinley Dog...I agree that there are some fine assistants out there, and some good head coaches.
    Dan Donigan at St. Louis immediately comes to mind, and Todd West at American.

    Here's how I would rate the ACC coaches, in terms of mind games, etc, starting with the worst offenders.

    T1. BGG, Rennie
    3. Adair
    4. Cirovski
    5. Tarantini
    6. Bolowich
    7. Vidovich
     
  17. KinleyDog

    KinleyDog New Member

    Aug 20, 2003

    ldb, a list that i don't have much argument with. maybe a few shifts, but....ok, now posters, your the AD at these schools, what changes would you make assuming contracts expire this year? or would you leave things as they are?

    here's mine:
    bgg << reynolds
    bolowich << o.weiss
    leave tarantini for his entertainment value
    leave vidovich, cirovski because of success
    adair, don't know
    rennie, don't know
     
  18. cantona24

    cantona24 New Member

    Apr 26, 2001
    Are you serious about replacing Bolowich with Weiss?

    I guess you can make the point about how the ACC title in 2000 and NCAA title in 2001 were with Weiss, but the results this year, with a young team, seem to suggest that Bolowich is doing something right. Weiss is a talented coach, but you don't fix something unless it's broke.
     
  19. terp fan

    terp fan New Member

    Nov 21, 2000
    but....

    Back to the NC St / Duke match, I see Duke in a three year downward spiral with no immediate hope for turning it around. The Pack may not be back but they are better than the Dukies at this point. Once again Rennie seems to have lost his team's ear at 2-8-1.
     

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