FanHouse BenMccauley

The way the first half of N.C. State's game against Virginia Tech played out Sunday, you'd be excused for thinking the Wolfpack were on the heels of Duke and North Carolina in the ACC. But as has been typical of N.C. State all season, they couldn't hold a lead in the second half and let Virginia Tech claw its way into overtime and an 91-87 win.

This was essentially a must-win game for both teams, but particularly for the Hokies, who rebounded from a so-so non-conference performance into a spot on the happy side of the NCAA tournament bubble and are in the mix for a possible ACC tournament bye . The Wolfpack, meanwhile, were merely trying to eke out their third consecutive ACC win and move within two games of .500 in the ACC.

Brandon Costner, right now, is all that Sidney Lowe has in Raleigh. Take him away and there's the semi-emergence of Courtney Fells, Ben McCauley's swan song, and the unlikely possibility of landing John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Which isn't saying much.

Logically, the news/rumor that Costner was bolting for the NBA after this season should be terrifying for Sid. Fortunately for Lowe, though, Costner is referring to that report as "one of those crazy Internet rumors."

Remember the "high emotions" between Mike Copeland and Ben McCauley I described at the end of the NC State-North Carolina game? Well, if you didn't get a chance to see it, here you go, via the N&O. Who do you think is in the wrong? (I'm going with Mike Copeland: trying to score there = wholly unnecessary.) Also, +1000 to Roy Williams for yelling, "MICHAEL!" like an angry father near the end of the clip.

It wasn't actually "Kay Yow Day" in Raleigh, but it might as well have been (and it wouldn't surprise me if that holiday actually popped up) with all the pink in the crowd. A good 60-70 percent of N.C. State's fans were wearing pink shirts to honor Coach Yow, and both Sidney Lowe's and Roy Williams' coaching staffs wore tennis shoes, in the traditional "Coaches vs. Cancer" form. Too bad a couple players had to rumble at the end (Video here).

But none of the motivation that Yow's memory could provide was enough for the Wolfpack, which have, in effect, proven themselves to be a 34-minute basketball team this year. And Tyler Hansbrough returned to his normal ways, scoring 31 points as North Carolina topped State 93-76.

Lest you miss the reference in the title, coffee is for closers only. So says Alec Baldwin anyway. N.C. State and Sidney Lowe, at the moment, don't know much about the sweet, sweet joys of caffeine.

That's because, following a 78-65 loss to Florida State tonight (a classic "closer-than-the-box-score if there ever was one), State has lost a trio of heartbreaking games on the season. Marquette and Florida were the traditional kind; late buzzer beaters or tough shots by their opponents sunk the Wolfpack's chances.

This, on the other hand, was a total collapse on both ends by Lowe's team in the final five minutes. Courtney Fells' best play was tumbling over the scorer's table, Brandon Costner couldn't hit from outside, Ben McCauley was busy being overmatched on both ends of the floor and Julius Mays, bless his soul, was trying to fill a void that has haunted the Pack for a few years now.