The replay: Canes take a break; Wolfpack has mixed results; and ... baseball?
We know, we know, the biggest news of the past week was that basketball game everyone wanted to talk about all week. You know, that game that divides a region like no other and sends people debating on which shade of blue is better.
Northwest Cary vs. East Triangle in U8 YMCA basketball.
No?
Fair enough. But we also know that the real big game everyone’s been talking about has been all over the rest of the pages of this publication.
So, here’s a look at some of the other stories you might have missed this week:
It was one game, but …
The Carolina Hurricanes spent most of the past week on vacation, the first week of what was supposed to be three weeks of down time while the world watched hockey at the Olympics.
So much for that. Thanks, COVID.
But, the Canes did get to squeeze one game into the books this past week when they hosted the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
The Canes wrapped up a great run of four games in six days — all wins — with a victory over the Sharks. And it wasn’t just that they won, but how they won, earning single-goal or OT wins in each of the games.
And to be fair, not everyone had the week off. Two of the Canes best — forward Sebastian Aho and goalie Frederik Andersen, were off to Vegas this week for the NHL All-Star festivities. Aho and Andersen were coached in the All-Star competition by Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. Aho took part in the accuracy shooting challenge, while Andersen participated in the “save streak” contest.
It’s time for … baseball?
Sure the ACC basketball season is truly ramping up. And yes, it’s hockey season. And prep sports? Winter championships are nearly upon us.
But there’s something about that first crack of a fastball off the bat. Or the zip-thump of a slider popping in the mitt.
This past week marked a big ramp-up week for college baseball teams in the Triangle, which is home to the reigning ACC champion, and the team that probably could have won the College World Series last year.
Early season accolades have started to come in for both of those squads. Wednesday, N.C. State ace Sam Highfill picked up his fourth preseason All-America honor when he was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s second team.
He has also been named a Preseason Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and DI Baseball.
The Pack was picked to finish second this year in their division of the ACC behind Florida State.
And then there’s Duke, which went on a surprising run a year ago and earned the ACC title. Pitcher Marcus Johnson was a big reason why, and this past week he, too, earned some national love, becoming the second Blue Devil to earn preseason All-American honors this preseason. Senior outfielder RJ Schreck, who was selected to the third team by Collegiate Baseball, joined him. Johnson also earned second team honors from Perfect Game.
They’re in the ACC, too
You’ll have to pardon us for being a bit sidetracked this week, given the matchups and all. But we certainly cannot forget the fact that N.C. State is still playing basketball. The Wolfpack’s men’s team played a pair of games this week, and despite a loss to Syracuse, coach Kevin Keatts thought his team played pretty well.
OK, his language was a bit more colorful than that, but suffice it to say, he was OK with the effort.
The Pack wrapped up the week with a game at home against Notre Dame.
Meanwhile, the No. 3 N.C. State women lost for the first time in ACC play, dropping a tight road contest to Notre Dame on Tuesday. They rebounded mightily, with 20-point win over Florida State, and will host No. 12 Georgia Tech in a big showdown Monday at home.
