Leslie Emerges as Rebounding Leader, Pack Cruise

Through the first few games of the season, the reason for NC State's struggles were clear: rebounding, and losing star forward Tracy Smith didn't help. After being out-rebounded by Georgetown, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Wisconsin, the Pack have bounced back and won the battle on the boards in their last three games.

Such was the case Tuesday afternoon as the Pack routed Alabama A&M 82-51. NC State won the battle on the boards 36-30, led by C.J. Leslie's 11 rebounds. This was Leslie's fourth double-figure rebound game, and he leads the team with 95 on the season.

Along with his recent dominance on the boards, Leslie is third on the team in points per game with over ten a contest. With two ACC Rookie of the Week Awards, Leslie has started to look more and more like the player he was expected to be out of high school.

Though Leslie has provided the spark State has needed to get back on track, the early feeling is that the Pack goes as Scott Wood goes. The sophomore has improved in many statistical categories this season. Those include, points, rebounds, assists, steals, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and three-point percentage.

Wood now leads the team in scoring, and has been the one consistency in State's lineup. He has led by example on the court each and every game, and his 18 points on Tuesday tied his season high.

All in all it was what is was supposed to be for the Pack. They destroyed a small team from the SWAC, and took advantage of the size difference. They were the better team and took care of business the way they should have.

NC State has just two non-conference games left, against San Diego January 1, and on the road at Elon January 5. Then ACC play will be upon the Pack, and Head Coach Sidney Lowe will need to rally his team and prepare them for the most important games of the season. Luckily for the Pack, they begin ACC play with Wake Forest, who has many questions of their own to answer.