The rivalry between N.C. State and North Carolina has been lopsided for eight years, but the teams have switched roles heading into today's game at the Smith Center.
N.C. State (15-5, 4-1 ACC) is the team sharing first place in the ACC and brimming with confidence, and North Carolina (16-3, 3-1) is the one with a big hole in its lineup while struggling in some respects.
Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. in the first of the teams' two meetings this season. N.C. State's Mark Gottfried will coach his first game in the rivalry, and North Carolina will play its first game since junior guard Dexter Strickland, its best defensive player, was lost for the season last Thursday after tearing the anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Kendall Marshall, the Tar Heels' point guard, said that his team feels that it is the underdog despite playing at home.
"At the end of the day life goes on," Marshall said. "We can't stop the season and say, 'Wait until Dex gets back.' It's almost like deja vu. Last year we took a bad loss and started playing well, and lost a player and we had to figure it out from there."
North Carolina has won the past 10 games in the rivalry and 16 of the past 17, all under coach Roy Williams. Of the 16 wins, 12 have been by at least 10 points.
Gottfried had been on the job about five minutes last March when he learned how frustrated the Wolfpack's fans are at losing to one of their biggest rivals, and that they expect him to change the situation.
"I think our players will be excited," Gottfried said. "They've been excited to play every game, but this game's different. It feels different to our players, fans and students on campus. Our players are very aware of that.
"For our players, it's just a great opportunity. What's good for us is we know we have a lot of improvement to make."
Reggie Bullock, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, will take Strickland's place and make his first college start. Bullock said on Wednesday that he does not feel anxious or nervous about moving into the starting lineup. The game is extra special for him, given the high number of N.C. State fans in his hometown of Kinston.
"I've always wanted to start since I came to Carolina, but it didn't work out for me," Bullock said. "Coach always preached to me to keep working hard and keep playing my game and my time would finally come.
"I didn't want it to happen like this. I know (Strickland's injury) is a big loss for our team but I've just got to go out there and perform for me and Strick. He was my partner at the two-guard position."
Strickland's absence will be felt immediately. He would have helped defend Scott Wood, an N.C. State junior swingman who has helped ignite his team's run in its first 20 games. Wood's 45.3-percent accuracy on 3-point shots is best in the ACC, as are his 53 made 3-point baskets. His streak of 17 consecutive games with a 3-pointer is the longest in the ACC.
Wood is also hurting teams at the free-throw line, where he has not missed this season in 48 attempts. He has made his past 58 free throws dating to last season, an ACC record. Williams said that fouling Wood in a shooting situation is the same as giving him a layup.
Gottfried doesn't own a red blazer, but didn't need one to get his team ready to play North Carolina. N.C. State played at Miami on Sunday and Gottfried saw on the flight home to Raleigh that his players were thinking more of the Tar Heels than their second ACC road victory.
"I think our guys, as soon as the Miami game was over, that their minds shifted to North Carolina," Gottfried said. "They will be excited. There's no question."
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