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Anthony Barber is from Virginia; his breakout season propels the Wolfpack Anthony Barber is from Virginia; his breakout season propels the Wolfpack
(about 3 hours later)
At this point in the college basketball season, it would be normal to assume North Carolina State’s Anthony Barber is a little tired.At this point in the college basketball season, it would be normal to assume North Carolina State’s Anthony Barber is a little tired.
The ACC’s leading scorer was coming off of four straight games in which he played a full 40 minutes when he left school after practice Wednesday to drive to his home town of Newport News, Va,. to see his high school jersey become the second ever retired at Hampton High. He drove back to North Carolina on Friday morning and on Saturday he churned out a season-high 38 points against Wake Forest. It was the fifth consecutive game in which he didn’t come off the court. The ACC’s leading scorer was coming off four straight games in which he played a full 40 minutes when he left after practice Wednesday to drive to his home town of Newport News, Va,. to see his jersey become the second retired at Hampton High. He drove back to North Carolina on Friday morning, and on Saturday he churned out a season-high 38 points against Wake Forest. It was the fifth consecutive game in which he didn’t come off the court.
But Barber doesn’t get tired. If he did, he might not be averaging a 24.1 points per game, the fifth most in the nation. He certainly wouldn’t be able to average 38.7 minutes per game. If Barber — nicknamed “Cat” by his sister when he was young — got tired, he might have faded in the second half against Wake Forest instead of putting up 30 points in the last 20 minutes. But Barber doesn’t get tired. If he did, he might not be averaging 24.1 points per game, the fifth most in the nation. He certainly wouldn’t be able to average 38.7 minutes per game. If Barber — nicknamed “Cat” by his sister when he was young — got tired, he might have faded in the second half against Wake Forest instead of putting up 30 points in the last 20 minutes.
“I don’t get tired,” Barber said. “It’s just a thing like that.”“I don’t get tired,” Barber said. “It’s just a thing like that.”
Part of why Barber doesn’t get run down easily is because he can’t. This season, the 21-year-old junior guard is the most experienced player in N.C. State’s rotation, the others being a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors who saw considerably less playing time than Barber did their freshman year. Barber was expecting to be playing alongside would-be senior Trevor Lacey, last season’s leading scorer who instead decided to go pro at the end of his junior year, and Terry Henderson, a West Virginia transfer who is still recovering from an opening-night ankle injury that required surgery. Part of why Barber doesn’t get run down easily is because he can’t. This season, the 21-year-old junior guard is the most experienced player in N.C. State’s rotation, the others being a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors who saw considerably less playing time than Barber did their freshman year. Barber expected to be playing alongside Trevor Lacey, last season’s leading scorer who instead decided to go pro at the end of his junior year, and Terry Henderson, a West Virginia transfer who is still recovering from an opening-night ankle injury that required surgery.
Instead, Barber found himself the leader of a fledgling young N.C. State team (13-12, 3-9 ACC) that desperately needs his production and minutes. Wolfpack Coach Mark Gottfried said those expectations were clear from the beginning of the season, but Barber has surpassed them.Instead, Barber found himself the leader of a fledgling young N.C. State team (13-12, 3-9 ACC) that desperately needs his production and minutes. Wolfpack Coach Mark Gottfried said those expectations were clear from the beginning of the season, but Barber has surpassed them.
“His game has been forced to go to a whole other level,” Gottfried said, “and he’s done that.”“His game has been forced to go to a whole other level,” Gottfried said, “and he’s done that.”
Heading into N.C. State’s clash with No. 7 Virginia on Monday (20-5, 9-4), the junior has had seven games of at least 30 points this season and has played a full 40 minutes in 12 games, including 43 in an overtime win against LSU. Only 10 players in the nation average more minutes. Heading into N.C. State’s clash with No. 7 Virginia on Monday (20-5, 9-4), the junior has had seven games of at least 30 points this season and has played at least 40 minutes in 12 games, including 43 in an overtime win against LSU. Only 10 players in the nation average more minutes.
[Saturday: Grayson Allen’s controversial buzzer-beater lifts Duke over U-Va.][Saturday: Grayson Allen’s controversial buzzer-beater lifts Duke over U-Va.]
“He’s elite, in terms of his quickness, his speed, shooting to his game and he’s having a heck of a year,” Virginia Coach Tony Bennett said. “That’s impressive — they have other guys, but he’s pretty complete. His shooting, getting to the free throw line and all that, it’s good stuff.” “He’s elite in terms of his quickness, his speed, shooting to his game, and he’s having a heck of a year,” Virginia Coach Tony Bennett said. “That’s impressive — they have other guys, but he’s pretty complete. His shooting, getting to the free throw line and all that, it’s good stuff.”
Barber, who’s speed and sleekness on the court fits his nickname, lifts his team quite simply with his shot. He’s shooting 44.4 percent from the field and has led the Wolfpack in scoring in all but five games this season. The guard has taken the fifth-most free throws in the nation (218) this season, more than anyone in the ACC, and scored six points — all free throws — in the final 90 seconds of Saturday’s 99-88 win over Wake Forest. He took 18 free throws in the second half and made 17. Barber, whose speed and sleekness on the court fits his nickname, lifts his team quite simply with his shot. He’s shooting 44.4 percent from the field and has led the Wolfpack in scoring in all but five games . The guard has taken the fifth-most free throws in the nation (218), more than anyone in the ACC, and scored six points — all free throws — in the final 90 seconds of Saturday’s 99-88 win over Wake Forest. He took 18 free throws in the second half and made 17.
Barber said when he returns to his home state Monday, he won’t be worried about the Cavaliers’ famous defense.Barber said when he returns to his home state Monday, he won’t be worried about the Cavaliers’ famous defense.
“The way I’m playing right now, there’s no defense that can stop me. So I’m just going to go in there and keep doing what I’m doing.”“The way I’m playing right now, there’s no defense that can stop me. So I’m just going to go in there and keep doing what I’m doing.”
For all his on-court feats, Barber’s breakout year is also happening off the court, where after two years maturing in Gottfried’s program the soft-spoken junior has developed stronger leadership skills in the locker room and become a bit of a celebrity. Barber gets the most attention when he goes back to Newport News — he posed for his share of photos at Thursday’s high school ceremony — but Gottfried said he gets that kind of admiration everywhere he goes. For all his on-court feats, Barber’s breakout year is also happening off the court. After two years of maturing in Gottfried’s program, the soft-spoken junior has developed stronger leadership skills in the locker room and become a bit of a celebrity. Barber gets the most attention when he goes back to Newport News — he posed for his share of photos at Thursday’s high school ceremony — but Gottfried said he gets that kind of admiration everywhere.
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“He’s gotten better year by year, and he’s gotten better in just about every aspect of his game, and his life. . . . He’s a very popular person because of his personality,” Gottfried said. “You look at every area and you kind of see this young guy blossoming and developing, and he’s done a great job with that. “He’s gotten better year by year, and he’s gotten better in just about every aspect of his game and his life. . . . He’s a very popular person because of his personality,” Gottfried said.
“His teammates have great confidence in him because they know that he can bail them out of tough situations, which he’s done a lot. They’ve got great respect for him as a player, but he’s just one of those guys where it’s hard for anybody not to like him.”“His teammates have great confidence in him because they know that he can bail them out of tough situations, which he’s done a lot. They’ve got great respect for him as a player, but he’s just one of those guys where it’s hard for anybody not to like him.”
As Barber peaks as a player and person, his stats make a strong case for him being the ACC player of the year. It’s a recognition Gottfried thinks his star guard deserves after buoying a wounded Wolfpack team and leading it to conference wins against Pittsburgh, Miami and Wake Forest. As Barber peaks as a player and person, his stats make a strong case for him to be the ACC player of the year. It’s a recognition Gottfried thinks his star guard deserves after he buoyed a wounded Wolfpack team and led it to conference wins against Pittsburgh, Miami and Wake Forest.
“I know a lot of times people look at how a team is doing and because we’ve struggled at times this year, I hope people don’t hold that against him,” Gottfried said. “I think what he’s doing on the court is clearly, clearly positioning himself to be the best player in the league. We have a young team, that’s not his fault.” “I know a lot of times people look at how a team is doing, and because we’ve struggled at times this year, I hope people don’t hold that against him,” Gottfried said. “I think what he’s doing on the court is clearly, clearly positioning himself to be the best player in the league. We have a young team. That’s not his fault.”