this is a VERY critical game. N.C. State is a decent team, but not a great team. The line has us favored. It would be a marquee win against a marquee conference, on the road. We have one non-home win at this point. Their best guard, Fells, is not 100%.
I don't think anyone wants to look back at this game in March and say "if we had only won against N.C. State". We could, of course, lose this game, go 13-5 in the Big East and the game will not matter as much. The problem is I fear a record more like 10-8, 11-7.
I leave the "evil" calling and "destruction" decree-ing to someone else, but Let's win this one baby!
If we go 10-8 or 11-7 in Big East, we're in the tournament regardless of this game. I think we need to start winning some games against quality opponents, though, so I agree that this is a very important game. A loss in this game would certainly increase my doubts that we could go 10-8 in the Big East, too.
Before the season started I figured we had to win two of three games against UW, Tennessee and N.C. State. I still feel this way. I think we need 20 wins going into the BE Tourney.