I think it was in Saturdays paper. If that bitch goes pro after this year....I'll collapse.

Quote :

"Remember the Cedric Simmons who thundered down dunks, snatched rebounds with authority, swatted away shots and scored a career-high 28 points against Duke and Blue Devils center Shelden Williams? That Cedric Simmons hasn't been seen at N.C. State since that January night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. But there are reasons for it, Simmons said this week. Defenses have adjusted. Foul trouble has limited his minutes in some games. And the grind of the season has had an effect. The Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 when they topped the Pack 81-68 on Jan. 18. But Simmons, who had nine rebounds and seven blocked shots, drew national attention after the ESPN game. "I just took it as a big game, a statement game," said Simmons, a 6-foot-9 sophomore. "It was the kind that wakes everybody up, that shows I do have potential and some skills, too." Asked before the game about Simmons, Williams replied, "Who's he?" Simmons later said he didn't take it as an intentional slight, noting he hardly played against Duke as a freshman. And after his monster game? "I think I made my name," Simmons said, smiling. But Simmons also said he started thinking of himself as "Cedric Simmons, big scorer." He sensed others did, too. "It was a big game for me, one that helped my confidence a lot, but I couldn't take it as, 'If I can score 28 against the No. 1 team in the nation, I can get 28 every night.' That's not what I do," he said. "A lot of people want me to score like that every night, but I'm just sticking to my role. I had to go back to the Cedric Simmons who plays defense and scores easy baskets around the rim." After all, it's not the nature of the Pack's offense to constantly feed the big man in the post. But Simmons' game against Duke also made other ACC coaches take notice. "Teams are paying more attention to him than they used to," NCSU coach Herb Sendek said. Simmons said defenders began overplaying his right hand, forcing him back to his left. Post players muscled up on him even more, trying to push him out from the basket. There have been more double teams. "I've seen a lot more traffic in the post," Simmons said. "I'm a bigger part of their scouting reports now." Since Duke, Simmons has scored more than 12 points just twice -- 15 against Virginia and then 14 Wednesday in State's 86-64 win over Florida State. After taking 18 shots against the Blue Devils, he has not attempted more than nine in a game and has averaged about six shots per game. "Ced is as team-centered a player as anyone we've had," Sendek said. "He cares about the N.C. State team and winning. He is refreshingly and disarmingly unselfish." Simmons is averaging 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. He has improved his free-throw shooting, from 54.5 percent last season to 66.9 percent, and has 67 blocks. Then there are the fouls. If Simmons has a persistent problem, it's falling into foul trouble. He fouled out against Wake Forest and Sunday in State's 71-68 loss at Georgia Tech. He had four fouls against Virginia and picked up three personals in three other games. "It almost seems like the refs are picking on him," said Simmons' father, Thynell. But Cedric Simmons said he needs to be wiser when it comes to making costly fouls. Against Georgia Tech, Engin Atsur hustled to force a second-half turnover and signaled for a timeout while tumbling out of bounds. But no sooner had the Pack returned to the court than Simmons was called for an offensive foul posting up. "A lot of times when there's a foul called, I don't think I fouled," he said. "But it's part of the game, something I have to learn how to control." Thynell Simmons often critiques the officiating during the game, shouting out his opinion. He and Cedric's mother, Mae, make it to all of State's home games and a few on the road. Mae Simmons works at Shallotte Middle School near the Simmons' home in Supply, in Brunswick County. Thynell Simmons said he has been unable to work since being injured on the job three years ago. With his father disabled, it's possible Simmons could be tempted to enter the NBA Draft after this season. NBA scouts don't comment on underclassmen, but some privately say Simmons' wingspan, quickness and potential could make him an interesting prospect at age 20. "I've heard all that stuff, too," Simmons said. "I might have thought about it, but I'm not the kind of guy to get caught up in all the talk about the next level. I'm just worried about this level. All that other stuff is a distraction. "When I'm ready, I'll decide. The situation at home is not that important right now." What is important, he said, is continuing to win games. "We can go as far as we want to go," Simmons said. "When we play together, no one is selfish, no one comes out and tries to score all the points." Even after scoring 28 on Duke."

2/20/2006 4:45:14 PM

It would be great for this program if he went pro. Just fucking great.

2/20/2006 4:51:07 PM

Quote :

"With his father disabled, it's possible Simmons could be tempted to enter the NBA Draft after this season. NBA scouts don't comment on underclassmen, but some privately say Simmons' wingspan, quickness and potential could make him an interesting prospect at age 20."

lets hope not

2/20/2006 4:52:53 PM

^^not that i want him to go, but in the long-run, it could help if he does well in the nba.

2/20/2006 4:56:16 PM

UNC spin machine at it again. Let's put the thought in his ear that he can go pro this year...hehehhehehe

Sons of bitches! Sometimes I really think we need to drag the media out into the streets and throw rotten tomatoes at them until they leave.

2/20/2006 4:59:12 PM

^^You shouldnt even be thinking about that until he has played here for 4 years.

2/20/2006 5:00:41 PM

i'm sure he hadnt thought about it til this article was written

2/20/2006 5:02:12 PM

^^what difference does it make if i think it? it's his decision.

2/20/2006 5:03:05 PM

Why the fuck would you say that at this point in his career?

He's had about 2 good games in his career here, but he shows a shitload of potential.

Do you want him in the NBA, or do you want him helping this team?

He would be making a huge mistake to go pro this year. He's not ready, and if he leaves, it doesnt show that NC State is good for recruits, it shows that Herb cant keep his players.

2/20/2006 5:06:59 PM

He's gonna make his momma proud and do exactly what the coaches want him to.

2/20/2006 5:09:03 PM

^^where in the hell did i say any of that?

i said it would look good for ncsu if he did well in the nba. that's it. said nothing of this year or that i would like the decision (in fact i said the opposite). calm down a bit, dude.

2/20/2006 5:11:59 PM

I just think it's funny how journalists try to manipulate people with their questions. They broach the subject just to get you thinking about it more. Plus, since they're the ones asking it, you think "someone else thinks I'm good enough to be at the next level...maybe I am."

Does the name Josh Powell mean anything to you??

2/20/2006 5:14:41 PM

^^I think you need to understand the fact that players that have left early from State are not doing well in the NBA right now. Yes, it would be great if we had a player make it big, but did it help Wake? no...Odom got fired a few years after Duncan left, and look at them now. They couldnt even win shit over the last 2 years when they had pretty good teams.


I never said your statement is wrong, I'm just saying you shouldnt be thinking about that. Maybe YOU need to calm down.

2/20/2006 5:22:12 PM

I'd say Powell was better than Simmons when he left and look how he did. I really hope Simmons is smarter than that, he isn't ready by any means for the next level. He has all the tools, he just isn't ready. He needs to get bigger(bulk up), work on his hands, learn to be more aggressive under the basket on offense(not settling for hook shots), and getting rid of the weak fouls.

He has a few positives, but more negatives at this point, but all stuff that can be fixed with work and time. But if he has a really bad family situation and just has to go pro, then I'll support him, I just hope it doesn't come to that.

2/20/2006 5:26:38 PM

Quote :

"I really hope Simmons is smarter than that, he isn't ready by any means for the next level. He has all the tools, he just isn't ready. He needs to get bigger(bulk up), work on his hands, learn to be more aggressive under the basket on offense(not settling for hook shots), and getting rid of the weak fouls. "

[/thread]

2/20/2006 7:48:39 PM