I am gonna feel insane for doing this but... I am here to defend the State loss tonight.
Folks, this was a road game. Yes, State got hammered late, but losing on the road (especially in Littlejohn) is just not that big a sin. State may be 2-4 in the conference right now, but their only home loss is to Duke. They still have very winnable road games left at Wake and Virginia. If they hold serve at home and win those road games, they would go 9-7 in the conference and, I believe, they would save Sid's job.
This is a young team, a team that has a lot of talent. It is not impossible to imagine that it would come together over the next couple weeks and be a much better team in February than they have been in January.
While I would love to see them put in a big effort at UNC this weekend, I believe the key game -- the one that may very well determine Sid's fate -- comes next Wednesday when they host Va Tech. A win there and State could begin to right the ship. Of course, it will be tough to gain momentum off that win because they come to Duke just a few days later. Still, I see that game as the potential turning point in State's season.
Now, all that said, I want to conclude by saying that I doubt State will turn it around under Sid. I think they will lose more games at home and I think they will not win much on the road (maybe Wake, but not Virginia).
I further think the powers that be at State will recognize that NOW IS THE TIME for a new coach after this season. Sid's recruiting will be part of his downfall as State will recognize that their talent base makes the job a bit more attractive and may allow them to lure a higher profile coach.
-Jason "well, that may be the most I have written about a second-tier ACC program EVER
" Evans