North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Closes Out Century Against Western Carolina
12/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
For what it's worth, NC State has played a total of 2,156 basketball games in its history. Game 2,157 on Thursday night will be against Western Carolina. It will also mark the Wolfpack's final appearance this century.
With a win over the Catamounts, the Pack will finish the 1900's with a record of 1353 and 804. You can also throw in two national titles.
The arrival of the year 2000 will be accompanied by a visit from nationally ranked Maryland next Thursday. But if NC State views the contest against Western Carolina as some sort of final tune-up for the upcoming ACC schedule, it could be in for a rude awakening.
The 7-3 Catamounts are fully capable of ruining the Wolfpack's New Year's celebration. Just ask Nebraska, which lost at home to Western on December 3.
"They shoot the ball from five positions and really make you defend the three point line," NC State coach Herb Sendek said in describing Western Carolina. "This is very analogous to a first round NCAA Tournament game. We've really got to be ready to play."
As a team, Western Carolina is shooting 36 percent from the arc. Leading scorer Jarvis Hayes, who has hit 42 percent from long range, is averaging 16.1 points per game. Three other starters-Dondrell Whitmore, Casey Rogers and Leon Davis-are also proven three point marksmen.
Three point shooting has hardly been an NC State staple this season. Through eight games, the Pack is hitting only 28.6 percent of its long-range bombs. Offense, in general, has been an achilles heel for the Wolfpack.
"I don't think guys are pressing," said guard Archie Miller. "I think it's just a case of us finding our rhythm. We have a lot of guys playing a lot of different positions and this is the first year we've played this offense. Just like everything else, you get better as the year goes on; especially coach Sendek's teams."
The new motion offense that Sendek and his staff installed in August is still a work in progress. But even on those occasions when the execution has been flawless, the ball hasn't always found its way through the basket. This NC State team is not blessed with a plethora of great shooters. As Sendek has noted repeatedly-the Pack must rely on defense as its salvation.
But in the always grueling ACC, defense alone might not be good enough. At some point, the Wolfpack will have to do a better job of knocking down open shots when they are available.
"If there's anything we've emphasized it's that we've got to go inside," said Sendek. "We have an experienced, talented frontcourt. It would be unforgivable for us not to go inside and get them the ball."
The Pack's perimeter will get an instant shot in the arm when Anthony Grundy returns on Thursday night. The 6-2, sophomore from Louisville was forced sit out Tuesday night's game against Yale after missing a practice on Sunday. Grundy, who is NC State's leading scorer (12.5 ppg.), has been a consistent offensive threat most of the season.
