North Carolina State University Athletics
Point Guard Battle: Who's the Man?
10/31/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
When NC State fans gather to watch the Wolfpack men's basketball team this season, they'll see something new: for the first time in four years, the Pack will have a different starter at point guard.
But who that starter will be is anybody's guess at this point.
Redshirt junior Archie Miller and sophomore Cliff Crawford are waging a daily battle to determine who will take over for four-year starter Justin Gainey. More than likely, both will see significant playing time. It's quite conceivable that the player who starts won't necessarily be the player who finishes a given game.
"The way I would categorize it is we need a real tag-team effort at point guard," said NC State head coach Herb Sendek. "I think Cliff Crawford and Archie Miller are different types of players; I think they compliment each other very well. For us to have the most solid point guard position this year, we're going to need both of those men to play well. If you look at our team, it's not possible for one guy to play 40 minutes at that spot anyway."
When sizing up the strengths of the two players, it's obvious, as Sendek said, that they are very different. Miller is a deadly three-point shooter who possesses the types of leadership skills required to lead a team through the rigors of a tough ACC schedule. And though he's listed as a junior, Miller has been around the program and the system for four years, a fact that gives him an experience edge.
Crawford's strong suit is his athleticism. While he can't match Miller's perimeter shooting skills, Crawford does have the quickness and strength to break down a defense with dribble penetration. And his long, lean 6-3 build is a major asset on the defensive end of the floor. As he showed last season, Crawford has the potential of becoming a force when the Pack chooses to employ its full court presses.
"I think the biggest thing for Cliff last year was the learning curve," Sendek said. "He's somebody who has always been a good athlete; you're talking about a young man who's 6-3, roughly 185 pounds, and is very strong. He has a gear that no one else on our team has. He's extremely quick. I think the year of experience he had will serve him well."
Sendek has high regard for Crawford's enormous upside. But he also loves the energy and competitive spirit that Miller brings to the practice floor every single day. That's the main reason Miller was named one of the Pack's tri-captains, along with senior forward Kenny Inge and sophomore forward Damien Wilkins.
After using primarily one guy for the last four years, Sendek is fully prepared to go with the "two-headed monster concept" at the point this season.
"I don't think that it has the same degree of necessity as perhaps some would say it does in football with a quarterback, but it is important that you have someone who steps forward," Sendek said. "But I think with the style of play we're talking about and the way that Archie and Cliff have different strengths that compliment each other, we can do well with both guys. We're going to need both guys to play well this year."
Miller, who missed most of the 1998-99 season after undergoing back surgery, ranks 10th in school history with 104 career three-pointers. Crawford's highlight game last season was a 12-point, eight rebound, three assist outing at Virginia in February.
