North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Tangles with New Hampshire
12/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
RALEIGH, N.C. -- After posting a 3-15 record last year, rebuilding New Hampshire has won only two of its first seven games this season. Perhaps those numbers don't sound all that imposing, but if the NC State basketball team has learned anything through its first eight games, it's that nothing will come easy this season.With that in mind, it's highly unlikely that the Pack will make the mistake of overlooking New Hampshire when the two clubs meet at the Entertainment and Sports Arena at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
"They're a good team," said NC State coach Herb Sendek. "Certainly we have to be very respectful of their ability and be prepared to play 40 minutes, especially with the way they shoot the ball."
In an 84-66 win over Hartford on Thursday, the Wildcats shot 52.7 percent from the field, including 10-of-20 from the three-point land.
Hampered by injuries and a first semester suspension of starting forward Damon Thornton, NC State (5-3) has never had the luxury of putting its best team on the floor this season. The revolving door continued earlier this week when center Ron Kelley underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The 6-9 senior from Emory, Texas will miss from three to four weeks.
Pending the results of an MRI, freshman Michael Bell could be in line for a redshirt year. The 6-9 Raleigh native, who is suffering from tendinitis in both knees, has seen very little action this season.
Thornton's status could be cleared up by the middle of next week. Technically, Thornton's first semester suspension from participating in games will come to an end prior to next Friday's home game against UNC Asheville. The final decision on whether or not the 6-8 senior will return for that contest rests in the hands of Sendek and athletics director Lee Fowler.
"We'll probably make a determination sometime early next week," said Sendek. "Lee Fowler wants to sit down with me to just take complete inventory of the ground we have covered and where Damon is in terms of the progress he's made. We'll have a discussion and make the best decision possible next week."
After being charged with DWI four days before the start of preseason practice in October, Thornton was immediately banned from all basketball activities. He has since returned to practice, but hasn't been allowed to play in any games.
The good news is that sophomore forward Damien Wilkins has almost fully recovered from a second-degree ankle sprain that caused him to miss three games. In the Pack's 68-63 loss to Georgia last week, Wilkins (eight points in 29 minutes) seemed to have a little more spring in his step. Sendek said the 6-6 sophomore will return to the starting line-up on Saturday.
The one constant for NC State this season has been Anthony Grundy. The 6-3 junior leads the Wolfpack in scoring average (17.4 pts.), steals (2.9 pg) and minutes played (33.9). Grundy is also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists to rank second in those categories.
Forward Kenny Inge (14.5 points and 9.9 rebounds), who has recorded four double doubles in his last five games, has also played well.
New Hampshire's top gun, 6-6 junior Austin Ganly, is among the nation's top five scorers with an average of nearly 25 points per game. Against Hartford on Thursday, Ganly was 9-of-14 from the field in a 29-point performance.
"He's scored 29 points or better in four of their seven games," Sendek said. "He gets his shot off extremely quick. He's obviously a marquee player."
Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between NC State and New Hampshire.
