North Carolina State University Athletics
Heels and Wolfpack Clash in Chapel Hill
2/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
Most NC State fans are usually more than ready and willing to discuss their disdain for archrival North Carolina. As far as Wolfpack supporters are concerned, the Tar Heels are indeed public enemy No. 1. Most of the players, however, usually choose a more levelheaded approach. For them, Carolina is a rival that must be respected. But then again, don't expect the two teams to exchange gifts prior to their meeting at the Smith Center on Wednesday night.
"From a personal standpoint, I don't really dislike anyone on their team," said Wolfpack forward Damien Wilkins, "but, to be quite honest, there's not anyone on their team that I really care for. I speak to Jason Capel because we played together in high school. Joe (Forte) and I played together in all star games and summer camps. But other than that, I don't really talk to anyone else."
Of course, a decision to like or dislike someone else is a personal choice. In that regard, Wilkins doesn't speak for the rest of his teammates.
"I know Kenny (Inge) doesn't really like anyone, especially Carolina," Wilkins joked. "People around here say those guys are stuck up and the whole program is riding on its high horse. I'm sure over there they say things about us. But I'm not here to see who likes each other; I'm here for the same reason they're here: to win the basketball game. It would definitely be a great win for us. We're looking at it as another game we need to improve our seeding in the ACC Tournament. To be quite honest, I could care less about who hates who. As much as people around here hate Carolina, there's not a lot of people around who think we're going to go over there and beat them."
Recent history suggests that the Wolfpack will have a difficult time doing just that. The Tar Heels have won 15 of the last 18 meetings in the series including the last six. The last five games have been quite competitive with UNC winning by an average of just 7.2 points. Earlier this season, Carolina weathered a late NC State rally and went on to post a 60-52 victory at the ESA.
Less than two weeks ago, the Heels were riding an 18-game winning streak that had pushed them to the top of both national polls. But then came a stunning 75-65 defeat at Clemson on February 18. Carolina then made it two losses in three games by dropping an 86-66 decision to Virginia on Sunday.
"I don't think we're in panic mode," said first year North Carolina coach Matt Doherty. "I did meet with them when we got back on Sunday and we watched the film on the bus ride home. Our transition defense wasn't good, we didn't execute our offense and Virginia hit some tough shots. This program has been through worse. In '82, the team I was on lost to Virginia by 16 and then went on to win our next 16 games and the National Championship. We're all on the same page. No one's fazed by it; they're disappointed and mad, but I don't think there's any panic mode by any means."
At 22-4 overall and 12-2 in the ACC, Carolina is still in a position to land tops seeds in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. An upset loss to NC State, however, could do serious damage to those plans.
Meanwhile, the Wolfpack (13-13, 5-9) is looking for a way to create some momentum heading into next month's ACC Tournament in Atlanta. And there's probably nothing that would ignite a late season run more than a surprising victory in Chapel Hill.
"Certainly it would be great to win out in the regular season and go into the ACC Tournament and win that," Wilkins said. "But all of that right now is just a vision. North Carolina is the only team that's on our mind right now and that's the way it should be."
This time around against the Tar Heels, the Pack will have an additional weapon it couldn't call in the first game: Archie Miller. In his third game back from the leg injury, the 5-10 junior knocked down four of seven three-pointers in NC State's 71-46 romp over Florida State on Sunday.
"Anytime Arch is on the floor he poses a threat," Wilkins said. "On Sunday he shot the ball well and he controlled the game from the point guard position. We're going to need that and more from him when we go to the Smith Center. I'm sure he's going to be energized and ready to play."
A healthier Ron Kelley could also pay dividends for NC State in this game. Still gimpy following knee surgery, Kelley was an ineffective 0-4 from the floor in last month's contest against UNC. But in his last six outings, the 6-8 senior has hit 24-of-45 shots (53.3%).
