North Carolina State University Athletics
Revamped Pack Opens Season Against Mount St. Mary's
11/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2002
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-Even in the wake of forward Ilian Evtimov's season ending knee injury, NC State won't be making any major changes to an offensive system that served the Pack well during last season's 23-11 campaign. And while the system itself won't be revamped, the roles of certain players could be redefined and expanded. Those subtle refinements will be on display Friday night when NC State opens its 92nd season of basketball with a home game against Mount St. Mary's at the RBC Center (7:30 p.m.).
Perhaps no player will be affected by Evtimov's absence more than Julius Hodge, who will now truly have to be a "Jack of all Trades" on the basketball court. During NC State's final exhibition game on Nov. 8, the 6-6 Hodge showed his overall versatility by playing numerous positions. Sometimes a point guard, sometimes a wing forward, Hodge also spent some time at Evtimov's old spot in the high post.
"I'm really going to have to play one through five now and get my teammates involved and do whatever it takes to get a win on any given night," said Hodge, a sophomore from Harlem. "I know I'm going to have to play a lot this year with my back to the basket, posting up little guards. With our offense, it doesn't really matter what position you play as long as you know the plays and you can make shots. At times, I'm going to have to fill that spot for Ilian and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability."
In NC State's final preseason tune-up, a 60-58 victory over EA Sports, Hodge finished up a 27-point, eight-rebound performance by knocking down a game-winning jump shot at the horn. But if the Wolfpack is to land a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, Hodge won't be able to do it all by himself.
Evtimov's injury will force others to expand their games, especially sophomore center Josh Powell who will be expected to provide more low post scoring than he did a year ago.
"I'm very confident in Josh Powell this year," Hodge said. "He's really put on some bulk to his frame and he's really been the low post presence that we've needed from the exhibition games to practice. Everyday he's bringing that same energy, unlike last year when he was a freshman and was a little bit inconsistent like myself. Now he knows the team needs him more this year, and with Ilian going down he needs to step in and play a bigger role also."
In Friday's opener, the Wolfpack will be facing a Mount. St. Mary's team that returns three starters from a club that went just 3-24 last season. The Mountaineers are led by coaching legend Jim Phelan, who is starting his 49th year at the Mount. Phelan holds an NCAA record for games coached (1,327) and his 819 wins-the most among active coaches-are fourth on the all-time win list behind Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876) and Clarence "Big House" Gaines (828).
"It's a real honor and privilege to coach against coach Phelan," said NC State's Herb Sendek. "My college coach, Dave Maloney, actually played for coach Phelan and won the national championship at Mount. St. Mary's. Obviously, he has earned legendary status in our game with his coaching, so I think it's really special to be on the same floor with coach."
Wolfpack Basketball Notes:Evtimov will undergo reconstructive surgery on his left knee early Friday morning. According to Sendek, the damage to Evtimov's knee is a little more severe than a similar injury sustained by Levi Watkins last December, thus Friday's surgery will be a little more involved. Sendek noted that Evtimov has received cards and letters of encouragement from coaches and players of other ACC schools. Senior guard Cliff Crawford, who missed the second exhibition game with a sprained ankle, has returned to practice this week and will play in the opener. Four weeks in, the broken bone in center Jordan Collins left hand is healing. "They've modified the splint, which hopefully will allow him to have a little more maneuverability," Sendek said. "He's about two weeks away from being splint-free." Sendek's record in season openers at NC State is 6-0. The Wolfpack hasn't dropped the first game of a new campaign since falling to Weber State in 1993.
