North Carolina State University Athletics
Behind The Scenes With Tony Haynes: A Terrific Twosome
2/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Feb. 21, 2002
By Tony Haynes
On Sunday, Anthony Grundy and Archie Miller will ride off into the sunset together. Sure, there are more games to come this season, but Sunday's contest against North Carolina will be special because it will mark the last time Grundy and Miller will appear in front of the home fans at the ESA.
The emotion on the floor and in the seats will be palpable. Following a stirring pregame ceremony, the two seniors will try to go out and do what they've done so well this season: lead their team to victory.
The fact that Grundy and Miller will exit together is somewhat amazing given the set of circumstances that placed them in this position. Had everything worked out as planned, Miller would already be gone, while Grundy would have another year of eligibility.
Let's reflect on what happened during the 1998-99 season. Miller is redshirted after undergoing surgery to repair two bulging discs in his back. With his backcourt thinning out, Pack coach Herb Sendek is forced to play freshman Anthony Grundy, who joined the team after first semester classes had ended. The ironic part of the story is that Grundy-and not Miller-was the player who was supposed to be redshirted that year. In other words, the senior backcourt tandem that has meant so much to this year's NC State basketball team almost didn't materialize.
"I remember the year that I got hurt and all the guys that I came in with had senior day last year," Miller said. "It was awkward not being out there because I came in with those guys and I spent four years with them. I remember when I got hurt and going through rehab, I was really down. But my brother (Sean) would say, 'just think about it, you get an extra year, an extra year to do everything and you never know.' He said getting injured could be the best thing that ever happened to me. Without that year off and this extra year here, I wouldn't have the opportunity to play with some of the guys I'm playing with right now."
Sean Miller, a former NC State assistant coach, was right on the money. Archie's back injury turned out to be the best thing that could have possibly happened to Wolfpack basketball. Throughout this remarkable season, opposing coaches have marveled at the way the Miller-Grundy combo has guided a youthful Pack team through the unforgiving minefield that is ACC basketball.
"The leadership that Miller and Grundy provide definitely jumps out at you, especially on a young team," said Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt.
Sendek has already called Miller one of the best leaders he's ever coached. As the son and brother of coaches, the responsibility of leadership has always come naturally to the 5-10 native of Beaver Falls, Pa. It wasn't always as easy for Grundy, who has grown into the role gradually. But as much as anything else, the 6-3 product of Louisville, Kentucky has let his play on the court do the talking this year. Grundy, who leads the Pack in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals, is making a strong bid for All-ACC first team honors.
"He's played at a level that's definitely top five in the league," Miller said. "There are not too many guys who have done what he has done. Whether it's scoring, passing or rebounding, he's done it on a consistent basis every single night. I don't know if there's a more valuable guy to a team this year than he is to us."
Off the court, Grundy is quick with a smile and polite to those who approach him. On the floor, however, he brings a fiery competitiveness that can only be matched by his backcourt partner.
"On the court, he is one of the meanest players I have ever seen," Miller said of Grundy's competitive nature. "Then you get him off the court and he's one of the silliest guys you've ever been around. He's got a good balance to who he is and I think that's why I get along with him so well. He's just a good all-around guy. He doesn't have too many bad things to say about people, but he's got that mean side on the court that you don't want to mess with. I'm just really glad he's on our side."
Sendek is certainly glad to have both players on his side. More than likely, Miller and Grundy will deliver the NCAA Tournament bid thousands of Pack fans have been craving for so many years. Back in October, there weren't too many folks between Tallahassee and College Park who thought that an NC State team featuring six freshmen and two sophomores could get over the hump. Miller and Grundy, however, thought otherwise.
"There's only one thing that matters anymore: you've got to win," Miller said. "The last year I played here I definitely wanted to be on a winning team and it's going to be that way. You want to be remembered as a winner. Hopefully about 10 years down the road when you come back to see a game and you see a banner up there, you can say you played a part in that. The blueprint is being laid right now. The thing you want to do to leave a good legacy is to be a good senior captain and someone guys look up to."
For Anthony Grundy and Archie Miller, that mission has been accomplished. But before they ride off into the sunset, they'll look to finish the job that they started.
