North Carolina State University Athletics
Sendek's Senior Salute
2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2002
As Anthony Grundy, Archie Miller and Brian Keeter get set to play their final home game at the ESA, NC State head coach Herb Sendek reflects on the careers of his three seniors.
On Grundy and Miller:"Both guys have had their career best seasons this year, and it's certainly been perfect timing with such a young team. I think both have given us outstanding leadership in their own ways and both have played really good basketball. [Senior Day] is always such an emotional day because you go through so much together."
On the decision to offer the 5-10 Miller a scholarship:"I saw a great shooter. There's an old adage that 'great shooting cures a lot of ills,' and it's true. He's as good a shooter as I've ever been around. He also just has all the character aspects of a winner. That was evident even as a high school player. He had such strong character, a great basketball IQ and background and was a tremendous shooter. All of those things weighed heavily in our decision to recruit him. Obviously, there were physical limitations but not enough to outweigh all of those positive things that he has."
What did you think when you first saw Grundy play?:"His shot probably was the most unorthodox element of his game. I don't know if I've ever seen a player improve his shooting at this stage of his career to the measure that Anthony has. Just go back in your mind how he shot free throws earlier in his career. I can remember that game we lost up at Maryland, for example, and him really struggling at the foul line. But between his sophomore and junior years, he just went about reconstructing it and developed into a good free throw shooter. I think he's made the same kind of improvement in his three-point and outside shooting between his junior and senior years. That's very unusual and very difficult to do. He's amazed me in that aspect. He may have some unorthodox movements, I think his long arms lead to that type of perception, but in terms of learning an offense, understanding a defense, reading a defense and knowing what's going on, he's about as good as anybody I've ever coached. He's one of those guys who knows the other guys positions even if he doesn't play that spot. He has a savvy and instincts that you just cannot teach. Anthony grades out A+ in that area. You can show him something once or can mention it to him and he'll see it and react accordingly."
On Brian Keeter: "Brian obviously has become a fan favorite. It started with his ability to knock a shot in after sitting there for 39 minutes and 45 seconds. He'd come in, take his warm-up off and the first shot he has, he takes and it went in time and time again. And you talk about an unorthodox shot! He's become a super hero. Spider Man, Batman and the Keeter Meter! Often times you really don't know what's going on in the stands, you try to tune into what's happening in the game. But that's one (the Keeter Meter) that you can't miss."
