North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Basketball: Old and New
10/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 22, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-During the NC State men's basketball team's annual media day on Wednesday, there was a striking mixture of old and new. On the new side, there were freshmen Engin Atsur, Mike O'Donnell and Georgetown transfer Tony Bethel, not to mention the spanking new practice facility built inside the Weisiger-Brown building. Then there were familiar faces like Marcus Melvin, Scooter Sherrill and Julius Hodge. And oh yes, there was also Ilian Evtimov, who, from all indications, is as good as new following a serious knee injury that prevented him from playing all of last season.
Now a redshirt sophomore, Evtimov has used the first few days of practice to ease concerns that he might have a difficult time becoming as good or better than he was his freshman season, when he established himself as one of the ACC's top rookies.
"Ilian has looked really good in practice," said Herb Sendek, who is beginning his 8th season as NC State's head coach. "I think he has exceeded expectations. He seems strong, he seems confident. We practiced double sessions over the weekend and he practiced the first session and then sat out the second. Then we practiced Monday and Tuesday and he made it through the entire practice in both cases. In don't think we could have asked for anything better than we've been able to see so far."
If there is a silver lining to Evtimov's situation, it's that his injury occurred during the first half of the first preseason game of last year, meaning he's had a little more than what is considered to be the minimum amount of time generally required to return to action following ACL surgery.
And while the knee itself continues to get stronger, it's become evident to teammates and coaches that the instincts, shooting touch and passing skills that made Evtimov one of the most exciting young players in college basketball a few years ago haven't gone anywhere.
"From a basketball standpoint, Ilian is obviously one of the smartest players I've ever been around," Sendek said. "He has a great feel for the game and he has a savvy that's hard to teach. I think he was even able to expand his own knowledge base by standing by and watching everyday."
But for Evtimov, who grew up in a basketball-playing family, standing around and watching last season was about as entertaining as a State Fair traffic jam on Hillsborough Street. The opportunity to get back on the court with his teammates has only increased his love for the game.
"I'm really excited," said the 6-7 native of Sofia, Bulgaria. "It was very tough watching them on the sidelines last year knowing that I could have been a part of this. I'm just trying to help this team and I have a lot of things I want to show, so I'm excited."
In becoming one of NC State's key contributors in 2001-02, Evtimov shot 56 percent from the 3-point arc and averaged 7.1 points per game. But offensive statistics alone don't do justice to the many intangibles he was able to bring to a team that fell just a few points shy of a sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. An impeccable passer from the high post, Evtimov often became the trigger man in the new hybrid offense that Sendek and his staff installed that year. His strength - both physically and mentally - was also a major asset down the stretch when the Pack was able to nail down some huge games in both the regular season and ACC Tournament.
With Evtimov joining Hodge, Sherrill, Melvin and Levi Watkins this season, Sendek will have a group of players at his disposal who have tremendous familiarity with the system and with each other.
"There's a special connection between Marcus, Julius, Scooter and me," Evtimov said. "We had started to develop that last year, but unfortunately, I got hurt. Now we can re-start that again. Sometimes we just look at each other and we know what we're going to do."
O'Donnell No Camper: With his boyish looks, O'Donnell has already had a tough time convincing people outside the program that he is in fact a basketball player for NC State. During Sendek's summer camp, the 5-11, 160 pound point guard from Largo, Fla. was even mistaken by campers as a fellow camper. That all changed, however, when he got a basketball in his hands. It's the same impression he's left through the early days of practice.
"Mike is definitely a prototype point guard," Sendek said. "I've been really excited with Mike in practice. He has really shined, quite frankly."
By averaging 21.2 points, 5.4 assists and 4.9 steals in his senior year at Largo High School, the scrappy O'Donnell became somewhat of a late bloomer in the recruiting process. After initially committing to coach Billy Donovan at Florida, he ended up choosing NC State. O'Donnell says his first week of preseason practice has been an eye-opening experience.
"Out of knowing 100 percent of basketball, I thought I knew at least half, but I probably know about two percent," O'Donnell said. "Coach Sendek is an unbelievable coach. I have learned just so much since I've been here and he's helped develop my game as a player."
Red and White/Fire and Ice: The honored guests at the annual Red/White game at 1:00 p.m. on November first will be perhaps the most dynamic backcourt duo in NC State history. Prior to the scrimmage that day, Sendek and the NC State athletic department will honor the jerseys of Chris Corchiani and Rodney Monroe, who played to together from 1988-91.
"It's really a special day for us and this year it takes on added significance because we're able to honor Chris and Rodney," Sendek said. "It's been well documented that Chris's dad Gabe is fighting for his life right now. We as a Wolfpack Nation want to do everything that's possible to pay special tribute to Chris and his family that day. I know we would all appreciate if everybody made an extra-special effort to be there at the RBC Center. It's really an important day for us, as well as for Chris, his family and Rodney."
Recently, Gabe Corchiani, who was Chris's coach in high school, learned that he had cancer. He has since undergone regular treatments at Duke Hospital.
"Not only has he been my father and coach, he's also been my best friend," Corchiani said on Monday. "He's taught me a whole lot about life. He's very similar to coach Valvano in many aspects. They both had such a good outlook on life. Instead of looking at the negative each day, my father has been pulling all the positives. He's a fighter and that's something he knows I'm going to carry on for the rest of my life."
Corchiani, of course, played for Jim Valvano, who died from cancer in 1993.
