North Carolina State University Athletics
ACC/Big Ten Challenge: NC State Travels to Michigan
12/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.--After thrashing its first three opponents inside the friendly confines of the RBC Center, NC State's 25th ranked basketball team is now ready to move onto the next step in its long season. That next step with be a challenging road tilt at Michigan in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, an event in which the Wolfpack has posted a 3-1 record. The Wolverines, coached by former Duke guard and assistant coach Tommy Amaker, are off to their first 3-0 start in four years following a 61-60 overtime victory at Butler on Sunday night.
Overall, there will be a total of nine games in the Challenge, a successful early season series that brings together two of college basketball's power conferences. The ACC has won each of the four ACC/Big Ten Challenges to date.
"I've always liked the Big Ten Challenge," said Pack head coach Herb Sendek. "I think it's good for our team to have early non-conference game against a team like Michigan. It's a good way to find out about your team and creates interest in college basketball early in the year. I think the fans enjoy it."
After watching his team whip three outmanned opponents by an average victory margin of 25 points, Sendek will be curious to see just how the Wolfpack will respond to going on the road for the first time and squaring off against a team that has comparable personnel. One of the Wolverines' strengths - rebounding - has certainly grabbed Sendek's attention. Michigan has been dominant on the boards, outrebounding its first three opponents by an average of 12 (42-30) per game. That's an alarming statistic for an NC State team that has given up a total of 30 offensive rebounds over its last two games.
"The one thing that really jumps out at you is their size," Sendek responded when asked about Michigan. "They just have great length. They start two guys that are 6-11; their wings are 6-6 and are very physically strong. Even their point guard, Daniel Horton, is 6-3 and a rock-solid player. They really are a physically gifted team. We may have to play one guy on another guy's shoulders to be able to look at them eye-to-eye. It's really going to be a great challenge for our team on the road."
With junior center Jordan Collins ineligible to play until the end of the first semester, NC State will be without the one experienced big man on its roster who could help to neutralize Michigan's size advantage. In the backcourt, the Wolfpack will certainly welcome the services of freshman guard Engin Atsur, who will be making his regular season debut after missing the first three games due to a technicality involving his participation with a club team in his home country of Turkey.
Atsur, who did participate in the Pack's two exhibition games, will be a big part of Sendek's rotation on Tuesday.
"We're glad that he's finally able to join us in a game," Sendek said. "It was good that he was at least able to participate in the exhibition games. That got his feet on the ground a little bit. Your first college game on the road at Michigan is a heck of a way to start, but he's a good player. We think he has a very promising future with us. He'll help our team depth right now."
He'll also add yet another 3-point shooter to an arsenal that is already loaded with perimeter marksmen. In its first three games, NC State was 30-of-78 (38.5 percent) from long range. Leading the way for the Pack has been junior Julius Hodge, who is averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Guard Scooter Sherrill (17.7), forward Levi Watkins (12.0) and forward Marcus Melvin (10.3) are also averaging in double figures.
Michigan has been extremely balanced thus far with four players averaging just over 12 points per game. Horton and talented 6-6 swingman Bernard Robinson Jr. are both putting up 12.7 points per contest, with 6-6 wingman Lester Abram (12.3) and Dion Harris (12.0) right behind.
The Wolverines return four starters from a team that experienced a roller-coaster season a year ago. After dropping their first six games, they went on a tear, winning 13 in a row before settling for a 17-13 mark and a third place finish in the Big Ten. Michigan did not participate in postseason play because of self-imposed sanctions that were put in place for violations that had occurred several years before Amaker arrived.
"I thought last year he did a tremendous job of turning the year around after they got off to a slow start, and that's not easy to do," Sendek said. "They started the season 0-6 and lost some games that I think on paper people expected them to win. To be able to turn that around within the same year is a real testament to his poise and composure and not panicking and staying with what he knows works."
Now in his third year at Michigan, Amaker got his first head coaching job at Seton Hall, where he spent four years from 1997-2001. Prior to that, he was a trusty assistant under his college coach - Mike Krzyzewski - for nine seasons. As a player, Amaker served as the starting point guard on the 1986 Duke team that lost to Louisville in the national championship game.
Tuesday's game will mark just the fourth meeting between NC State and Michigan and the first since 1950. The Wolfpack owns a 2-1 advantage in the series.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule
Monday, Dec. 1
Northwestern at Florida State...7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Indiana at Wake Forest...7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
NC State at Michigan...7:30 (ESPN2)
Illinois vs. UNC (Greensboro)...9:00 (ESPN)
Wisconsin at Maryland...9:30 (ESPN2)
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Georgia Tech at Ohio State...7:00 (ESPN)
Clemson at Purdue...7:30 (ESPN2)
Duke at Michigan State...9:00 (ESPN)
Minnesota at Virginia...9:30 (ESPN2)
