North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Lost Opportunity
12/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2003
By Tony Haynes
The NC State basketball team had a very friendly face standing on its doorstep on Tuesday night. That knock on the door came from a seldom seen guest who was just dying to step into the Wolfpack's living room. But when it came time to open the door and let the would-be house guest inside, old Mr. Opportunity had moved on down the road to another destination. Perhaps he stopped into the home occupied by Michigan, a program that was eager to show a nationwide television audience that its long nightmare is over. Fortunately for NC State, opportunity has been known to knock again.
The long college basketball season always seems to have a life of its own, complete with peaks, valleys and everything else in between. Teams that do well early have every reason to celebrate their accomplishments, yet they should do so with a cautious optimism. Georgia Tech, for example, jumped from nowhere to somewhere by flattening Connecticut and Texas Tech to win the preseason NIT. The Jackets looked unbeatable, just as North Carolina looked unbeatable when it captured the very same championship one year ago. At that time, who would have guessed that the Tar Heels would be back in that other National Invitation Tournament, the one that comes at the end of the year?
And what became of the Kansas team that UNC throttled in last year's preseason NIT? It ended up playing in the final college game of the year, the one that closes with "One Shining Moment."
That takes us to Tuesday night in chilly Ann Arbor, Michigan. Defending and rebounding with ferocity and vigor, the Wolverines ran with the opportunity that had been given to them, turning back NC State, 68-61.
"It was a big night for us," coach Tommy Amaker said in his postgame wrap up.
It was indeed a big night for a program that is being retooled and rebuilt from the ashes left by indiscretions that occurred before Amaker arrived three years ago. Amaker, a former defensive whiz at Duke, knows a little about the mechanics of man-to-man, denial defense. That knowledge combined with the quickness, athleticism and depth he possesses on his roster could very well turn the Wolverines into defensive demons.
It took the Wolfpack about two minutes to witness first hand Michigan's lust for playing defense. Knocked back by the Wolverines initial thrust, State was down 7-0 before you could say Ypsilanti (amazingly, spell check does recognize Ypsilanti). The Wolfpack did recover, going on an impressive 18-2 run of its own before the turnovers and rushed shots that would undo NC State's night took hold late in the first half.
Because the Wolfpack won its first three games with relative ease, it was human nature to shrug off and overlook the 22 turnovers it had against Florida A&M last Friday. Conveniently disguised in another one-sided rout of Howard earlier that week were 16 turnovers.
Florida A&M and Howard weren't good enough to take advantage of those errors. Michigan, however, was a different story altogether.
"I think our team has enjoyed this style of basketball with pressure man-to-man," Amaker said before Tuesday's game. "I think they like it because they get something out of it on the other end."
What they get on the other end are layups and dunks that come when they're successful in forcing their opponents into turnovers and poor shots. NC State, of course, aided that cause in Tuesday's game.
"The turnovers led to countless easy baskets for Michigan and it's difficult to score when you don't get shots," said NC State head coach Herb Sendek.
Fortunately, because it does have good ball handlers and highly skilled players who know how to play the game, the Wolfpack will likely do a better job of countering the defense and valuing the basketball the next time it encounters a big pressure team like Michigan.
And as we've seen over the last two seasons, NC State's intricate halfcourt offense, an attack that relies on timing, rhythm and quick decision making, usually becomes smoother as the season progresses. After reviewing the film of Tuesday's disjointed performance, the Wolfpack will see breakdowns that can occur when all five players aren't on the same page.
Competitive almost to a fault sometimes, Julius Hodge often tried to take the world on his shoulders and go his own way against Michigan, pulling himself away from an offense that he and his teammates practice each and every day. After missing a few shots early, senior Marcus Melvin became hesitant in the second half, passing up jumpers that he usually knocks down when things are going well.
To be successful, the Pack needs Hodge to work within the framework of the system and Melvin to play with passion and confidence. Everyone else must have the confidence to be strong with the ball and stay committed to trusting an offense that can punish pressure when executed with conviction and poise. If those things happen and the turnover numbers moderate, a disturbing loss in December won't really seem like a big deal come February and March.
"We're 3-1 right now and the season is still young," said NC State senior guard Scooter Sherrill. "There's a long way to go. We realize that we have to get better and we're going to. We're going to be all right."
A good approach to take, especially when you know that opportunity will knock again.
