North Carolina State University Athletics
Behind the Scenes with Tony Haynes: The March Into March
3/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2003
By Tony Haynes
For NC State, March Madness began long before people were firing the February page of their calendars into the wastebasket. In fact, the second half of the ACC season has brought nothing but madness for the Wolfpack and its always-anxious supporters. The fingernails that once looked so smooth before basketball season are now tattered; hair loss in the Wolfpack Nation is at an all time high; bags used for hyperventilation sit next to the remote control on the coffee table. Don't you just love it?
Before making the turn to the backside of the ACC schedule a month ago, it seemed peculiar to me that NC State had not really been involved in any close games up to that point. Many of the losses had been lopsided, and the wins, while important, had hardly gone down to the last shot.
My how things have changed.
In a 61-58 loss at Virginia on February 9, the Pack's Julius Hodge just a missed a tough 3-point shot that would have tied it. Four days later, NC State doggedly held off Georgia Tech in a battle that was decided by six points. The 75-67 victory at North Carolina came in overtime, but only after Hodge had evened the score with a difficult 15-footer with eight seconds left in regulation. Speaking of tough shots, Maryland's Drew Nicholas stepped back, faded away and drilled a three in Scooter Sherrill's face to break the Wolfpack's heart last Sunday. On Wednesday, NC State perhaps avoided the same fate when defensive ace Cliff Crawford poked the ball away before Clemson's Edward Scott could attempt a potential game tying 3-pointer.
"I didn't feel good until I saw all zeroes on the scoreboard," said NC State head coach Herb Sendek of the big 63-60 triumph in Death Valley. "Even then, I looked up again to make sure I didn't misread it."
So now with fingernails frayed and nerves on edge, it comes down to one final regular season game against Wake Forest (22-4, 12-3) this Saturday at the RBC Center. This is the type of game that players and coaches live for. A win would give the Deacons their first outright ACC regular season title since the days of Billy Packer and Len Chappell (1962). Even with those significant stakes at play, Wake probably won't have an edge in the desperation department. For NC State, a second straight at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament could very well be on the line. Because of its non-conference slip ups, the Pack, which is currently 9-6 in ACC play, probably needs a 10th conference win to feel comfortable about its chances.
In game one last month in Winston-Salem, NC State led by four points at the break before Wake switched defenses in the second half. Scrapping its man-to-man in favor of a 2-3 zone, the Deacons held the Wolfpack to just one field goal over seven minutes and went on a decisive 15-2 run that led to a 73-58 decision. In that game, the Pack's designated zone busters-Sherrill and Marcus Melvin-were a combined 1-of-11 from the 3-point arc.
This Saturday, Sherrill probably wouldn't mind getting another look at the Wake zone. Needless to say, this Scooter has been rolling lately. Coming off a career-high 24 outburst against Clemson on Wednesday, the junior guard has averaged 20 points over his last three games. During that same stretch, Sherrill has drained 11 of his 22 3-point attempts.
At no time this season have all of NC State parts been clicking on all cylinders. There's no time like the present. With Sherrill and center Josh Powell playing their best basketball, the Wolfpack could be primed to put together its strongest performance of the year, especially if Melvin, Hodge and Crawford can play up to their usual standards.
It will take that and more to defeat Wake Forest, which has been the league's best and most consistent team over 15 ACC games. While Skip Prosser will be the hands down choice for coach of the year, senior forward Josh Howard could very well be a unanimous winner of the player of the year award. The Deacons, who were picked to finish 7th in a preseason poll, have every reason to believe that destiny is on their side.
But Lady Destiny has often reserved the right to change her mind. Twenty years ago, she didn't start donning a red and white jersey until very late in the season. Might she switch allegiances once again?
Get ready for even more "Madness."
