North Carolina State University Athletics
Despite First Game Nerves, Bethel Offers Steady Hand in Opener
11/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2004
BY TIM PEELER
N.C. State was only two minutes into its season-opening win over New Orleans ,and Tony Bethel had already drained two 3-pointers, one from the corner and the other from the top of the key.
You could hardly tell the junior point guard hadn't played in a real college basketball game in nearly a year and a half, despite the fact that he could hardly sleep Tuesday night because of the butterflies swirling in his stomach.
"I was very anxious," Bethel admitted after Wednesday night's 92-58 victory over Monte Towe's Privateers. "But the rest of the guys on the team; Julius Hodge, Levi Watkins, Jordan Collins, the whole team; really made me feel comfortable out there. They knew it was my first game back out there and I was feeling that a little bit."
In a perfect world, Bethel might have continued his hot shooting hand, added to those quick six points and jumped out of the boxscore with his productivity.
But those nerves eventually did kick in, and Bethel made one of his last five shots from the field. He got in foul trouble later in the game, and was not as aggressive on the offensive end. He did, however, continue to produce, tying Hodge with a game-high six assists and grabbing three rebounds. He played his trademark strong defense, taking a charge on New Orleans' Jamie McNeilly away from the ball in the first half.
In the eyes of Hodge, who has spent the last two years talking up Bethel's talents, it was the perfect kind of debut for the Wolfpack's newest guard, whose two early 3-pointers calmed any season-opening jitters his teammates may have had, especially from beyond the arc. The Wolfpack made nine of 16 3-pointers in the first half, as it jumped out to a 54-27 halftime lead.
"That's what point guards do: they set the tone," Hodge said. "He did a good job of that."
Bethel wasn't exactly thrilled with his numbers at the end of the game. But he was glad to be back out on the court, in a game that counted.
"I knocked some down," Bethel said. "I just wished I could have knocked all of them down."
Bethel will be counted on throughout the season, which is why this week's issue of Sports Illustrated lists him as one of the five biggest impact transfers in college basketball this season.
Hodge is certainly still convinced.
"I told him there would be nights like this," Hodge said. "In our league, you get two or three great games against a couple of teams and you are right there in the flow. He is a good player. He knows tonight wasn't his night on the offensive end. But we play again (Thursday). He is going to be ready.
"He is still going to be the best point guard in the league."
You may contact Tim Peeler at mailto:tim_peeler@ncsu.edu tim_peeler@ncsu.edu
