North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 16 NC State Hosts Campbell on Friday
11/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2004
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - NC State head basketball coach Herb Sendek may be a perfectionist, but even he was having a difficult time coming up with much to complain about after watching his team steamroll three opponents in last week's BCA Invitational at the RBC Center. Shooting better than 57 percent from the field and winning the three games by an average margin of 31.3 points, the nationally ranked Wolfpack got off to a rousing start in posting victories over New Orleans, Elon and East Carolina. On Friday, the Pack will try to put together another high-level performance when it hosts Campbell at 7:00 p.m.
"I think we played very well in the BCA Tournament," Sendek said. "I was pleased with our effort and I was especially pleased with our togetherness. I thought we really made a special effort to play together. We shared the ball and we really tried to make each other better. Having said all that, it's still so early in the season and we're still very much a work in progress. We've got to get a lot better."
Playing with the type of togetherness and chemistry that is often elusive early in the season, the Wolfpack dished out a total of 64 assists as a team on 94 made baskets in the first three games. Thanks to crisp execution and nifty passing, just about everyone who suited up for NC State ended up with plenty of good looks at the hoop. In fact, of the 10 players who saw action in all three games, nine shot better than 50 percent from the field.
Last week's event also gave the Pack's three freshmen an opportunity to get a taste of what college basketball is all about for the first time, and all three showed that they should be ready to contribute to NC State this season. Center Cedric Simmons, forward Andrew Brackman and guard Gavin Grant made a positive impression on their coach and Wolfpack fans.
"I've been very pleased," said Sendek. "It's a group that has a good feel for the game. They're eager learners and their anxious to get better. I've been very pleased with their ability to absorb things early."
The 6-10 Brackman, in particular, made some head-turning plays in Friday night's 100-66 victory over East Carolina. Playing with a reckless abandon, the Cincinnati native had five blocked shots to go along with 12 points and five rebounds.
"He just really knows how to play," Sendek said. "He comes to us with a terrific background, as do Cedric and Gavin."
The Campbell team NC State will face evened its record at 1-1 with a 75-62 win over William & Mary on Tuesday. The Camels have been getting steady play from 5-10 guard Anthony Atkinson, who tallied 18 points on a 4-of-6 shooting touch from 3-point range against the Indians.
