North Carolina State University Athletics
Add a Number `4' to Wolfpack
1/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - Will Roach to the rescue! A popular presence during his playing career at NC State, Roach is returning to duty after making the decision to rejoin the Wolfpack basketball program. Same Will, different number. When the Raleigh Broughton product dons the uniform for the first time this season during the Pack's home game against Duke on Thursday night, he'll be wearing the number `4.' Roach's old number 22 now belongs to Tony Bethel. Ironically, Bethel's recent illness is one of the main reasons Roach is back with the Pack.
A walk-on when he first came to NC State four years ago, Roach was redshirted his freshman season. He eventually earned a scholarship and went on to play for three years before graduating last spring. At that point, the 6-6 swingman decided against returning for his final year of eligibility.
But with the Wolfpack shorthanded due to illness and injury last week, Roach accepted an invitation to rejoin the team when an offer was made by coach Herb Sendek. Although the Pack rarely had more than seven or eight players available for practice last week, Roach's presence couldn't have come at a better time. He has reenrolled in school and will be taking some graduate courses in the second semester.
During his first stint with NC State, Roach played in a total of 32 games and three times was named winner of the "Jon Speaks Award," given annually to the best teammate.
As for Bethel's status, Sendek said it's still unknown when the junior guard will be ready to return following a bout with the flu and colitis.
"He's lost a lot of weight. At one check, it was about 15 pounds," Sendek said. "Most recently, I think the dehydration has resulted in him developing a gout condition in his foot where he was literally on crutches this week. He's kind of gone through the gauntlet with a whole series of things. To his credit, he was fighting through it the whole way, playing in our game against West Virginia, even giving us a few minutes. Finally we've got things where we're moving in a positive direction and hopefully his return isn't that far around the corner. As for when that will be, it's really impossible for me to say right now."
During Sunday's 68-67 loss to Miami - the Wolfpack's third consecutive defeat - senior Julius Hodge was fighting through ankle and back injuries for most of the afternoon. Hodge, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds against the Hurricanes, had missed the West Virginia contest on January 2nd because of a sprained ankle.
"I don't think he's recovered fully yet," Sendek said. "He continues to get treatment on his ankle. At the beginning of last week, he started to experience some back spasms. He's getting treatment for that as well. It prevented him from practicing regularly last week. Hopefully, both of those conditions will continue to improve."
Heading into its December 19th game at Washington, NC State was 8-0 and ranked 10th in the coaches poll. Since then, however, the Wolfpack has dropped four of six games, falling to 10-4 for the season. The game against No. 5 Duke (11-0) on Thursday will be the first of two straight home games against nationally ranked opponents this week. Eighth-ranked Georgia Tech will visit the RBC Center on Sunday.
"Our health has been poor; that's a true statement," said Sendek. "The other true statement is we have to play better than we have. How much one has affected the other is really speculative. It's a bottom line competition. We can't use the misfortune we've had with our health as any type of excuse. But at the same time, we recognize that some guys have had to battle through some injuries and some illness that make playing to your best harder than it ordinarily is."
