North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Faces Iowa in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - The date was March 19, 1989. Squaring off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, NC State and Iowa produced what surely would have been referred to as an instant classic had ESPN Classic actually existed at the time. In the end, coach Jim Valvano's Wolfpack finally prevailed in double overtime, 102-96. Among the interested spectators in attendance that day at the Providence, Rhode Island Civic Center was a young Providence assistant coach by the name of Herb Sendek. When the Pack and Hawkeyes meet for the first time since that day on Wednesday night, Sendek will once again be watching closely, but this time in a very different role.
The NC State head coach has seen his team jump out to a 5-0 start, a record that has moved the Wolfpack into both national polls (21 ESPN/USA Today and 24 A.P.). But make no mistake about it; Wednesday's contest at No. 15 Iowa (4-1) in the ACC/Big Ten challenge will be the Pack's stiffest test to date.
Returning five starters from a squad that won 21 games a year ago, the savvy, balanced Hawkeyes are expected to contend for the Big Ten title this season. And they certainly raised some eyebrows a few weeks ago when they toppled Kentucky, 67-63. Iowa's only loss thus far was a 68-59 setback against a Texas team that is currently ranked No. 2 in the polls.
"I think Iowa is clearly one of the premiere teams in the country," Sendek said. "I think Iowa has a legitimate chance to compete for a championship this year, both in the Big Ten and on the national level. They're have a very experienced team, they're extremely well-coached, they play both ends of the floor, they have balance between their perimeter and their inside game, and they're a team that I find challenging to prepare for. They really have the total package and you can see why so many people are high on Iowa this year."
While forward Greg Brunner (13.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game) guard Jeff Horner were preseason candidates for the Wooden Award, it's Adam Haluska who leads the Hawkeyes in scoring. The 6-5 junior averages 14.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Defensively, Iowa has been locking down on its opponents, holding them to averages of just 53.8 points and 35.6 percent shooting per game.
For NC State, four players are averaging in double-figures, led by quickly improving center Cedric Simmons, who's putting up 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. Ilian Evtimov (12.6), Engin Atsur (12.2) and Gavin Grant (10.8) have also been productive.
"Ideally, balance is always desired," Sendek said. "A team with more weapons is usually harder to defend."
Sendek says that he does expect Tony Bethel to play on Wednesday. The senior guard, who has been recovering from a severe groin tear he sustained in last March's ACC Tournament, sat out the first few weeks of practice and missed last week's game against VMI. He then came back to contribute to the Wolfpack's 61-48 triumph over Notre Dame on Saturday night.
Iowa's all-time record in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge is 1-3, while NC State's is 4-2. But win or lose, Sendek says his teams have always benefited from the early season competition that the event provides.
"Historically, when we've played this game we've learned a lot about ourselves, even when we've lost," said Sendek. "I can remember going up and not playing very well at Michigan a few years ago. It really allowed us to find out the truth and we had a more accurate barometer of where we were as a basketball team. We were able to build on that, even though we would have preferred to win the game. From that standpoint, it gives you another chance to grow and to get better, which is incumbent on most every team this time of year."
After losing to Michigan in 2003-04, the Wolfpack went on to post a second place finish in the ACC.
