North Carolina State University Athletics
Atsur Has Big Job Ahead Of Him
3/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 17, 2005
TIM PEELER
WORCESTER, Mass. - Engin Atsur has a big job ahead of him. He'll be the guy responsible for covering long-range shooter Brendan Plavich in the NCAA Tournament first-round game between N.C. State and Charlotte at the DCU Center.
Plavich is a 3-point fiend. He's taken 320 shots this year, only 36 of which came from inside the 3-point arc. He leads the nation with 3.9 3-pointers per game and has a dozen games this year in which he has made at least five long-range shots.
Plavich admits that his range-finder goes on almost as soon as he crosses mid-court, which is very similar to Atsur's most recent assignment in covering Duke's J.J. Redick.
"He has unlimited range,'' Atsur said. "I think Redick is a little better overall, but [Plavich] is a great player and can really hurt us.''
Redick did more than his part in hurting the Wolfpack last weekend at the ACC Tournament, scoring 35 points and raining down seven 3-pointers, several of which came with Atsur chasing him.
But that performance may have been a bigger testament to Redick's shooting than Atsur's defense. Redick said earlier this year that Atsur was one of the best defenders he's faced in ACC competition.
"He is a smart defender," said Redick, who earlier this week was named ACC Player of the Year. "He is not the quickest guy. But he knows position defense. He knows how to deny the ball.
"He has quick hands."
Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek says Atsur isn't likely to be affected by Redick's performance last week when he faces the 49er's star shooter on Friday, simply because few things bother the native of Istanbul, Turkey. He's even-keeled and level headed.
"Engin is a great competitor," Sendek said earlier this week. "He didn't feel good about Redick scoring those points, but he is also someone who has amazing self control and focus. He doesn't easily fluster or flinch. He is someone who gives it his best.
"He is competitive enough he doesn't like not doing well. At the same time, he has great maturity, and if something doesn't work in his favor, he doesn't become rattled. He doesn't flinch."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
