North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: How Sweet It Is For Hodge, Pack
3/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 20, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Worcester, Mass. -- Dancing and prancing in front of a section of NC State fans at the DCU Center, Julius Hodge wore a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon. He then pulled out the front of his red jersey, proudly displaying the words NC STATE. It's a jersey the Wolfpack's senior star will wear again, this time in the NCAA Sweet 16. The moment, which occurred just seconds after Hodge had scored the game-winning points in the Pack's stunning 65-62 victory over Connecticut on Sunday, brought to mind the pain and heartbreak Hodge had endured to get to this, the shining moment of his brilliant career.
It's hard to forget the mental picture of Hodge - in his freshman year - lying face down on the MCI Center floor after his 3-pointer just before the horn had caromed off the rim in a three-point defeat to the Huskies in a second round game. It's also hard to forget another mental picture, this one from last year when Hodge could only bury his face in his hand after NC State had somehow lost an 11-point lead to Vanderbilt in less than four minutes - once again in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
On Sunday, however, the former ACC Player of the Year made sure that another enduring memory of his career will be one of unrestrained joy. With the game tied 62-62, Hodge put extreme pressure on Connecticut forward Rudy Gay's patella tendons, sending Gay sprawling on the floor at the top of the key with a lightning quick first step. He then sliced through the Huskies' defense, kissed his shot off the glass and through the basket before encountering an old nemesis on his way down. Georgia Tech transfer Ed Nelson, who had beaten Hodge out for ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2002, tried to draw the charge.
But this time Hodge won the battle and got the call. The ensuing three-point play sent the Wolfpack to its first Sweet 16 appearance in the Herb Sendek era.
Julius Hodge deserved it. Herb Sendek deserved it. A Wolfpack team that had overcome all kinds of adversity - including a 3-7 start in the ACC - deserved it. The Wolfpack Nation deserved it.
Following the loss to Connecticut in 2002 Hodge was virtually speechless after the game. The same was true after last year's debacle against Vanderbilt. This time, he often struggled to find the proper words to describe his feelings of exhilaration.
"Oh man, it feels good," Hodge said through that toothy grin that just couldn't be removed from his face. "It's not unbelievable, but nobody believed it could happen for us. For it to happen for this way, it just feels great. There were no flashbacks; that was the past, this is the present. The last play, I was dribbling the ball up court and Rudy started clapping his hands and smiling. I just felt like there was no way I would be denied."
Hodge's numbers - 17 points, six assists and three rebounds - don't tell the complete story. As Sendek had said after his versatile swingman had put up 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in Friday's comeback win over Charlotte, Hodge had simply willed the Wolfpack to victory. Sunday's game was no different.
Just as older brother Steve is his inspiration, Hodge has become NC State's inspiration through this postseason stretch run which has seen NC State win four of five games dating back to last week's ACC Tournament.
After hitting his game-winner on Sunday, Hodge immediately pointed towards the brother he has always credited with driving him to become the best he can be. Steve Hodge taught Julius the importance of competitive passion, the same passion that has become contagious throughout the NC State team.
"The way the guys played today showed character," said Hodge. "The determination, the passion, the pride, the respect, the love for our school - are traits that coach Sendek possesses. We were trying to be like coach and get it done for him."
They got it done for the coach who wouldn't let them sulk and quit when many on the outside had already started waving the white flag in early February. Sendek's persistence paid off when his team finally started playing the type of defense that was required to win basketball games against tough competition. The Wolfpack has now won eight of its last 11 games, and over that stretch it has yielded an average of just 63 points per game. Charlotte was averaging 79 points per game before falling 17 below that average on Friday. UConn was averaging 78 per contest prior to being held down to 62 on Sunday.
Playing Wolfpack defense is about playing hard and playing together. It took awhile, but this team has finally bought into the concept.
"It has to be all five guys working together," Sendek said. "If one guy is on a different page of music than the other four, your defense isn't any good. We had to rely on great team defense today because Connecticut has such great talent. If you try to turn it into five isolated games, it's just very difficult to defend that way."
After using a sticky man-to-man defense in the opening half, Sendek switched up in the second 20 minutes, going with a match-up zone that left the Huskies confused and wondering if they should run man plays or zone plays. The end result was that UConn had a very difficult time getting the ball inside to their massive frontline players.
It hasn't been easy for NC State this year, but maybe that's what makes this moment so perfect.
"A wise man told me about a week ago that without any struggle there isn't any progress," Cameron Bennerman said, referring to a conversation he had with his father. "We've had a lot of struggles, whether it is certain games or seasons in the past. I told Julius that everything happens for a reason. There's a reason why that play that happened to him when he was a freshman happened the way it did. There's a reason we beat them like we did today. I'm very thankful for the team and the people who support us."
It's the struggle -and those disappointments in the past -- that made Sunday even sweeter than it might have been otherwise.
