North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Gets Back to Work
3/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 22, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - It's become quite obvious that the NC State basketball team can handle adversity. After getting off to a 3-7 start in the ACC, the Wolfpack rallied late in the season to grab a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Now the question is "how will the Pack handle success? There was plenty to celebrate after NC State advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 1989 by turning back Charlotte and Connecticut last weekend in Worcester, Mass. But when his team returned to the practice floor on Tuesday afternoon, coach Herb Sendek's team had already begun to set its sights on Friday's 7:27 meeting with Wisconsin at the Syracuse Regional.
"I thought our guys came back in a good frame of mind," Sendek said in an afternoon press conference. "We just finished practice and I really thought they did a good job today. We had yesterday off and I think that was very timely for us. We really needed a day of rest, mentally as well as physically. The guys came back today and got back to work, business as usual."
And even though Friday's game at the Carrier Dome will provide the Wolfpack with the opportunity to move into the regional finals on Sunday, Sendek said the team's preparation wouldn't be any different than it would be for a regular season contest.
"Absolutely not," Sendek said. "I was fortunate to make two trips to the Final Four with coach [Rick] Pitino, and our approach is very similar. We do what we do. We have another game to play on Friday and it's not time to make wholesale changes. We basically have to do what we've been doing all along."
What NC State has been doing over the last 11 games has certainly been working. Dating back to a 53-51 triumph at Georgia Tech on February 13, the Wolfpack has won eight of its last 11 games. In a postseason run that started with three days at the ACC Tournament, the Pack has gone 4-1.
And most of the damage has been done without the services of starting point guard Tony Bethel, who pulled a groin early in the second half of NC State's ACC Tournament victory over Florida State. Bethel, who has missed four games since then, still hasn't practiced since the injury occurred.
"He's making progress, but we're just battling father time right now," said Sendek. "He's made some real strides here the last couple of days. I don't have any idea whether or not he's going to be ready to play on Friday. I think we once again have to prepare under the assumption that we will not have him."
Another injured starter - senior center Jordan Collins - continues to progress from the shoulder injury he sustained in the regular season finale against Wake Forest. Although he played only seven minutes in the thrilling 65-62 win over UConn on Sunday, Collins did manage to drain two big 3-point shots in the first half when NC State was struggling on the offensive end of the court.
"Jordan Collins did practice [on Tuesday]," said Sendek. "Although he should still be somewhat guarded, I think we're clearly over the hump with him and he's moving in the right direction. We should expect him to be able to play on Friday."
NC State plans to hold one more practice session at home before leaving for Syracuse on a charter flight Wednesday evening. The team will practice at the dome on Thursday afternoon before participating in an NCAA press conference.
