North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: NC State, Cal Ready for NCAA Rematch
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2006
By Tony Haynes
Dallas - As he was preparing his team for Friday night's first-round NCAA Tournament game against California (20-10), NC State head coach Herb Sendek wanted to remind his players of what it felt like to play for a team that appeared to be the second best team in the ACC for a long stretch this season. That reminder came in the form of a highlight tape that featured many of the `feel-good' plays that had pushed the Wolfpack (21-9) to a 10-2 record in the ACC before it ended the season with a four-game losing streak. And if it is to advance to the second round of NCAA play, the Pack will have to get back to playing at that same level when it tangles with the Golden Bears at 7:20 Friday at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
A psychological ploy by Sendek? Perhaps. But his motives run deeper than that.
"It's more than psychology, it's the truth," said Sendek, whose team will be making its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. "We didn't fabricate any of the clips that we showed them. They actually did all of those things and have enjoyed a terrific season. It was important that we recognize that we have this wonderful opportunity for the body of work that we've accomplished and we don't isolate our season to the very end."
The very end produced very few highlights, as the Wolfpack lost its way down the stretch, dropping regular season games to North Carolina, Boston College and Wake Forest before losing to the Deacons again in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
It was a susprising fall from grace given the Pack's relative consistency through most of the season up to that point. NC State played 26 games without suffering back-to-back losses prior to its end of season slide.
Among other things, the Wolfpack lost its golden touch from 3-point range over the last four games, hitting just 31-of-118 (26 percent) from the arc. Before that, in 12 league games, the Pack was shooting better than 45 percent from long-range.
Still, NC State isn't convinced that Friday's game against Cal will go south in a hurry if it comes out misfiring early.
"That's a big part of our offense, but it doesn't define us," said senior guard Tony Bethel. "We're going to look to get it done on the defensive end because that's where it starts."
He may have a point. Although NC State led the ACC in field goal percentage defense, it did allow those last four opponents to shoot just a tick under 50 percent from the field, a high number considering the Wolfpack prides itself on keeping teams at 40 percent or lower.
"Our defense has to be there," said senior Cameron Bennerman. "We need to get stops and get some fast break transition opportunities."
And the target of NC State's defensive attack on Friday will be one of the top players in the country. A first-team All-Pac-10 selection and second team All-American, California's Leon Powe certainy fits the mold of a power forward. A 6-8, 240-pound redshirt sophomore, Powe is a walking double-double. In fact, with averages of 20 points and 10 rebounds per contest, he has rarely been contained this season.
"Like most outstanding players, he makes the guys around him better because he's so difficult to play with just one guy," Sendek said. "Anytime you post a number like he did in the conference tournament (41 points against Oregon), I think everybody kind of perks up. You look beyond that number and you recognize that he averages over 20 and averaged over 10. A lot of guys if they get that one time, they're calling everybody in their hometown and asking the coach to make copies of the tape. He does it every night. When he gets less than 20 and 10, it's off pace."
If NC State chooses to double Powe in the post, the strategy will be nothing he hasn't seen before.
"I'm anticipating a double team," Powe said. "That just gives more opportunities for my teammates and for me to make things happen on the pass or dribble. I'll have to be an assist man for my team if they do that."
One of the benefactors of Powe's excellence down low is a guy who is no stranger to NC State fans. As a freshman in 2003, Richard Midgely sent the Pack packing in the first round with a 3-pointer that was the difference in the Golden Bears' 76-74 overtime victory. Now a senior, Midgely hopes he can factor into yet another Cal win over NC State.
"When we were watching the selection show on Sunday and I saw NC State come up, it was kind of funny," Midgley said. "For me it's a real good memory hitting the winning shot in that game. I'm just excited that our team is back here again."
This will mark Cal's first NCAA Tournament game since that day in Oklahoma City. NC State, meanwhile, is back in the `Big Dance' for the fifth straight time. Qualifying for the tournament isn't something that players on either team take for granted.
"This is our fifth consecutive year and I've been privileged enough to be on four of those teams," Bennerman said. "This is just an opportunity for us to play well and to be together. Every game is another chance to make it better. In spite of our losses here lately, we've had a good season and a good record. There's a lot to be thankful for and stay positive about."
Especially after watching that highlight tape on Wednesday.
Evtimov Update: NC State forward Ilian Evtimov, who hasn't been at full-strength since spraining a ligament in his left foot a month ago, took part in a light 40-minute practice Thursday at the arena.
"Ilian is getting better," Sendek said. "He's better off than he has been. I don't think it's the kind of injury that's going to subside before the season is over entirely, but Ilian is a very tough-minded competitor. He has experienced injuries before, and if anyone can manage such a situation effectively, it's Ilian. Certainly, our team has had to redefine itself in many ways since he hurt himself in the middle of February. Fortunately for us, he continues to get better."
