North Carolina State University Athletics
Sweet 16 on the Line for Wolfpack, Longorns
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2006
DALLAS (AP) - NC State was the only team that entered the NCAA tournament with a four-game losing streak.
On Saturday, the Wolfpack was one of 24 teams still left in the field.
"Those four games we had to put behind us, and this win we have to put behind us too," forward Ilian Evtimov said. "We've just got to put the past behind. We had a good season, we deserve to be here."
The Wolfpack (22-9) proved that with a 58-52 first-round victory over California, advancing as a No. 10 seed for the second year in a row. The Pack plays second-seeded Texas (28-6) in round two of the Atlanta Regional on Sunday.
"Now it's our business to keep on moving forward," Evtimov said.
This is the Wolfpack's fifth straight NCAA appearance under Herb Sendek after missing the tournament for 10 seasons, and the fourth time It has won at least once in March. The coach has had only one losing record in his 10 seasons, with at least 21 wins in each of the last three.
Still, that relatively impressive résumé has left some NC State supporters wanting more.
"Herb hasn't been appreciated the way he should be appreciated. He deserves more than the way he's been treated," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "He has poured everything he has into the job. I don't think they could find a better coach for their program."
Barnes, a North Carolina native, was the coach at Providence from 1988-94, and Sendek was on that staff the first season.
"If anybody thinks that North Carolina State is not successful and thinks North Carolina State is not becoming a better program over the last few years, I'm sorry, but I would have to call them an idiot," said Evtimov, the fourth-year starter from Bulgaria.
While Barnes is bothered with the way Sendek has been treated by some, now it's his job to beat his former assistant.
"That doesn't bother me, because it doesn't bother him either to have to beat me," Barnes said.
Texas is trying to advance to the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years after a first-round elimination a year ago.
The Wolfpack was in the round of 16 last year after beating NC-Charlotte and No. 2 seed Connecticut.
The Longhorns had to grind out a 60-52 victory over Ivy League champion Penn to get out of this year's first round. The Quakers were deliberate offensively, trying to slow the game down. That's what Texas expects N.C. State to attempt.
"They are similar to Penn. They run a good offense and take their time focusing on fundamentals," Horns forward P.J. Tucker said. "We will have to be patient."
Penn was down by only a point and had the ball with 6 minutes left. But the Quakers missed their next shot and Daniel Gibson, just back in with four fouls, drove for consecutive layups.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Tucker, who both missed last year's NCAA tournament, combined for 36 points and 22 rebounds against the Quakers.
Tucker played high school ball in Raleigh, not far from the N.C. State campus. While his hometown university recruiting him, Tucker said he was never offered a scholarship to stay home.
"Uh oh," Aldridge joked, prodding Tucker, the Big 12 player of the year.
"Just another game," Tucker said, laughing.
Barnes said Texas didn't really out-recruit NC State for Tucker, and the more up-tempo offensive style of the Longhorns better suited the 6-foot-5 forward, anyway.
"When we got P.J., I don't think we ever imagined he'd have the impact he's making," Barnes said. "I don't think anybody could have projected it."
One year ago, NC State, then a No. 10 seed, stunned No.2 Connecticut to advance to the 'Sweet 16.' Now the Wolfpack finds itself in a very familiar situation against the big, bruising Longhorns.
"Against UConn, a lot of people didn't think we could pull that game out," said Wolfpack guard Cameron Bennerman. "The size was about the same and I think the game plan will be pretty much the same as well. I think we can definitely pull it off. Texas is a very tough team. They're big, strong and physical. It's going to be a battle."
