North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Bethel 'Blessed' with Comeback Season
3/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2006
Tony Haynes: ACC Tournament has Wolfpack's attention
Atsur named Defensive All-America
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH - Tony Bethel wanted to make the best of his final college basketball season. He certainly wanted more than he got out of his junior year, when he was limited first by the flu and a bacterial infection at the start of the conference season and then by a torn groin muscle in the ACC Tournament.
NC State director of sports medicine Charlie Rozanski believes the maladies were all related: the flu led to the bacterial infection and the anti-inflammatory drugs that were used to get rid of the infection weakened the groin.
All Bethel knows is that he was depressed and unable to play at top form for much of the year. He withdrew from his teammates, coaches and family.
"I pretty much just wanted to be by myself," Bethel said. "Everybody was trying to keep me upbeat, keep me going, but it was tough."
It took a little tough love from his family for Bethel to realize he was much more blessed than he was cursed.
"They told me, even if I was sick, I was very blessed to be in the position I am in, to get to play college basketball for a great program," Bethel said.
Bethel spent the summer taking thousands of flat-footed jumpshots, working on his form so when the day came that he was cleared to practice he would be ready to contribute. Eventually, Bethel got a permanent reminder of his family's message, by getting the word "Blessed" tattooed to his left forearm.
Thursday, at the first round of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, Bethel will be announced as the inaugural winner of the Bob Bradley Courage and Spirit Award, which will be given out annually by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association to recognize a male or female from the sport of basketball who has overcome serious injury, illness or significant adversity to be a valuable contributor to his or her team and university.
He'll be presented the award during the course of the tournament.
It's a well-deserved bounce-back award for Bethel, who spent most of the season ranked among ACC leaders from 3-point range. He averages 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and has a 45.3 shooting percentage from 3-point range.
He's been in a bit of a slump during the Wolfpack's three-game losing streak to end the season, making just three of 17 shots from long range in games against North Carolina, Boston College and Wake Forest.
"I don't think there is anything different or missing, per se," said Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek. "He just hasn't shot as well the last few games, but he has had a terrific year and is an excellent shooter."
Getting Bethel's shooting back on track will be a key for the Wolfpack to have another successful run in Greensboro.
But he's already proven that he's good at coming back from adversity. And a productive post-season will give Bethel further reason to believe he is indeed "Blessed."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
