North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Pack's Reasons to Dance
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2010
Red Rally Gallery Net Cutting Gallery (Fan Zone participants: find your picture here)
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. - After the introductions, the spotlights and the fireworks, both the NC State men's and women's basketball teams faced off on the court of historic Reynolds Coliseum in round after round of a dance contest, as part of the season kickoff "Red Rally."
It was better than a sock hop, but not quite as good as the finale of "Dancing With the Stars." The women won the event feet down, but freshman Ryan Harrow and sophomore DeShawn Painter did answer their challenge with a little two-man two-step that impressed the crowd of nearly 5,000 fans.
Head coaches Kellie Harper and Sidney Lowe joined in as the two teams danced together and showed they were still hip enough not to break a hip as they danced in front of an appreciative crowd.
The evening, devoted to fun and introducing new players to loyal fans, was the first opportunity to see this year's editions of Wolfpack basketball in action. The women's have been practicing for nearly two weeks, but the men had not been together other than their early-season work-outs. They begin workouts in earnest on Saturday at 7 a.m.
And while there was some fun - like the dance contest, a shooting contest and a dunk contest - the meat of the evening included scrimmages by both teams.
For Harper, whose team was first on the floor, it was the chance to shake off some nerves and perform in front of a large crowd. She promised everyone in attendance that the Wolfpack women would put a team on the floor the fans would be proud of.
"It was fun, because we had quite a few freshmen who were a little nervous," Harper said. "Our team enjoyed the opportunity to feel special tonight. When you're here in Reynolds, with this kind of crowd that loves basketball, you know what it means to our fans."
Though Harper will have to replace some talented seniors from last season, she does have more weapons this year, beginning with sophomore Marissa Kastanek, last year's ACC Rookie of the Year. Kastanek continues to impress Harper with her drive on the court.
"Marissa thrives in this kind of environment," Harper said. "If you put people in the stands, that kid's going to go wild in front of them. She practices so hard, something like this is just a reward for her."
The evening's co-host, former ACC Player of the Year Julius Hodge, kept things lively, along with former NC State football player and local radio host Mark Thomas. Hodge led the call-and-response portion of the evening by chanting "When we hungry?" and goading the crowd to respond "We eat!"
Hodge scarfed all night long, thanks to his new trademark, a red-and-white NC State muffler draped around his neck.
The men started off slowly - much too slowly for Lowe. He called a time out two possessions into the men's scrimmage to tell his team to push the ball up the court.
"We've working out and talking about running, running, running and we started off walking the ball up the floor," Lowe said. "That wasn't right. That wasn't what we talked about in these early two-hour-a-week workouts.
"After that, they picked it up and did well. For a game-type situation, I thought they did a good job.
Mainly, the crowd wanted to catch a glimpse of what Lowe's three new freshmen - C.J. Leslie, Lorenzo Brown and Ryan Harrow - could do. Brown and Leslie showed everyone when they teamed up on a thundering alley-oop dunk in the first half of the scrimmage.
Overall, Lowe was pleased with the play of his team and thrilled by the evening's festivities.
"I think the fans saw the potential that we have and what some of these guys are capable of doing," Lowe said. "It also gave our guys an idea of what the atmosphere is like here."
But the coach won't be showing off any more fancy footwork or disco moves. Neither will his team, who spent some time rehearsing their routines over the last couple of weeks with members of the dance team.
"Dancing is over," Lowe said.
At least, both he and Harper believe, until the Big Dance comes around in March.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
