Had a Good Time This Year

I’ve always liked college basketball since high school.

I have very clear memories of some great games.

NCSU – Maryland in 1973 – triple overtime. NCSU – UCLA in 1974. UNC – Tulane – triple overtime in, what, 1980? UNC – Duke in the infamous 4-corners game. What was the half-time score on that one? 12 to 8 or something like that? And UVA winning the ACC Tournament in 1976. I went to that ACC Tournament in Landover Maryland.

Of course the improbable NCSU run to the NCAA championship in 1983 was the best of all. State had to win the ACC Tournament to get to the NCAA’s. Then – shipped out west to play. Virginia with Ralph Sampson. UNLV and Houston. One of those 3 schools were supposed to win it all. Instead, we beat them and won it all.

Mom and Dad started getting into college basketball when I went to NC State. They were always big time baseball fans and it took a while for them to really get into basketball. You know, where you enjoyed all the games – not just the games your team played.

We used to call each other during games and give each other running commentary.

In fact – in the above mentioned UNC – Tulane triple overtime game – regular season – played in the Superdome – I think we were on the phone throughout all 3 overtimes. I remember Mom calling – “Are you watching this?” Oh yeah.

Mom died in 1999.

I got the call during halftime of the Duke – Michigan State game.

I don’t remember much anything else after that. I didn’t even find out that UConn beat Duke for the Championship until weeks later.

For the next few years all our time was taken up with taking care of Dad. Lots of time spent on the road. Things to do at Dad’s on weekends. No time to watch basketball. Tired all the time anyway. If I had sat down to watch a game – I’d have fallen asleep.

Plus – Dad didn’t want to watch sports anymore. It reminded him of all the years he spent with Mom watching baseball and basketball games. I fully understood that. After 1999 – when college basketball tournament time came around – it just reminded me of the car accident and brought up really bad feelings and memories.

Besides – NC State wasn’t doing much in hoops anymore. It used to be UNC – NCSU was THE rivalry. Now it was Duke – UNC. State wasn’t even on the map anymore.

For the past couple of years though – I’ve been getting some of those old good feelings back around tournament time. I really enjoyed watching George Mason make that Cinderella run last year.

State had been getting into the NCAA’s the past few years. Never making it past the second round – but with Herb Sendek – we were resigned to that fate.

Sendek left for Arizona State and we brought back one of our own. Sidney Lowe. From the 1993 Championship team. Not our first choice. Or second. Or – who the hell knows. Kind of a consolation prize.

Oh man – what a stroke of luck that we got him.

I’ve had more fun watching State basketball this year than I’ve had since the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Win or lose – our boys play their hearts out. Sidney – on the sidelines – it’s about all he can do to contain himself. He wants to suit up and run out there on the floor and play too.

The 2007 ACC Tournament run was just phenomenal.

Friends

I want to thank Nuke for going to the games with me. It was pretty cool finding out that God really is on our side!

The bumper stickers saying “If God is not a Tarheel, Then Why is the Sky Carolina Blue?” are wrong. God pulls for the Wolfpack and sits in Section 129 Row X Seat 3.

Mike and Ross at work used the tickets for games I couldn’t make it to and they took their kids, Clayton and Andrew. They always had a blast.

Thanks to Ward for using the tickets while I was on vacation. I don’t like empty seats and Ward drove up from Southport to go to the game with his brother-in-law.

The regular season Carolina game was fun. The seats next to us were used by a Carolina guy and his 7 year old kid. They were decked out in matching blue and white jogging suits. Just a little too precious. Nuke had a blast with the kid. Holding up the kid’s arms when State scored and going yaaaaay. Good fans and gracious in defeat.

The guy who has seats behind us didn’t start any fights this year. He says he’s taking his meds on a regular basis now. LOL

The retired couple to our left drive 3 hours from the coast and made it to every game save one at the end of the season. His mother passed away and our sympathies are with them.

The couple that sit directly in front of us have a brand new baby boy. They still made it to most of the games. Sometimes the seats to our right (seats 1 and 2) are empty. The guy who has them travels a lot for work and can’t make all the games. So – when those seats were empty – we (Nuke and I) would trade seats with couple and their baby. That gave them 4 seats to spread out in with all the baby stuff they had to haul around.

Thanks to Fritz for getting on line and discussing the games in real time. It's good to have someone knowledgable to talk about strategy, players and such. Even though Fritz is - gasp! - a Dook fan. He knows his stuff. Also - thank you Fritz for going to football games with us. (Fritz is a Nebraska alumnus so football is his forte.)

Thanks Chip for the email Sunday. I was feeling a little morose Sunday morning. I was enjoying the ACC Tournament on TV but was feeling a little down missing the knowledgeable calls I would have gotten from Mom and Dad. Your email popped up right before the game and was just the thing I needed. Thanks again.

Post Season

State is in the NIT. First game is against Drexel tomorrow night. Drexel is probably the best team in the NIT. They got hosed by the NCAA for not getting an at large bid to the Tournament. Our bracket looks pretty tough. West Virginia, Oklahoma State, UMass, and Alabama are in it. All were just on the edge of getting in the NCAA Tournament. It’s going to be very, very tough.

Florida State should have gotten into the Big Dance as well. This makes 2 years in a row that FSU should have been invited but got left out. FSU and Clemson are both in the NIT along with State.

MidEastern Athletic Conference

The MEAC held their Conference Tournament in Raleigh this year at State's Arena - The RBC.

Florida A&M University won the tournament on a last second shot.

The FAMU Rattlers have to play Niagara in the 'play in' game of the NCAA tournament.

Then - Kansas awaits.