Basketball +Addendum

I went to school in the late 70's. It was the heyday of NC State Basketball (through the 80's).

Since the late '80's, NC State Basketball has been irrelevant. That includes the mediocrity of the Sendeck coaching era.

I've gotten so used to State being pretty much nothing, that it was hard to get excited with our latest coaching change - although - I did like what I heard at the first annual Basketball Breakfast. Still - I'm a do it first, then talk about it kind of guy.

Well, the warm up season has looked pretty darn good. Including 3 losses that were almost wins. With essentially the same team as last year, we're looking way better. There is clearly some real coaching going on at NC State that hasn't been there for the last 5 years.

The ACC season has started with a win over Maryland. Tonight is Georgia Tech.

I'm beginning to buy in to the new coach. And dreaming that maybe, just maybe, NC State can get back to the way it used to be.

Back in the 1970's before ESPN or Fox Sports - college basketball on TV was unheard of. Except in ACC county where the conference put together its own TV broadcasts via the Jefferson Pilot Network.

Those of us who grew up in North Carolina will remember this -



Addendum

Reality Check. Georgia Tech beat us last night by 9 points. State actually looked like the better team. We just couldn't get shots to go in or force turnovers. Rebounding; play and position in the paint; open shots (which didn't go in); overall State looked better (except our defense which looked weak). But GT kept us off balance enough to win.

However, State never gave up and played to the very end.

So - any talk about State getting to the NCAAs this year is premature. We have to win the home games against GT to win the 10, or more likely 11, ACC games needed to make the tournament.

Last night's loss means we have to make it up somewhere unexpected. Maybe at Dook? At UNCheat? I doubt that's gonna happen.

Frankly, I'm OK with an NIT this year. Heck, I'd be very happy with an NIT this year. It's progress. And even in a loss, I like the way State is playing - as a team.