 |
 |
|
| | Tuesday, November 2 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
JUSTIN GAINEY (6-0, 180 lbs., PG, SR, #12, 8.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.5 tpg, 1.4 spg, 34.5 minutes, .427 FG, .341 3PT, .874 FT, Greensboro Day HS/High Point, N.C.) He'll probably never be more than an honorable mention All-ACC player, but Gainey squeezes more out of his limited talent than most players in the conference. He rarely turns anyone's head with flashy plays or streaky shooting, but on a team that was frequently lacking in heart, Gainey has earned the respect of his teammates and became an effective leader. And he rarely makes the mental mistakes that lose games. How's this for improvement? Gainey increased his field-goal, three-point and free-throw shooting percentages by at least 10 points each last season. He went up an incredible 22 percent at the free-throw line, finishing with the third-highest percentage in school history. He had a near flawless game against Clemson last season, scoring a career-high 28 points by making seven field goal attempts, including four three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. He scored 12 of the team's final 17 points in the victory, which the Pack needed to keep its postseason hopes alive. Still, with Archie Miller out all last season with a back injury, Gainey played way too many minutes in the Wolfpack backcourt. That impaired both his ability to run the team and his judgment. With three wing players in the freshman class, including eventual successor Clifford Crawford, Gainey shouldn't be as tired this year. "Justin's continued improvement is a direct result of his positive attitude and work ethic," Sendek said. "He has consistently demonstrated a selfless, team-centered approach and the self-discipline and character to do what's right." In his final year of eligibility, Gainey will have to become a more vocal leader, an area where the Wolfpack was severely lacking on its inexperienced team a year ago. Gainey has always been a leader by action, not words. If he can change that, he should make the rest of the team better. KENNY INGE (6-8, 220 lbs., JR, PF, #21, 11.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 2.8 tpg, 0.9 spg, 27.4 minutes, .479 FG, .240 3PT, .672 FT, Hargrave Military Academy, Va./Virginia Beach, Va.) Inge's disappointing performance through most of last season was more than just a sophomore slump. It was an insight into Inge's lack of certain basketball skills. Sure, he is a thunderous dunker and decent rebounder. But he sometimes gets lost in the Wolfpack offense because he finds it difficult to create his own shot unless he's within 18 inches of the basket. Yet Inge is capable of being explosive on offense, as he was against Georgia Tech's frontcourt combination of Jason Collier and Alvin Jones. Inge scored a career-high 28 points in the game Damon Thornton was suspended. Inge did a little of everything, including a three-point play to seal the victory. But he went into a funk after the next game, in which he scored 17 points. Sendek, hoping to teach Inge a lesson, tried to reshape Inge's game and a war of wills ensued. Inge, who does not have "takes criticism well" at the top of his annual performance revue, became frustrated at both his poor performance and Sendek's attempt to rein him in. The two apparently had words after a game at Virginia, when Inge sat out most of the second half and all of an overtime period. The day of the next game, at North Carolina, the coach suspended Inge from the team indefinitely for "an attitude and disposition that is not consistent with our team's mission." It all fueled rumors that he would ask for a release from his scholarship and transfer to another school. After having a heart-to-heart with Sendek, Inge was reinstated to the team after missing only one game. He never did regain his scoring touch, however. He averaged only seven points and five rebounds over the Wolfpack's final seven contests. Many people see Inge's surliness and aggressive behavior on the court as one of the primary problems with the team's lack of chemistry. He kind of makes it hard for his teammates to embrace him, when they don't necessarily like the way he acts on the court. Off the court, however, Inge is engaging and popular. If the Wolfpack is going to solve some of its problems, the team will have to accept Inge the way he is, as long as Inge works on not being as much of a jerk as he can sometimes be. DAMON THORNTON (6-8, 237 lbs., JR, PF, #3, 7.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 2.2 tpg, 1.1 bpg, 1.2 spg, 23.9 minutes, .601 FG, .611 FT, Atlantic Shores Christian HS/Norfolk, Va.) After suffering through injuries throughout most of his three years in Raleigh, Thornton was fine most of the early season until he pulled a brain muscle on New Year's Eve. That's when he was out with some other basketball players at a Raleigh nightclub, ready to ring in the New Year. When asked to produce identification, Thornton went a little wild, screaming at the club's bouncers, then running from security guards when they were summoned. After taking a shot of pepper spray to the face, Thornton was hauled away by the Raleigh police. The incident came only hours after a six-month probation for an earlier incident was to be wiped off his record (if he had stayed out of trouble for the duration). Thornton had been arrested previously for punching a wall at another Raleigh nightclub. Oh, well. He only missed one game, a home victory over Georgia Tech, because of it. In May, he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors, was fined and put on probation again. Some people, the N.C. State coaches among them, wish Thornton would be as aggressive on the court as he is in the clubs. He is obviously talented, leading the team in rebounding and field-goal percentage last year. He had back-to-back games in which he grabbed 14 rebounds in February. But because of his earlier injuries and such, Thornton has never been the impact player he hinted at as a true freshman, when he became the first frosh in school history to lead the team in rebounding. He also led in blocked shots and shooting percentage and seemed to be a star on the rise. But he missed the final nine games of that season with a hip injury. Three games into the next year, he suffered a broken foot and received a medical redshirt. With practically a year-and-a-half off from basketball, Thornton's skills obviously diminished. He never scored more than 16 points in a game last year, which seems unusual for a player of his size and stature. Insiders say he obviously missed the postseason skill sessions led by the coaching staff and the preseason individual workouts. This year, Thornton will have been through both and the coaches hope that will improve his effectiveness, not to mention the confidence in his shot. Thornton, a high school teammate of Kenny Inge, could still be an inside force for the Wolfpack. He is the team's best interior defender, leading the Pack with 35 blocked shots. But he is not always very aggressive, and that's something that needs to change this season. ANTHONY GRUNDY (6-2, 170 lbs., SO, SG, #24, 8.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.9 tpg, 1.5 spg, 21.4 minutes, .406 FG, .348 3PT, .638 FT, Hargrave Military Academy, Va./Louisville, Ky.) After sitting out a semester while the NCAA considered his status, Grundy joined the team in mid-December and slowly earned himself more and more time on the court. By the time the season ended, he had taken Tim Wells' starting position and forced Sendek to use an unlikely three-guard starting lineup (unusual because the Wolfpack only had three guards on the roster, if you don't count swingman Wells). Grundy started the final 10 games of the season, and was particularly good in the ACC Tournament and NIT, averaging 16.0 ppg and 7.8 rpg in the season's final four games. Grundy, who was outstanding in the four-game exhibition tour of Italy over the summer, will likely be one of the quickest guards in the ACC this year. Combined with long arms, his quickness allowed him to become a good defender last season, finishing second on the team with 37 steals in only 25 games. Don't be surprised if he leads the ACC in thefts this season as his playing time increases. Grundy's biggest drawback is his spindly frame, which needs about 20 more pounds to make him one of the ACC's premier guards. As long as it doesn't cut into his quickness, of course. Grundy's path to N.C. State was not an easy one. He was kicked out of high school in Louisville as a junior for bringing a gun to school. He had been threatened by gang members and said he took it to school for protection. He moved to Bowling Green, Ky., to get away from his troubles and had a spectacular senior season, averaging 26.3 ppg and signing a letter of intent to play for Bradley in the early signing period. That letter, however, was invalidated by the NCAA because it was not signed by his legal guardian (although Bradley disputes that). The Braves believe some schools encouraged Grundy to get out of his commitment. Although academically qualified, Grundy spent a year at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, where at least four other Wolfpack players on the current roster had preceded him. He was on the same team as NBA first-round draft pick Korleone Young. Grundy enrolled at State in the fall, but did not become eligible until the second semester. DAMIEN WILKINS (6-6, 220 lbs., FR, SF, 22.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg, .526 FG, .336 3PT, Dr. Phillips HS/Orlando, Fla.) Not to put pressure on him or anything, but the experts say Wilkins is the best recruit N.C. State has landed since a guy named David Thompson back in 1972. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons named Wilkins the national high school player of the year. Clearly, there is some recruiting hyperbole involved here, because players such as Chris Corchiani, Rodney Monroe, Chris Washburn, Hawkeye Whitney and even Kenny Carr all came to school with pretty strong national reputations and had solid careers for the Wolfpack. Monroe, after all, is the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,551 points. But there does seem to be something special about Wilkins, whose bloodlines predict a bright future. He is the son of NBA star Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Hall of Famer Dominique, a North Carolina native who got sidetracked en route to N.C. State and wound up at Georgia. So 'Nique will have to settle for watching his nephew in red and white. It's hard to say what the best thing about Wilkins' game is, because he is good at everything, yet not great at anything. He can obviously score, from the perimeter and on the drive. But he is also a good passer and has overall sharp basketball skills, as you might expect. In his Reynolds Coliseum debut, during a summer all-star game against Southeastern Conference recruits, Wilkins and Florida high school phenom Tony Bobbitt put on a show. Wilkins got everyone involved in the offense, dishing out seven assists to go with his 15 points, while the free-spirited Bobbitt scored 32 points with the aid of eight three-pointers. Wilkins believes he can step in immediately and help the Wolfpack, particularly in the chemistry department. "The coaches [at N.C. State] told me they recruited me because I can provide instant offense, instant defense and instant leadership," Wilkins said. "I think the best think I do is provide leadership. "That's something I have always done on the basketball court and, even though I am young, I think when I get here people will see what I am about. I can get it done." Wolfpack fans are betting that the arrival of Wilkins will end the Pack's NCAA drought. Wilkins thinks so, too. "I know they have been waiting a long time to go," Wilkins said. "But so have I. It's something I am looking forward to." Wilkins played his senior year at Dr. Phillips High, where his numbers were impressive, but he spent his junior season at St. John's Prospect Hall in Frederick, Md., where he helped his team go 25-0 and earn a No. 1 national high school ranking by averaging 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He was a teammate of UNC sophomore Jason Capel while at Prospect Hall. Though it may not happen early, Wilkins is destined to be a starter for the Wolfpack at some point this season. What the hungry Wolfpack faithful are waiting on, however, is for him to become a star.KEY RESERVES TIM WELLS (6-6, 203 lbs., SR, F, #25, 8.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.7 tpg, 28.3 minutes, .422 FG, .400 3PT, .883 FT, Carver HS/Winston-Salem, N.C.) Wells was one of the team's biggest surprises last year, as he started 22 games and led the Pack in both three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. He had previously been a role player who started only five games in his first two years on campus. But Wells added more than 20 pounds of muscle to his frame during the off-season last year, which helped him be more productive as a junior. He nearly doubled his minutes and points per game. He also became the team's most capable defender, matching up with the opponent's top scorer. Wells lost his starting position late in the season to Grundy, who crow-barred his way into the lineup by being a quicker, more athletic guard, forcing Harrington to play on the wing. It was a good move for the team, if not for Wells' personal resume. The thing is, Wells is the kind of player who will accept that role. He may not be a starter this year, but he will help Gainey in providing leadership and improving team chemistry. RON KELLEY (6-8, 237 lbs., JR, C, #40, 11.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.8 tpg, 0.8 bpg, 22.7 minutes, .515 FG, .594 FT, Rains HS/Emory, Tex.) The arrival of Damien Wilkins may have the greatest impact on Kelley, who has started 40 games over the last two years. Even though he is the Pack's top returning scorer this year, Kelley may end up being the team's sixth man when the season starts. He is a versatile low-post player who scored more than 20 points on five occasions last year and helped the Pack with some clutch baskets, including a desperation three-pointer against Virginia that sent the game into overtime. But with Sendek vowing to move to a pure motion offense, Kelley could be left behind with Thornton and Inge getting the bulk of the frontcourt action. That's the low-post lineup Sendek favored at the end of last season, and Kelley didn't seem too troubled by it. He came off the bench to score 13 points in an NIT victory over Georgia and had 12 rebounds off the bench in the ACC Tournament against North Carolina. Kelley had hernia surgery in the off-season, which kept him from lifting weights and toning up his pudgy body. But he should be fully recovered by the beginning of the season. ARCHIE MILLER (5-9, 154 lbs., SO, G, #11, 8.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.7 tpg, 14.0 minutes, Blackhawk HS/Beaver Falls, Pa.) Miller played in only three games last year before needing season-ending back surgery to repair two bulging disks. Before that, he had surgery in the off-season to repair ligament damage in his right ankle. He is back at full speed now, and impressed the coaches during a recent trip to Italy. "Archie has done very well," Sendek said in the off-season. "He is about the toughest guy I have ever been around. He is tough cracker. It will be good to have him back." If healthy, Miller could boost the Wolfpack's weak outside shooting game. State was seventh in the ACC last year in three-point goals per game and needs someone to be a threat from beyond the arc. Miller, who was second in the ACC in three-point percentage as a freshman, is always a threat to jack it up, though even he is not as shameless as Harrington. He made seven of his nine three-point attempts last year before the injury ended his season. The problem, of course, is that Miller presents a defensive liability. Now that Clemson's Terrell McIntyre is gone, Miller is the ACC's smallest player and, as tough as he is, he can be abused by the league's bigger, more athletic guards. But when he goes on a shooting streak, Miller can light a fire under the Wolfpack. And as the son of a coach, whose older brother Sean is a Wolfpack assistant, Miller knows the game inside and out. Those are two assets Sendek's squad will need if it wants to advance to the NCAAs this year. CLIFFORD CRAWFORD (6-3, 185 lbs., FR, G, 18.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 2.0 spg, Parkland HS/Winston-Salem, N.C.) Crawford, a point guard who will gradually take minutes away from Gainey, may be the most surprising freshman in the ACC this year. He was ranked in the Top 50 by most recruiting analysts, but those who have seen him play think he may have been an undervalued commodity. Recruited early by Sendek and his staff, Crawford committed to the Wolfpack in July, 1998, before anybody realized just how spectacular he could be. Crawford's primary recognition in high school was in football, where he was a highly decorated quarterback/defensive back. The Wolfpack staff liked his athletic ability and signed him during the early period. He went out and led his high school team to a 29-1 record and the North Carolina 3-A championship. Those who have seen Crawford in individual workouts have been impressed with his basketball skills, from his outside shooting to his ballhandling to his ability to drive and dunk. Like Grundy, Crawford can fly up and down the court and has good defensive skills. And, with his quarterback/point guard background, Crawford will also be expected to be a vocal leader on a team in desperate need of one. "He's mature beyond his years, and that's certainly not to imply that he's somehow going to skip over his freshman year," Sendek told the Winston-Salem Journal. "'Physically, he has good strength and he has good size for a guard. And I really like the fact that he's unselfish, and he's very comfortable with making other people better." MARSHALL WILLIAMS (6-4, 202 lbs., FR, G, 17.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, .468 FG, .421 3PT, .752 FT, Vincent HS, Milwaukee, Wisc.) Williams had crossed N.C. State off his list of potential schools right after the NCAA Tournament last year. He didn't want to go to a school whose leading scorer, Adam Harrington, was only a year older than he. But when Harrington announced he was transferring last spring, Williams put State back on his list. Immediately. And not long after that, the Wolfpack signed its third nationally coveted recruit. Williams was Wisconsin's "Mr. Basketball" as a high school senior and became the first player in the state's history to earn first-team All-State honors for three consecutive years. He is not the dead-eye shooter Harrington could be at times, but he's a better defender, better rebounder and a much better decision-maker, primarily because every decision he makes doesn't end up with the same outcome: shooting the basketball. Like Wilkins and Crawford, Sendek saw something in Williams that made him think he would be a good team player. "He can hit the 'three,' but he can also score in a variety of other ways," Sendek told the Winston-Salem Journal. "But very similar to Cliff and Damien, he's not dominated by scoring. He adds value to a team in a lot of ways."OTHER RETURNEES CORNELIUS WILLIAMS (6-11, 246 lbs., JR, C, #33, 1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 5.0 minutes, .313 3PT, .688 FT) A scholarship player who has never really matured into a productive player for the Wolfpack. He arrived as a pudgy freshman and has worked hard to shed more than 30 pounds. Williams saw considerable playing time as a freshman, when the Wolfpack suffered through many injuries, but that time diminished significantly last year. He went from 12.5 minutes per game to 5.0, and saw action in only 22 of the Pack's 34 games. As the freshman class comes in and becomes more productive, Williams will probably have even less opportunity to contribute. But Sendek likes Williams, whom he considers a hard worker and good leader. That may earn him some additional minutes. CARL LENTZ (6-1, 183 lbs., SO, G, #4, 0.9 ppg, 0.2 rpg, nine appearances, Hargrave Military Academy, Va./Virginia Beach, Va.) A recruited walk-on who saw action in nine games. He scored eight points in all last year, five of which came in the 61-point victory over Army. Lentz spent one season at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, where Inge and Grundy both spent a season. He averaged 13 points and four assists on a team that finished the season 27-1 and had nine players earn Division I scholarships. BRIAN KEETER (6-1, 165 lbs., SO, G, #5, 1.8 ppg, 0.2 rpg, eight appearances, Cary HS/Cary, N.C.) Another recruited walk-on who saw action in eight games last year. He made his first career field-goal attempt, hitting a three-pointer against Maryland-Eastern Shore. He scored a career-best seven points in a 94-33 blowout of Army. BENJAMIN PETTY (6-8, 195 lbs., SO, F, 1.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg., two appearances, Carver HS/Winston-Salem, N.C.) Another walk-on found during tryouts among the student body, Petty played in two games, scoring his only three points against Army. Petty played at the same high school as Tim Wells. JOHN HAMPTON (6-2, 170 lbs., SO, G, # 22, 0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, one appearance, Swain County HS/Bryson City, N.C.) One of three walk-ons "discovered" during student tryouts, Hampton played in only one game last year, scoring one point against Army. He was more productive as a high school player, averaging 25 points per game for a school in North Carolina's smallest classification. IDRIS TALIB (6-5, 185 lbs., SO, F, #15, 1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg, one appearance, Fike HS/Wilson, N.C.) The final walk-on found during student body tryouts, Talib's only action came against Army, when the five walk-on reserves outscored the Cadets, 17-4, in the final four minutes.OTHER NEWCOMERS None.STARTERS NOT RETURNING ADAM HARRINGTON (6-5, G, 11.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 24.4 minutes, .370 FG, .360 3PT, .790 FT) When Harrington and Keith Bean announced on the same afternoon that they were leaving the program, most people were shocked and thought it was a serious blow to the Wolfpack. Harrington, after all, was the first freshman to ever lead the Wolfpack in scoring. However, a look inside the numbers shows that the free-shooting Harrington was not that much of an asset to the Wolfpack offense and virtually useless on defense. No doubt that Harrington could put points on the board. But he could just as easily shoot the Wolfpack out of a game, as he did most notably against North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Wolfpack was on its way to a major upset when Harrington kept jacking up unnecessary three-point attempts, and all of a sudden the Tar Heels were back in a game they eventually won. Harrington's decision was a shock and it will hurt the Wolfpack this year, but maybe not as much as some people think. His free-wheeling style probably wouldn't have fit in well with Sendek's new offensive scheme, and his absence may actually have a positive effect on Inge. The two never squabbled openly, but Harrington passed the ball to Inge about as frequently as snow falls in Jamaica. Harrington's destination was Auburn. For State, it may be addition by subtraction.OTHERS NOT RETURNING RON ANDERSON (6-6, F, 3.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 14.7 minutes, .467 FG, .333 3PT, .489 FT) No one was surprised when Anderson, a small forward whose playing time diminished as Anthony Grundy gained confidence at guard, decided to transfer. He ended up at James Madison, where he will be eligible next season. Anderson, known for his athletic abilities more than his shooting touch, received a medical redshirt two years ago after breaking his foot six games into the season. Last year, he scored a career-high 17 points early in the season and started six games for the Wolfpack, but when Grundy became eligible in December, Anderson started getting less and less time, averaging only 2.7 minutes in the Pack's final 10 games. KEITH BEAN (6-8, F, 4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 9.5 minutes, .467 FG, .400 3PT, .526 FT) Considered a project when he arrived at N.C. State, Bean was productive on a couple of occasions, but it was apparent that he did not fit into the Wolfpack's future plans. He announced that he was transferring the same day as Harrington. A versatile but bulky forward who liked to shoot from the perimeter, the Fontana, Calif., native was primarily used as backcourt depth last year. Bean ended up at Texas A&M, where he will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility remaining for coach Melvin Watkins.QUESTIONS Chemistry? Sendek confirmed that this was the biggest disappointment of last season, that his players didn't get along all the time. There was internal strife throughout the season, but the coach thinks a trip he and his upperclassmen took to Italy this summer improved team chemistry heading into this year. Let's see how the team reacts to three highly-touted freshmen joining the party. Consistency? All you have to look at is the 43-point swing between a regular-season ending loss to Wake Forest and a first-round win over the Deacons in the ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack need to play with the same intensity at all times this year. Attitude? Between Inge's surliness, Thornton's bad decisions off the court and an overall lack of leadership, this is a team whose personality can get away from it at times. Somebody has to step forward and be willing to straighten people out when they step out of line.ANSWERS Newcomers! The three freshmen are as well regarded as any group that has shown up in the last two decades. If they can transform potential into production, the Wolfpack could be one of the fastest rising programs in college basketball. Depth! The Wolfpack has the ability to put 10 different players on the court with a fair amount of confidence of success. It's a remarkable difference for Sendek, who was down to only six scholarship players just two years ago. Digs! The Wolfpack's new arena won't have the tradition of Reynolds Coliseum, but it will truly be one of the finest basketball facilities in the country. Sendek has already used it to his advantage in recruiting, and there hasn't even been a game played there yet.
|
Conferences ACC Atlantic 10 Big East Big Sky Big South Big Ten Big 12 Big West Colonial Conference USA Independents Ivy League MAAC Mid-American Mid-Continent Mid-Eastern Athletic MCC Missouri Valley Mountain West Northeast Ohio Valley Pac-10 Patriot SEC Southern Southland Sun Belt SWAC TAAC WAC West Coast | |||||||||||||||
