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Saturday, June 23
Team preview: North Carolina State Wolfpack
ESPN.com
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The lowdown
2000-01 record: 13-16; 5-11 in ACC (7th)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: None.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How the Wolfpack handle all the distractions will determine how far this team goes this season. N.C. State will have more than its share of scrutiny during the season with Herb Sendek under constant scrutiny. Whether or not that's fair, it will be the reality for the program.
2. Damien Wilkins is gone. Will the team be better without him? Sendek made a bold move by moving on without him. He could have been divisive, or at least any comments from his family would have certainly fueled more problems.
3. The questions are all up front. Eligibility ending hit the frontcourt hard. Add Wilkins' departure and the Wolfpack need a new crew of scorers and defenders in the post. The shooting was erratic last season but that was in part because of Archie Miller's injury. Julius Hodge should solve a number of problems with his arrival, but not in the frontcourt
Three Key Facts
1. N.C. State has just two scholarship seniors on the squad (Archie Miller and Anthony Grundy). Five freshman recruits join junior Clifford Crawford, two sophomores and a redshirt freshman.
2. Sendek's recruiting class could be called a "Fantastic Five" by the end of the season if recruiting experts are correct. State's class is ranked among the top five in the nation by several services, with Julius Hodge leading the way as a top-10 recruit and projected to be among the top freshman in the country..
3. When healthy, Archie Miller developed into the ACC's best 3-point threat, hitting more than 50 percent of his shots (42 of 73). But Miller played in just 20 games for the Wolfpack.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The recruits are as good as advertised, everything is calm during the year and the Wolfpack make a run at fifth and are on the bubble for the tournament.
Worst case: The Wolfpack can't score inside, have turmoil and find themselves around .500 and hoping to get an NIT bid and Sendek and AD Lee Fowler have to answer questions again in the spring.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Anthony Grundy
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Sr.
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G
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6-3/185
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PTS: 14.6 | REB: 4.3 | AST: 3.3
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Clifford Crawford
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Jr.
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G
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6-3/190
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PTS: 7.7 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 3.5
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Archie Miller
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Sr.
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G
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5-10/160
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PTS: 9.3 | REB: 1.3 | AST: 2.0
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Damien Wilkins
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F
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6-6/225
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PTS: 11.7 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 2.7
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Kenny Inge
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F
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6-8/235
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PTS: 11.9 | REB: 7.2 | AST: 0.5
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Damon Thornton
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F
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6-8/240
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PTS: 6.9 | REB: 7.2 | AST: 0.3
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North Carolina State Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Jordan Collins
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F
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6-10
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Hyattsville/DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
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Julius Hodge
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G
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6-5
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Bronx/St. Raymond's High (N.Y.)
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Josh Powell
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F
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6-9
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Riverdale/Riverdale (Ga.)
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Levi Watkins
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F
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6-7
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Rockville/Montrose Christian (Md.)
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Illian Evtimov
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F
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6-7
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Romania/Reynolds/Bishop McGuinness (N.C.)
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