Sunday, November 18, 2001
Sendek rebuilding Wolfpack
Wins BCA tourney with 7 freshmen
Enquirer news services
RALEIGH, N.C. — It wasn't the strongest field in college basketball, but that didn't matter to North Carolina State coach Herb Sendek.
“We won. That's what we were shooting for,” said Sendek after the Wolfpack beat East Carolina 71-47 Friday night in the Black Coaches Association Invitational championship game.
“I didn't have all the answers to the test sheet filled in. With so many new faces and it was hard to know what to expect for sure, but each day we learn a little bit more about ourselves.”
N.C. State (3-0) faced a field that was a combined 85-114 last season, but it may have been just what a young team like the Wolfpack needed.
N.C. State, which has seven freshman and two sophomores, shot 52 percent or better — 31-of-58 against East Carolina — in the three games and won by an average of 30 points.
A different player led the team in scoring each game — Anthony Grundy had 21 against East Carolina — and six players scored in double figures at least once in the tournament.
“Each game it was a different guy who just stepped up and had their moment that either broke it open or gave us a nice push,” said N.C. State guard Archie Miller. “A great thing that we learned with this tournament is that there are guys that are willing to step up.”
East Carolina (2-1) struggled with N.C. State's aggressive man-to-man defense in the first half, making just 6 of 26 shots.
“You've got to give N.C. State credit, but I thought we missed a lot of the open shots we got,” East Carolina coach Bill Herrion said.
N.C. State took advantage of its opportunities, making 5 of its first 9 shots to open a 13-3 lead and 16 of 30 in the first half. The Wolfpack were particularly effective on backdoor cuts, slipping behind the Pirates' defense for baskets at least four times in the first half.
“We're trying to be as precision as we can, but at the same time I want the guys to feel the spirit of freedom,” said Sendek, the former Miami University coach. “There's a lot of freedom in our offensive system, but with freedom comes responsibility. The responsibility is that if two guys are guarding you, pass the ball to someone who's open.”
East Carolina pulled within 19-13 on consecutive 3-pointers by Brandon Hawkins and Bryan Foxx, but managed just three free throws in the next 7:13 as N.C. State built the lead to 29-16.
The Pirates also missed their last five shots, with Julius Hodge catching Hawkins' 3-point attempt at the buzzer, then nodding knowingly as Hawkins walked away with his head down.
It only got worse to start the second half.
East Carolina didn't make a field goal until Fred Primus hit a fadeaway with 13:13 left, while N.C. State made 6 of its first 7 shots to build the lead to 53-25. The Pirates made 8 of 30 shots in the second half.
It still didn't leave Herrion too disappointed.
“If you would have told me that we would come away from this tournament 2-1 and played in the championship game against N.C. State, I'm sure I would have believed it,” Herrion said. “Our kids poured their hearts out for three nights. We made progress this week as a basketball team.”
Erroyl Bing led East Carolina with 14 points and six rebounds.
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