fostel@ncsu.UUCP (11/22/83)
A lot has been made of NC States miraculous rise to the championship
last year, but a close and objective look will show that it was not
at all unlikely at seasons start. Rather, the problem was that the
team was under ranked and largely ignored early. A crucial injury
to the top scoring player lead to a number of loses, and the very
strong 82-83 team was ignored til seasons end, when the injury had
healed (whittenburg) and the team once again began winning. A very
good team when healthy, but obviously lacking depth.
The story is different this year. Everyone expected Houston to stomp
State, and their failure must be attributed in large part to lack of
good coaching/motivation/etc. Last year State won, inspite of low
ranking because they were in fact a top national strength team in
the shadow of an overranked team from UNC. This year they probably
do not deserve a national ranking -- its a very young team. Some of
those young players have a lot of ability and if they learn to use it
by seasons end, State may be a good team, but it will be too late for
anything by then. The game against Houston showed some of that talent
perhaps we will see it again, but the motivation was rather unique.
The longer range perspective is quite a bit different. Look for very
strong showing by State next season when some of the younger players have
had some playing time AND when some very strong post championship
recruits have started to arrive. I would not be surprised to see
State in the thick of things next year, on the ACC and National level.
This year the only hope is that by seasons end they will be competitive
and have a shot at the ACC tournement and hence a back-door invitation to
the national tournement. (Where they would cerainly go down early. Last
season was not a miricle, but was just innaccurate rankings. This season
it would really be a miricle.
----GaryFostel----