March 19, progymnasmata

Encomium of N.C. State basketball.

It’s about time. NC State is back in the sweet sixteen. As a result, the NC State program
is certainly worthy of praise. It is good that recognition be given to all of those in the Sweet
Sixteen who were unexpected, but especially to NC State in the strides it has made in just one
year after six years of irrelevancy after failed program management. Nor is it possible in recent
NC State memory to find a better story than the ride NC State has had since Debbie Yow beasted starting at the end of last season.

In all the years that I have watched sports, it wasn’t until this team that I got passionate
about NC State basketball. Growing up a Carolina fan in Raleigh, I came to State with still
Carolina and especially the Carolina Hurricanes as my first loves. Because of Mark Gottfried
and this team, I became a fan of State basketball, the program with 2 national championships and a rich history of never-say-die basketball. I became a ref-hating, bleed-red fan of the program that wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t ever give up, as Jim Valvano would say.

When Mark Gottfried stepped up to the podium when he was hired, he didn’t mince
words. His realism is to be praised. It was refreshing and infused hope into this program for the
first time in a long time. As the season started, the crowds were larger and more boisterous than
in years past. The UNC game was the loudest in my three years here. This team gave us hope.
They made us excited.

But most importantly Gottfried did what Lowe could not do. Lowe had talent but could never do anything with it. Gottfried took Lowe’s talent and made a team that gave top-five teams a run for their money. It was obvious from the start. When State lost four straight, we thought it was over. They didn’t play their hardest and it seemed like more of the same. Then the heart took over. Gottfried got his players to believe like Lowe could not and they played their way into the NCAA tournament with incredible finishes down the stretch in the ACC and NCAA tournament, beating Georgetown and Virginia and almost beating UNC.

This season may end Friday, but what is for sure that this team will not give up. This program’s rich tradition of heart and fight is rising again in this team. Go Pack.