NC State Ranked #17 In Blue Ribbon Pre-Season Poll

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball79

GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina heads up a list of four ACC teams ranked in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason Top 25 rankings. In addition to the top-ranked Tar Heels, Duke is ranked 14th, NC State 17th and Clemson 21st.

I know. I know. I am just as perplexed as you after Lee Fowler and the folks at NC State stoked their professional reputations to the ‘FACT’ that it takes at least six years for a coach to build a potential NCAA Tournament team. Didn’t you feel like a Holocaust denier if you didn’t drink the kool-aid? If you are in a basketball mood, then you can click here and scroll through recent pre-season entries discussing the upcoming season.

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07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball

79 Responses to NC State Ranked #17 In Blue Ribbon Pre-Season Poll

  1. thebigwood 09/19/2007 at 1:35 PM #

    ‘like R. Kelly at recess’

    hilarious…

  2. noah 09/19/2007 at 1:42 PM #

    Good lord…just tell me when a basketball discussion can be something BUT a debate about herb vs. whatever.

    Just tell me and I’ll be happy to come back then and participate.

  3. haze 09/19/2007 at 1:44 PM #

    If we come into the MSU game undefeated and ranked, there will be something to lose… but not much. Agree totally about this being a great experience for the team and the new PG(s), win or lose.

    As for the who inherited what thing, the difference with Sid was not so much talent as the state and recent history of the NC State PROGRAM. In 1996, the NCAA’s were a distant memory. There was no fancy RBC (love Reynolds but the RBC recruits better). NC State was such a perennial ACC doormat that the play-in game was named for our coach. As importantly, there was no Larry Harris waiting for Herb. For Sid, Harris brought familiarity with the kids, along with recruiting contacts, acumen and continuity. Could Sid’s recruiting could have come out of the gates like it has without Harris? I doubt it.

    In the end, I think Sid has had the better of it, despite initial depth issues that Herb absolutely anticipated (nobody goes to ASU if they’ve got a top ACC team returning). I also think Sid will do more with it b/c he can, frankly, coach his ass off and, by all appearances, recruit as well.

  4. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 1:44 PM #

    “if he thinks coming into a team with 6 scholarship players is a great situation.”

    I think it was 7 (would have been 9 if the 2 highest ranked recruits stayed) & they were young with much talent. A program that went to the NCAA’s 5 years in a row & not long been to the sweet16.

    from Tony Haynes:
    “NC State’s next men’s basketball coach should place a call to Herb Sendek and say “thank you.” He should thank Sendek for leaving for Arizona State, thus opening up one of the most attractive jobs in college basketball. He should also thank Sendek for abandoning his office in the beautiful new Dail Basketball Complex, a facility that has been operational for only one year. But most of all, the new coach should thank Sendek for building a program that has been winning on a consistent basis, while also maintaining a squeaky clean image. Very few coaches get an opportunity such as this. ”

    “if it was such a great situation, why couldnt we find a coach that wanted to take advantage of our 5 straight tournament appearences, and great core of young talented players?

    there were many coaches interested.

  5. redfred2 09/19/2007 at 1:51 PM #

    packgrad93, it’s like someone else handing a total moron THE most expensive, top of the line, computer. Sure, he has it in his possession and there’s all kind of potential if it’s used, but unfortunately that moron doesn’t have clue what to do with it.

    I cannot believe how many of the same people that were already warning WAY BACK, before first the thought of Sidney Lowe or anyone else coaching at NCSU had even been dreamt up, and preparing us to stick it out with them and their favorite former NCSU BB coach, those same folks are NOW saying that Sidney Lowe walked into a GREAT situation.

    WHAT THE HELL kind of thinking is that???!!!

  6. wolfonthehill 09/19/2007 at 1:52 PM #

    I’m immune to optimism at this point. If the boys prove to be good, that rocks… but we *should* have been good enough times, in enough sports, over the past 18 years to make me a bit cynical.

    Need to keep in mind – we won 5 games in the league & didn’t make the tourney last year. We have a LOT of improving to do to live up to the hype.

  7. redfred2 09/19/2007 at 1:57 PM #

    ^correction…

    were already warning (of a down season due to a lack of personnel) WAY BACK,

  8. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 1:59 PM #

    “I cannot believe how many of the same people that were already warning WAY BACK, before first the thought of Sidney Lowe or anyone else coaching at NCSU had even been dreamt up, and preparing us to stick it out with them and their favorite former NCSU BB coach, those same folks are NOW saying that Sidney Lowe walked into a GREAT situation. ”

    huh?

  9. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 2:05 PM #

    “were already warning (of a down season due to a lack of personnel)”

    we did have a down season

  10. ShootingGuard 09/19/2007 at 3:14 PM #

    …“Ben and Courtney were never allowed any real time on the court before Sid.”

    they would have played last year no matter who the coach. their frosh yr they were behind Bethel/Atsur/Cam & Ced.

    “but I would have to say that SID himself has “pretty much built” HIS own team from just slightly above Ground Zero. “

    after 5 trips to the dance is “slightly above ground zero”?

    He came into a great situation with a great core of young talented players.”…

    ^^^

    Thanks. You just defeated your own logic…5 trips to the dance did not mean a 6th to follow (hence why Herb left after being “asked” to leave by fans so many times before)…They were only slightly above ground zero because Ben-Courtney-Gavin did not have any experience or depth unlike Bethel-Cam-Ced who apparently had superstars in training standing behind them on their bench (a doubly better team in Herb’s year 10 versus Sid’s year 1).

    (Maryland’s NCAA & ACC titles, GT’s run to the Finals, and Wake’s ACC regular season successes didn’t mean they would go to the NCAA’s indefinitely or avoid some challenges…sadly, Herb NEVER achieved any successes like those guys that allowed for pointing to the State program as a national contender or a legitimate program to get you to the NBA…fortunately, Sid can point directly to State as an ACC & NCAA champ as well as point directly to the NBA…and actually be taken seriously for it…for a while…Ultimately, Sid will have to win consistently to stay—although I am sure the Herb lovers will long to keep him if he gets to just ONE Sweet 16 over the next 9 years)

    I’m not saying Herb didn’t do some good things. Also, Herb graced the program with some good kids. BUT…

    NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SHOULD TRY TO ACT LIKE SID INHERITED ANYTHING BUT A LEFTOVER SHELL (AFTER A HORRENDOUSLY HANDLED COACHING SEARCH AND A MASS EXIT OF PLAYERS)…THE LEFTOVER SHELL OF A VERY MEDIOCRE PROGRAM BUILT UPON ONE “GREAT” RUN TO THE SWEET 16 OVER 10 YEARS!! YIPPEE!! SID OWES IT ALL TO HERB!! WHO WOULD WANT TO FOLLOW COACH K OR ROY BOY WHEN THEY RETIRE, LET ME TAKE OVER AT ARIZONA STATE WHEN HERB RETIRES TO THE HALL OF FAME OR GETS CALLED TO REPLACE LUTE OR CALHOUN OR IZZO!! I CAN’T BELIEVE HE WASN’T CALLED IN TO HELP REBUILD KENTUCKY BACK TO GREATNESS AFTER BUILDING SO MUCH GREATNESS AT STATE!!

  11. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 3:31 PM #

    “hence why Herb left after being “asked” to leave by fans so many times before”

    Herb didn’t leave because he thought last year’s team wouldn’t make the dance.

    “Herb Sendek never really got the credit for so many of the good things that he did,” Purcell said. “He built a sound, solid, clean, ethical basketball program and has built a tremendous foundation for the future. If you talk to basketball people around the country they are extremely impressed with the program that Herb built here.”

    Top recruits look at NCSU now, they didn’t for a long time. The RBC center & Dail complex are awesome. Young, talented players. Rabid fan base. Looks like a great situation to me.

  12. packbackr04 09/19/2007 at 3:38 PM #

    20 wins with last years team is anything BUT a down season… i would like to refer to redfreds logic in that, i saw more player development and team cohesiveness by the end of the year last year than i have in a long time. As long as these kids are learning, becoming BETTER ball players and BETTER people, growing as a team, learning from the coaches, etc. Last year can be looked as many things, but a down year is not one of them. A down year would have been 12-17.

  13. packbackr04 09/19/2007 at 3:45 PM #

    did Cedar get a new IP address?

    If herb hadnt left for ASU last year, he would selling off his assets like Fu*&%in Michael Jackson right now b/c he would be coahing highschool ball. Hey, anyone looking for JoJo the scrawny white wing player? then call Herb Sendek the lightweight pen stealing f*#k face

  14. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 3:58 PM #

    last 6 acc records:
    9-7
    9-7
    11-5
    7-9
    10-6
    5-11

    5-11, 20-16 overall IS a down season, instead of the norm under Les. Herb put expectations back where they should be for NCSU. It would have been a down season even if Herb had stayed, probably worse.

  15. Wulfpack 09/19/2007 at 4:12 PM #

    “NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SHOULD TRY TO ACT LIKE SID INHERITED ANYTHING BUT A LEFTOVER SHELL”

    Guess my mind ain’t right.

  16. ShootingGuard 09/19/2007 at 4:21 PM #

    “Top recruits look at NCSU now”

    ^^^

    You forgot to add “because State ditched the Princeton Offense”…

    Except for Hodge, no “top” recruit ever chose State under Herb. Hodge chose State because he knew he would be the one and only man here (for no other reason). He wanted all of the limelight (he got it from Herb, even if it meant Powell leaving due to the inequities he perceived). Some pretty good recruits did go to State under Herb, but many questioned their decisions openly in the media throughout their tenures (please see Scooter & Cam), and a host of others said the hell with it and left (too many to list).

    In Year 1, Sid brings in a real “top” recruit to match Herb’s ONE “top” recruit in Year 6.

    Oh wait, que robotic Herb defense response cutting down Sid and giving Larry Harris ALL of the credit for JJ in order to help support the Herb “legacy.”

    Ok, in Year 1, Larry + Sid brings in a real “top” recruit to match Larry + Herb’s ONE “top” recruit in Year 6. Sounds SOOOOO much better…

  17. Rick 09/19/2007 at 4:41 PM #

    “Herb put expectations back where they should be for NCSU. It would have been a down season even if Herb had stayed, probably worse.”

    What expectations? To go to the dance and fail? To never win a championship? Those were the expectations I had with the cacti one.

    This has got to be Cedar part deux.

  18. PackMan97 09/19/2007 at 4:50 PM #

    WOW! SFN is smoking the Herb today!

    I will agree that the player talent between Herb’s first year and Lowe’s first year isn’t much different (although, I’d give a slight edge to Lowe just because of Costner’s recruiting rankings). Both had severely depleted rosters (for whatever reason). Blaming Sendek for Harrison and Wagner leaving is like blaming Lowe for Werner and Davis leaving. Of course, you could blame Sendek for all of ’em 🙂

    However, the overall local, regional and national reputation of NC State is far far different.

    PRE-SENDEK: NC State is the laughing stock of the ACC. Play-in-game renamed the Les Robinson Invitational. School Administration had de-emphasized basketball and made winning a non-priority. Five losing seasons in a row including setting or matching the school record for losses in a season.

    PRE-LOWE: NC State had returned to the top half of the ACC. Aside from Duke/UNC-CH had the most ACC championship game appearances in the past decade. Five NCAA appearances in a row. While we were far from a powerhouse, we were no longer a “joke”.

    Let’s put it this way…all the jokes we make about Duke football now are the same jokes that were made about NC State basketball in the mid ’90s. They were even more appropriate considering how far we had fallen.

    So, pretend they are similar situations but they aren’t even close.

    I won’t argue that Sendek underachieved more often than not and that his successes usually involved the word second place and were on the unimpressive end of things…but that doesn’t mean he left our program in the crapper or that he left it in worse shape than when he got here.

  19. packgrad93 09/19/2007 at 5:15 PM #

    “Except for Hodge, no “top” recruit ever chose State under Herb.”

    12 top50 recruits
    6 top 25

    Wilkins, Scooter, Hodge, Ced, Costner all could have gone almost anywhere. Herb couldn’t even get in the door with those type players when he “arrived.

    “What expectations?”

    the fan’s expectations of the program. When he arrived, going to the dance was outstanding. Now, it’s a yearly minimum.

  20. Rick 09/19/2007 at 5:17 PM #

    “Blaming Sendek for Harrison and Wagner leaving is like blaming Lowe for Werner and Davis leaving. Of course, you could blame Sendek for all of ‘em ”

    How are they related?
    The two RECRUITS decided before to leave (wihtout penalty) after only meeting once with Lowe.
    The other two decided to wait an entire year to play at another school after dealing with Herb for a short time.

  21. highstick 09/19/2007 at 5:18 PM #

    Cedar “Reincarnated”! This guy must have been whereever TA made his first delivery before going through Albemarle. He’s gotta be smoking something!

    I’d contend we were still pretty much a joke under Sendek. Get to the dance playing a lot of weak teams, then collapse in the tournament. That was a joke as far as I’m concerned, but it wasn’t very funny cause you knew he couldn’t take it to the higher level.

    I’ll concede he ran a clean program, but he’d maxed out!

  22. sautz 09/19/2007 at 5:21 PM #

    I’ll revise my revisionist history after reviewing the rosters. Sendek did actually inherit a lot more talent in ’96 than I remembered… close to but probably more than Lowe did, especially considering depth. I didn’t read your article comparing the two situations so I won’t go into what I remember about the hopelessness around the program in the early-mid 90’s.
    Here are the rosters I came up with (sorry if I missed or added anyone extra- it seems to me Inge was injured in ’96 but I am not sure):
    96
    Danny Strong
    Luke Buffum
    Damon Thornton
    CC Harrison
    Oshua Benjamin
    Al Pinkins
    Jeremy Hyatt
    Jason Sutton
    Tim Wells
    Andre McCullum
    Justin Gainey
    Steve Norton

    06
    Braxton Albritton
    Engin Atsur
    Brandon Costner
    Courtney Fells
    Gavin Grant
    Simon Harris
    Dennis Horner
    Ben McCauley
    Bryan Nieman

  23. Wulfpack 09/19/2007 at 5:25 PM #

    ^The argument just will not end. Some acknowledge the fact that we were garbage prior to Sendek’s arrival, and can appreciate that building the program and earning trips to the big dance is a sign of a solid program. Others, well, expect far more. That is fine with me. I’d rather us all just move on and support the current guy. A divided state fans nation is a weak state fans nation.

  24. redfred2 09/19/2007 at 6:11 PM #

    There is so much CRAPOLA about Herb and his “CLEAN”, “RESPECTABLE” program. Someone please give me a list of ACC basketball coaches who didn’t measure up, or who ran “DIRTY” programs during Herb’s oh so remarkable run of cleanliness.

  25. redfred2 09/19/2007 at 7:31 PM #

    PackMan97, good post! But you fail to recognize is that Les Robinson was supposedly a temporary fix, his every move was scrutinized and his leeway way very restricted during his tenure. He essentially took the bullet for the whole program, and even the people who made those were smart enough to realize that. That’s why all the jokes stopped when those smae folks realized that their long time and favorite enemy/opponent wasn’t coming back, it had settled somewhere in the middle and it’s leaders seemed to fine with that.

    I know I’ve already said this a million times, even considering the short head coaching career of a Les Robinson, back at the time Herb Sendek took over the program NC State was still very much connected to it’s past glory. Sendek could have greatly capitalized on that, but he choose to ignore it and go off in a totally direction…straight to a comfortable, CLEAN and RESPECTABLE, seat right in the middle of the pack.

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