Wolfpack Basketball Doesn’t Crack USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Poll

General NCS Basketball16

Hot off the presses. The USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Poll.

1. Duke
2. UConn
3. Texas
4. Villanova
5. Michigan State
11. Boston College
18. Wake Forest
21. Maryland
26. NC State

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General NCS Basketball

16 Responses to Wolfpack Basketball Doesn’t Crack USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Poll

  1. Mr. O 10/31/2005 at 11:27 AM #

    Why is Maryland in front of us?

  2. CLASS OF '74 10/31/2005 at 12:22 PM #

    Gary Williams is not Herb.

  3. Mr. O 10/31/2005 at 12:50 PM #

    Agree, clearly it is based on name and past performances only. Maryland should really struggle, right?

  4. CLASS OF '74 10/31/2005 at 1:33 PM #

    Gary Williams actually may have a better team this year without John Gilchrist back at the point. He and Gilchrist had many problems with each other last season.

  5. Rick 10/31/2005 at 3:45 PM #

    I also read that GW has alot of upperclassmen this year. He has always been great at maximizing players potential (I give props even though I really do not like the man).
    No matter what, outside of Duke we have the most returning talent. Without Hodge we will see the effectiveness (or not) of the Princeton offense. I still think we will have trouble scoring in situations in which we do not have time to execute the offense.

  6. scott 10/31/2005 at 4:35 PM #

    Outside of Duke & BC, we do have the most returning talent. I would be very optimistic if Rick Barnes or even Gary Williams was coaching this team, but Herb will have a very mediocre record, somewhere between 17-15 and 21-11 as usual. Just like some teams get rated higher b/c of their coaches & reputation, we don’t get much respect & deservedly so.

  7. Mr. O 10/31/2005 at 5:11 PM #

    Gary Williams hasn’t been that successful since his National title. He got pretty lucky with his ACC title a few years ago. The weird thing about that whole situation is that he has had better recruiting classes since the national title than before the national title.

    I have no problem with where we are ranked to start the season. I was impressed by Herb’s collection of players this weekend.

  8. packbackers 10/31/2005 at 8:25 PM #

    Boy, it’s funny to see so many “so called” State fans bash Herb Sendek. Four straight NCAA Tourneys, not to mention complete ownership of Gary Williams’ Maryland teams lately (with the exception of the miracle comeback in the ACC Tourney two years ago, where they went on to win the title). I think Gary Williams had a LITTLE more talent to work with when he won his national championship than Herb Sendek has ever had. Tell anyone outside of the triangle to name one State player the last four years other than Jules. What more does Herb Sendek possibly have to do to win over his OWN fans support? Walk on water? I think getting to the big dance every year will suffice for me.

  9. intheknow 10/31/2005 at 8:59 PM #

    ^maybe he should get more than 1 player known outside of the acc. that would be a start.

  10. Jeff 10/31/2005 at 9:35 PM #

    “Four straight NCAA Tourneys”

    Talk about your high standards!!! Maybe he should get a contract extension for beating UNC-G. WOOO HOOOO!!! We’re #64!!!

  11. CLASS OF '74 11/01/2005 at 6:36 AM #

    90 percent of coaching is recruiting. Give Coach K Herb’s talent over the past several years and see what kind of record he would have. Norm and Jimmy V.
    won with talent as did Dean, Vic Bubas, Lefty, Coach K etc…

  12. scott 11/01/2005 at 10:11 AM #

    If you say, well Herb just hasn’t had the talent, then he can’t recruit (he’s had 9 years). It’s sad when so-called “fans” are satisfied w/ only making the tournament & aren’t interested in winning ACC championships or having a national contender. But, that’s the sorry state of affairs in the Fowler regime, which I’ll give credit for deftly raising money while lowering expectations.

  13. Mr. O 11/01/2005 at 1:56 PM #

    “What more does Herb Sendek possibly have to do to win over his OWN fans support? Walk on water? I think getting to the big dance every year will suffice for me.”

    Amazing. Like maybe Herb should recruit more good players?

  14. CLASS OF '74 11/01/2005 at 3:16 PM #

    The history of NC State basketball is better than settling for just making the dance. If your perspective begins from 1990 maybe I can understand, but still this program should not be that low. We should be ashamed to settle for anything less than a perennial top three or four finish or better in the ACC and Sweet Sixteen appearances more often than not! A final four every decade would be the cherry on top.
    The dismal records of the ’90s and the apathy that it brought on are pathetic and hopefully behind us. Everytime I think of our post Valvano adminstration (both school and athletic) and the hell it brought I get nauseous.

  15. packbackers 11/02/2005 at 10:23 PM #

    I have been an avid supporter of our athletics programs for 28 years, and have seen the highs and lows of basketball in particular. We have every right as fans and alumni to expect big things when we are shelling out big bucks. But there comes a point in time when we have to wonder if our fickleness as fans becomes a detriment to the team. We can all have whatever opinions we want about the state of affairs in State basketball. However, in order to accurately gauge Herb’s effectiveness as coach, let’s take a look at the program he was handed by “Less” Robinson. NC State basketball had never meant less than when he took over. Now we have been back to the NCAA tournament four straight years, and have made it to the sweet 16 for the first time since 1989. For the first time in a long time our program is in the national limelight. Of course we expect championships, but let’s look at the strength of our conference, the competition in recruiting, and most importantly how low we were, and how far we’ve come. Why don’t we all as Pack supporters act as such, especially towards the leader of this team, and we might be suprised at how far a little positivity would go. Gary Williams and Mike Krzyzewski took some time to build national champions at their schools, and there has always been one huge tool they have had that has helped them in recruiting, teaching, and preparing these young athletes…fan support. Maybe our players would respond a little differently as well if our fan base was completely positive and supportive to the ENTIRE team. Herb has my support because he needs my support, and I need to give it to him if I truly want him and NC State basketball to be successful. Let’s all stop second guessing and arm chair coaching everything he does, and let’s start giving him our positive support because Lee has made it clear that Herb Sendek is here to stay.

  16. Class of '74 11/03/2005 at 7:32 AM #

    I’m not anti-Herb as much as I am wondering how long does it take to “get there”. And what is “there”? Coach K was in trouble after 3 years but he turned the corner in the fourth year and when he arrived at Duke they stunk! I want Herb to succeed and he may have turned the corner but it is nine years he doesn’t need more time to do so. Ditto with Gary’s situation @ Maryland.

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