N.C. State Has Look Of Destiny

Top 25

The last time North Carolina State’s basketball team created this much attention was April 7, 1990.

That was the day Jim Valvano resigned amid allegations of various wrongdoings, setting off a downward spiral for one of the most storied programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

N.C. State was back in the lime-light Saturday, but this time for a much more positive reason: First-year coach Herb Sendek put the Wolfpack in the ACC championship game.

“I think the thoughts that are running through my mind is how blessed and fortunate I am to coach such a tremendous group of young people,” Sendek said after N.C. State continued its improbable late-season surge with a 65-58 victory over No. 22 Maryland at Greensboro, N.C.

Sendek, whose team began the ACC season by losing eight consecutive games, has just 10 players in uniform and uses what amounts to a five-guard lineup because its tallest starter is 6-foot-6. He used only six players Saturday as N.C. State (16-13) won its sixth consecutive game and advanced to the ACC championship for the first time since 1987.

“This is a real special group. These guys are unconditionally unselfish,” Sendek said. “They work hard every day. They leave their egos at the door, and it’s been a fun group to be around.”

The Wolfpack, which had lost six consecutive games against Maryland (20-10), avoided No. 7 by forcing 21 turnovers and converting them into 27 points.

C.C. Harrison had 24 points and four steals for N.C. State, which became the only No. 8 seed to make the league championship game in the ACC’s 44-year history.

“The cream rises to the top, and right now, we’re playing some pretty good basketball,” said Jeremy Hyatt, who added 10 points and three steals. “I think we’re a team of destiny, and we’re getting better each and every night out. It’s exciting to see this team jell together so well right now.”

(1) Kansas 72, (16) Iowa St. 48

At Kansas City, Mo., Paul Pierce scored 19 points, and the top-ranked Jayhawks (31-1) used a 23-3 run in the second half to roll past the Cyclones (20-8) in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.

With 7:44 to play, Iowa State had 17 turnovers and 11 field goals.

Kansas will play Missouri in today’s championship game. Jason Sutherland scored 23 points for Missouri and the Tigers were 40 for 47 from the freethrow line in an 89-80 victory over Oklahoma in the other semifinal.

Just before halftime of that game, locker rooms at Kemper Arena were cleared and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in after someone phoned in a bomb threat. No device was found.

In another unusual incident, Oklahoma freshman Tim Hesketh was injured when a railing fell on him moments after the Sooners’ loss.

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said Hesketh, who walked off after the incident, was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays.

Wisconsin 66, (2) Minnesota 65

At Madison, Wis., Ty Calderwood’s two free throws with 11.8 seconds remaining lifted Wisconsin (18-9, 11-7) to an upset of the Golden Gophers (27-3, 16-2) and greatly enhanced the Badgers’ hopes for a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

(3) Utah 89, TCU 68

At Las Vegas, Keith Van Horn scored 18 points in the first half and finished with 37 as the Utes (26-3) defeated the Horned Frogs (21-12) to win the Western Athletic Conference championship game.

(24) Georgia 78, (4) S. Carolina 63

At Memphis, Tenn., G.G. Smith scored a career-high 22 points on 8-for-8 shooting as the Bulldogs (24-7) upset the Gamecocks (24-7) in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals.

The Bulldogs (24-7), the only SEC team to beat the Gamecocks this season, shut down South Carolina’s trio of guards in the second half. The loss might have cost the Gamecocks (24-7) a top seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

(5) UNC 86, (8) Wake Forest 73

At Greensboro, N.C. the Tar Heels (23-6) stopped Wake Forest’s bid to become the first team in 28 years to win three straight ACC tournament titles, getting 24 points from Shammond Williams in a semifinal victory.

The win also moved Dean Smith within three of breaking Adolph Rupp’s career victory mark of 876.

The seven-game ACC tournament winning streak of the Demon Deacons (23-6) came to a close despite 33 points from Tim Duncan, who moved into second place on the tournament’s career scoring list.

(6) Kentucky 88, Mississippi 70

At Memphis, Tenn., Cameron Mills made four of his first five 3-point attempts en route to a career-high 14 points as the Wildcats (29-4) defeated the Rebels (20-8).

Kentucky (29-4) will play Georgia today in an attempt to win its fifth SEC tournament in six years.

Purdue 77, (15) Illinois 69

At West Lafayette, Ind., Brad Miller scored a career-high 27 points as the Boilermakers (17-6, 12-6 Big Ten) held off a second-half rally by the Illini (21-9, 11-7 Big Ten).

It was the third consecutive victory over a ranked opponent for Purdue (17-11, 12-6 Big Ten), which clinched second place in the conference.

Boston Coll. 70, (21) Villanova 58

At New York, the Eagles (21-8) manhandled the Wildcats (23-9), the team they shared the regular-season title with, to win the Big East conference tournament for the first time and earn the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Boston College’s Scoonie Penn was named tournament MVP after scoring 14 points.

Marquette 60, NC-Charlotte 52

At St. Louis, the Golden Eagles (22-8) got 20 points from Chris Crawford and defeated NCAA Tournament hopeful UNCC (21-8) to win the Conference USA tournament and an automatic NCAA bid.

Michigan St. 63, (25) Indiana 60

At East Lansing, Mich., Antonio Smith had a career-high 19 rebounds and added 10 points as the Spartans (9-9, 16-11) ended the Big Ten season with an upset of the Hoosiers.

Neil Reed led Indiana (9-9, 22-10) with 18 points, but missed two 3-point attempts in the final 13 seconds.

Miami, Ohio 96, E. Michigan 76

At Toledo, Ohio, Ira Newble scored a career-high 27 points and Wally Szczerbizk added a career-high 26 to lead the Redskins (21-8) past the Eagles (22-10) for the Mid-American Conference tournament championship and an NCAA berth.

(19) St. Joseph’s 61, Rhode Is. 56

At Philadelphia, Rashid Bey scored 17 points and made a late free throw as the Hawks (24-6) defeated the Rams (20-9) for the Atlantic 10 tournament championship.

St. Joseph’s earned its first NCAA tournament berth since winning its only other Atlantic 10 title in 1986.

SW Texas St. 74, NE Louisiana 64

At Shreveport, La., Dameon Sansom scored 18 points in leading the Bobcats (16-12) over the Indians (14-14) for the Southland Conference tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Jackson St. 81, Miss. Valley 74

At Dallas, Jackson State (14-15) became the second team with a losing record to make this season’s NCAA tournament, defeating Mississippi Valley State for the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s automatic bid.

Coppin St. 81, NC A&T 74 (OT)

At Norfolk, Va., Reggie Welch and Terquin Mott scored seven points apiece in overtime to lead the Eagles (21-8) past the Aggies (15-13) for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.