Let's face facts, in football N C State has not won a conference football championship since 1979. Yet they have increased the capacity of the football stadium 50% because Wolfpack fans can't get enough Wolfpack football.. Even in the years when they have been ready to get rid of the coach 38,000 would be in the house.
Basketball has not won a conference championship since 1987. Since Tobacco Road is the Mecca of the college basketball world N C State has lagged behind Carolina and Duke and in many years behind Wake Forest. Yet the palace they play basketball in is 50% larger now than the size of Reynold's where they won their last title.
The Wolfpack nation has supported it's sports through thick and thin and Saturday as the students stormed the court those that sit in the money seats stayed in the house to watch the celebration because they too hunger for more victories. The good news in all this increase in wins in basketball is there are no secrets hidden that when they get out will embarrass the Wolfpack Nation. Debbie Yow has made demands on coaches to win and win the right way. She has even proven this year she that she wants coaches out shaking every bush for the type player that N C State wants.
Saturday those Wanna-Bee's made a grand step in beating Duke when Duke stood as the tallest team in America as the #1 team. It doesn't matter to me who Duke had on the court the Pack couldn't afford to say we couldn't even beat Duke when they were a man down. They did what they had to do. Most every player got a ride above the crowd as the students hoisted CJ and company while basking in the victory.
Guess what? The Duke game is over and there is a trip to Maryland Wednesday. If you have been a reader of this column then you know I have told you in the past Wanna-Bees will beat a team that they are not suppose to beat every now and then but turn right around and lose to someone they are not suppose to the next. Maryland is not one of those teams that is a guarantee win for the Pack.
There is never any disgrace is losing when you play well. Duke on the road to a top 20 team could have won Saturday had State not made 20 of 23 free throws. Richard Howell being a beast under the boards. If State shows up and plays well at Maryland and loses that is easy to accept. I have no visions of N C State going undefeated in conference play but from where the Pack sits right now at 3-0 a 14-4 conference record is possible. 14-4 could very well win the regular season title.
As a Wanna-Bee N C State must now make that step to a 14-4 type team. They can't afford a lost to Georgia Tech or the likes because the ACC has plenty of teams ready to hand you a loss if you ask for it. Miami, Florida State, Duke, Carolina. All right you Wanna-bees, you have asked for this. You have starved for this moment. You stand in the doorway looking squarely into the eyes of the world of basketball powerhouse. The question is now Do you really want to step through that door and join Carolina and Duke or would you rather keep playing the role of a Wanna-Bee.
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