COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) ― It’s been a long time since North Carolina State was mentioned in the same breath with the elite programs in the nation ― let alone its own state.
Now, a new coach and a new attitude have the Wolfpack faithful harkening back to the glory days of David Thompson and Jim Valvano.
Lorenzo Brown hit three free throws in the final 10.6 seconds and North Carolina State returned to the round of 16 with a 66-63 upset of third-seeded Georgetown in the NCAA tournament on Sunday.
“When I went to Alabama as the head coach at the age of 33, John Wooden told me one time, he said, ‘Coach, don’t give them too much too fast. They might start expecting that every year,’” first-year Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried said with a grin.
Then, with impeccable timing, he added: “Well, we failed in that category already.”
A lowly 11th seed coming in, they had to survive a furious comeback by the Hoyas (24-9) that ended when Jason Clark’s hurried 3-point attempt from the right wing was off the mark at the buzzer.
“We pushed the ball up the court, tried to get a last shot,” Clark said, his eyes brimming with tears. “I felt like it had a chance, but it didn’t.”
Michigan St. 65, Saint Louis 61
UNC 87, Creighton 73
Florida 84, Norfolk St. 50
Ohio 62, South Florida 56
Xavier 70, Lehigh 58
Kansas 63, Purdue 60
Cincinnati 62, Florida St. 56
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