So maybe this isn’t the typical post for Raleighing but I thought it was worth a paragraph or two. NC State and its first year head coach Sidney Lowe continued their post season Friday with a NIT match up against Marist. Only a true NC State basketball fan can tell you what a breath of fresh air Lowe has been for a long suffering fan base… a fan base looking for any reason to be excited about basketball again. The gods were once again smiling on the Wolfpack nation when NIT No. 7 Marist defeated No 2 Oklahoma State to allow NC State (No. 6) to host the match up. With the fans still buzzing about the run State made through the ACC tourney and longing to show their appreciation for Lowe and the team, it was only fitting that the faithful were rewarded by a home court postseason game in Reynolds Coliseum.
For those in the know, Reynolds represents the storied history of NC State and, in some eyes, the true birthplace of the ACC and Tobacco Road basketball. Did you know that some attribute the tradition of cutting down the nets after a big win to Everett Case? After winning the Southeast Conference Championship in 1946 Case cut down nets for the first time. The building, which opened in 1949, was the largest college basketball facility in the southeast (Case insisted that the plans for the coliseum be updated in 1948 for a larger seating capacity than Cameron Indoor Stadium which opened in 1940). Reynolds held the Dixie Classic and ACC men’s basketball tournaments from 1954-1966 (State won the championship in 1955, 56 & 57) and has been the host site of numerous men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament games. For those of you who were unaware of the rich NC State Basketball history prior to the NCAA championship years of 1974 and 1983, please check it out on the web. You might be amazed how deep the roots are.
To further set the tone of the game, all of the tickets for the Marist game were snapped up by the students and Wolfpack Club members in a pre-sale period before they could be made available to the general public. Fans started lining up outside Reynolds for the general admission seats in the cold rain up to 3 hours before tip off and the gym was packed an hour and a half before start time. There was an energy and buzz in the building, which was palpable.
By the time Sidney, in his now famous bright red jacket, and the team took to the floor for introductions, the crowd was ready to explode and everyone showed their appreciation and excitement with a deafening standing ovation. NC State basketball is back with a new charismatic leader and a spirit reminiscent of teams long gone. There was no better place to celebrate the resurgence than Reynolds – an amazing building full of history and pride.
By the night’s end, the Wolfpack held Marist–with the nation’s assist leader for the past two seasons–to 19 points in the first half and over came some second half adversity to win the game 67-62, advancing to the next round of the NIT.
