insider link: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney06/resume?page=tourneyguide06_152

Take a look inside the data used by the tournament selection committee in seeding the bracket.
##TEAMDATA##

The Players
Starters
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
1 Tony Bethel
(6-1, 185, SR) 31.0 9.6 ppg, 2.7 apg .445 3PT 3 DQs
Comment: Deadly from behind the arc.

2 Engin Atsur
(6-4, 190, SR) 33.7 11.4 ppg, 3.6 apg .411 3PT 3 DQs
Comment: Leads the Wolfpack in steals, assists and minutes.

3 Cameron Bennerman
(6-4, 205, SR) 31.8 13.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg .862 FT 1.8 tpg
Comment: Team's leading scorer is back from a late-season hamstring injury.

4 Ilian Evtimov
(6-8, 222, SR) 29.6 10.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg .421 3PT 1 block
Comment: Bulgarian bomber (.322 3PT, .909 FT) who has cranky knees but a high basketball IQ.

5 Cedric Simmons
(6-9, 233, SO) 27.2 11.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg .599 FG 1.8 tpg
Comment: Improved by leaps and bounds this season.

Rotation
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad

G/F Gavin Grant
(6-7, 212, SO) 22.8 8.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg .741 FT .231 3PT
Comment: Broke nose in regular-season finale. He's a tough matchup due to the combo of height and quickness.

F/C Andrew Brackman
(6-10, 235, SO) 19.7 8.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg .509 FG 2 DQs
Comment: Valuable sub on hoops team, who is also a stud baseball pitcher with major league-quality stuff.

Complete roster | Team statistics

Season notes
High point Through 13 ACC games, NC State stood 10-3 in the league standings and was in the hunt to finish second, behind only Duke.

Lowlight The injury bug took up residence in Raleigh late in the season, as Evtimov (foot), Bennerman (hamstring) and Grant (broken nose) all were injured. As a result, NC State ended the regular season with three straight losses.

Most Revealing Moment Sophomore big man Simmons registered 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots as the Wolfpack shellacked previously unbeaten George Washington back on December 18. Simmons' performance signaled that he'd be much improved this season.

Did You Know? This is Herb Sendek's fifth consecutive trip to the Big Dance, tying a school record set by the late Jim Valvano.

Scouting report
Offensive Preference The Wolfpack plays a European/Princeton style of offense -- lots of spacing, lots of three-pointers and backdoor cuts and lots of interchangeable mid-sized players in the 6-foot-4 to 6-8 range.

Defensive Philosophy Guard the three-point line as if your scholarship will be revoked for failing to comply.

Secret Strength Its experience. NC State has two fifth-year seniors, one fourth-year senior and a junior in its starting five.

Achilles' Heel Teams that live by the three-ball sometimes die by it. In losses to North Carolina, Boston College and Wake Forest late in the season, the Wolfpack shot a combined .236 from the arc (21-89).

Will Lose When ... Someone defends NC State's unique offense well.

Famous Last Words The question with the Wolfpack isn't talent, it's the team's overall health -- especially Evtimov, who has foot and knee issues but plays on. Can they make another Sweet 16 run like last March? Certainly, if the threes are dropping. If not, then a first weekend exit could just as easily happen.


Tournament History
64-team era Overall
NCAA appearances: 10 (of 21)
Seed average: 6.30
Highest seed: No. 3 (1985, 1988, 2004)
Lowest seed: No. 11 (1987)
Biggest upset: 2005 vs. No. 2 Connecticut
Most upsetting: 1988 vs. No. 14 Murray State

NCAA appearances: 21
All-time record: 31-20 (.609)
Best finish: 1974 and 1983, national champions
Coach's NCAA record: Herb Sendek (5-5, .500)

bleh thats ugly and hard to read...sorry


[Edited on March 14, 2006 at 10:52 AM. Reason : *]

3/14/2006 10:48:36 AM

Quote :

"the Wolfpack shellacked previously unbeaten George Washington back on December 18"

They have the wrong date.

And wasn't Ced's performance @Duke far more revealing?

3/14/2006 10:58:42 AM

but the point is that we won against the 12th ranked team

i think they were at least

[Edited on March 14, 2006 at 11:01 AM. Reason : s]

3/14/2006 11:01:21 AM

if you were them, would you pay attention to the details of our team?

I know it's their job, and I agree they should have facts right, but really who cares?

3/14/2006 11:01:42 AM

it was better

but it wasnt the performance that told us that he was much improved from last year

3/14/2006 11:01:52 AM