What do NC State fans want?
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
NC State and their fans have received lots of criticism from the national sports media for firing head coach Mark Gottfried. Pack fans have been called delusional lunatics who are living in fantasy land if they expect State to be any better than mediocre. I strongly disagree!!
I've been a State fan since the mid 70s. I can't speak for all fans, but I think I have a good idea of what most fans want to see from the next coach.
A consistent winning program- While transfers and players leaving early for the NBA are a factor for every school, the good programs can win despite these obstacles. State hasn't been a consistent winner since Jim Valvano was coaching. While it's unrealistic to expect a championship every year, an occasional ACC championship would be nice. We haven't won one in 30 years, that's long enough!! We would like to make the NCAA tourney most years, and make a deep run once in a while. Maybe a final 4? For those who say that can't be done, I say hogwash!! It will take time, but with the right coach and the right players, anything is possible.
Less transfers, more stability- Under Gottfried, State had numerous players transfer each year. All schools have a few transfers, but not 2 or 3 every year. Many of those former Pack players are thriving with other teams. Tyler Lewis at Butler, Kyle Washington at Cincinnati, and Rodney Purvis at Connecticut are a few examples. We need a coach who will create an environment where players want to stay and play for NC State.
Compete with Carolina and Duke- Here are the records of the last 3 Wolfpack coaches against UNC and Duke.
Sendek- 5-17 vs UNC, 3-21 vs Duke
Lowe- 1-10 vs UNC, 2-6 vs Duke
Gottfried- 2-11 vs UNC, 3-8 vs Duke
Total- 8-38 vs UNC, 8-35 vs Duke, 16-73 vs both.
Yes, UNC and Duke are 2 of the top basketball programs in the country. But winning less than 20% of the time is unacceptable! No wonder Carolina fans say "Not our rival!" We've got to be more competitive with the blues! I don't expect to beat them every time, but I want our program to get to the point where we have a chance to beat them every time. That hasn't been the case since Valvano.
These goals will not happen overnight, so the new coach should be given at least 4 years to turn things around. State has been a great basketball program before, and they can be again! You cannot be great at anything, basketball or otherwise, without high expectations. That's not unreasonable or delusional, that's reality!!
