Heading into N.C. State’s fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance Friday night vs. California, coach Herb Sendek said he knows the value of a healthy team.
“We’ve been banged up down the homestretch,” Sendek said. “At this point we have to manage our health the best that we can. We have the kind of guys who have the capacity to do that. That’s all a part of enduring a long season.”
Seniors Ilian Evtimov and Cameron Bennerman have been limited in practice and games due to injuries. Bennerman suffered a pulled hamstring against Boston College on Feb. 25 and sat out the 76-63 loss at Wake Forest in State’s final regular season game.
Evtimov suffered a sprained foot against Florida State on Feb. 15, missed the next game and has averaged only 6.5 points per game in the last four games. He’s been wearing a foot brace and did not participate in practice in the week leading up to the ACC Tournament.
“I just know that I have great teammates and they inspire me to try and get as healthy as possible,” Evtimov said. “I try and do as many things as I can, within my control, during this period where I haven’t been able to practice. I just want to give everything I have to the team and contribute in any way that I can contribute. That’s part of adversity — somebody going down and somebody else stepping up.”
Lately State hasn’t resembled the team that was ranked among the top 15 teams in early January, losing its last four games. Despite the slide, sophomore Gavin Grant has put up good numbers.
Grant suffered a broken nose in the early moments of the March 4 meeting with Wake Forest, but came back to score 21 points and added 24 more in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
Evtimov said he knows that the slate is wiped clean come Thursday afternoon.
“It’s a new season starting next week,” he said. “Everyone is going to be 0-and-0. It’s one and done and if we have the right mindset, we’re going to advance.”