Change has been the key word for N.C. State in the offseason. Leading scorer Adam Harrington opted to leave the program after his freshman season, joined by teammates Keith Bean and Ron Anderson. The returning players also leave behind Reynolds Coliseum, where the Wolfpack had played its home games since 1949, for the new, 19,700-seat Entertainment and Sports Arena.
The nucleus of the team, however, remains intact, which could allow N.C. State to place in the upper echelon of the ACC this season.
Despite the touted recruiting class that N.C. State Coach Herb Sendek brought in this year, the Wolfpack is Justin Gainey's team.
The senior point guard from High Point, N.C., has started since his freshman year, and while there are flashier playmakers in the league, few are more consistent that Gainey, who averaged 11 points per game last season.
Gainey "has come as close to reaching his potential as almost any other player I've been around," Sendek said. "I think in a lot of ways that may be the highest compliment you can pay someone."
Gainey will probably be joined in the backcourt by sophomore Anthony Grundy, who came on quickly last season after sitting out the first semester. Grundy made the All-ACC Tournament team last year and looks to continue his rapid improvement.
"I think we could be great," Gainey said of the potential of the backcourt. "We could be one of the best backcourts in the country. Grundy just does it all."
Grundy "does have an uncanny ability of making his teammates better and creating shots for them," Sendek said.
But Grundy will be pushed by freshman Damien Wilkins, son of NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins and nephew of NBA legend Dominique Wilkins. Damien Wilkins was named the top prospect in the country by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, and has an excellent chance of claiming a starting spot on the wing.
"I want for Damien to be Damien," Sendek said. "He can't control what everybody else expects. He can only be himself. He can't be David Thompson or his father. He can only be Damien Wilkins. If he does that, that's going to be plenty good enough, because he's a tremendous young man."
If Wilkins takes Grundy's spot, senior Tim Wells will man small forward. The 6-foot-7 Wells is tall for his position and has a good shooting touch, having made 40 percent of his three-point shots during the 1998-99 season.
Sophomore Archie Miller, who missed most of last season with a back injury, will be called on to fill Harrington's role as the team's outside shooter. While the 5-foot-9 Miller lacks size, he was emerging as the team's best perimeter shooter before his injury.
"We are going to be better shooters," Wells said. "We have Archie Miller, who's one of the best shooters in the country. We have me. We have Damien Wilkins. And we have a lot of rebounders to dunk back our misses."
Further backcourt depth will be provided by newcomers Marshall Williams, a Parade All-American, and Clifford Crawford.
"I think one of the reasons we all feel a sense of rebirth in sports is that you do have new faces," Sendek said. "This year we're blessed with three new guys who have been terrific to deal with."
The Wolfpack has plenty of experience in the frontcourt, going two deep with juniors at both positions. Power forward Kenny Inge has been a fixture in the lineup since his arrival at N.C. State. He will be backed up by Ron Kelley, the leading returning scorer from last year's team at 11.2 points per game.
Damon Thornton, the team's leading rebounder, will likely be the starting center. Cornelius Williams, the Wolfpack's tallest player at 6-foot-11, returns to back up both frontcourt positions.
"I think we'll have more options, more guys who can score consistently than we've had," Sendek said.
Besides the fresh faces, fans and players are also excited to break in the new arena, which is billed as one of the best in the country.
"I think everybody in our community has a sense of anticipation for the start of the season and the opening of the new Entertainment and Sports Arena," Sendek said. "Anytime you open a building of that magnitude, it has to be exciting.
"We can't let the gym affect the way we play," Gainey said. "We know that it's going to be loud - we have great fans, so we know they'll pack the place. It's a new beginning, a new start. We get to write our own storybook."
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