Playing With House Money

When Jason Clark's desperation three airballed to the ground and NC State officially reigned supreme over the Hoyas to advance to the Sweet 16, I did not know what to do or how to feel. Of course I was happy and some tears of joy eventually choked their way out of my eyes, but the anxiety I experienced during the game never truly subsided; I was dazed and confused.

You see, I am as diehard a Wolfpack fan as they come and as well-versed in their rich basketball tradition as someone who was not alive for 99 percent of it can be. This is only the 'Pack's third trip to the Sweet Sixteen (1989, 2005, 2012) since I was born in April of 1986 (they also advanced to the Sweet 16 that year, but I had not yet popped out) and I cannot even remember one of them because I was barely three at the time. My fanhood is basically in uncharted territory, hence the confusion surrounding my feelings.  

For a program with two National Championships, I have been convinced for the longest time that I am the jinx who spawned #NCStateShit. Remove the NCAA Tournament from the equation for a second and consider this factoid: when I was 11 months old, I supposedly sat on my Dad's lap and didn't move as I watched the Wolfpack win the 1987 ACC Tournament Championship to tie UNC for the league-lead (10 each; Duke had 7). Today, Duke has 19, Carolina has 17, and my Wolfpack still sit at 10. Fast forward 25 years to the present and consider this gem: for the first time EVER in my life, NC State is dancing longer than Duke (1985 was the last time it happened).

Needless to say, it has been an interesting week for my emotions thus far. It is great to be in Sweet 16, but I cannot allow myself to be overcome with joy because this used to be normal for NC State basketball. With that said, this team has exceeded expectations. No one thought a first-year coach returning from the coaching purgatory of being a television analyst could take a group that went 15-16 last year to where they are so quickly. This team has provided more entertainment than any I can remember, so, despite my reservations, I am still as giddy as a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert. 

At this point, the Wolfpack is playing with house money. Just making the tournament was a great accomplishment this season, so I will not let a loss to Kansas - no matter how it may happen - sour my feelings about the 2011-2012 NC State basketball season. If Calvin Leslie and everyone else returns next season in addition to the three incoming McDonald's All-Americans, how could anyone who doesn't wear blue not be excited about not only the future, but the present, of Wolfpack basketball? And that's exactly what this Sweet 16 trip is - a present. Thank you to all of Wolfpack Nation because I will always savor this moment.

*Unrelated note that I have to put on the record - I cannot say enough about how happy I am for CJ Williams, someone who wandered through a forest of mediocrity for his first three seasons and was under-utilized, only to emerge this year to help this team go where no one thought it could. In truth, I am happier for him than anyone else associated with the program because this was his last chance to experience something special.