MCLAMB: The Refurbishing Continues
While there was not the pageantry that marked NC State’s return to Reynolds Coliseum last season after the historic arena was gutted and then refurbished in a way to modernize the popular structure, what the sellout crowd witnessed did have some classic Wolfpack feel.
As the patrons entered the Old Barn and walked past the many NC State momentos of yesteryear they were handed a game program that featured David Thompson on the cover.
The two original national championship banners, won by teams that played in Reynolds Coliseum, were also there to behold.
On the court there was an ode to the past in the form of an athletic dunk, a rebounding statline that was Burleson-esqe and a fashion statement.
The film of NC State’s win over the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos in its annual return to Reynolds 2.0 will not be placed in a time capsule. The Wolfpack slogged along for most of the second half and the contest was closer than it should have been.
In Kevin Keatts’ first heritage game as head coach he showed the type of reverence that was sufficient enough to present a respect for NC State’s legacy without being overly symbolic and drawing an inordinate amount of attention to himself.
Markell Johnson’s dunk in the first half was not the greatest athletic feat on the basketball court in Reynolds but it settles in nicely somewhere between David Thompson and Spud Webb as far as what a NC State fan might have seen over the years.
Torin Dorn Jr., who cannot stop getting rebounds of late, finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds in a game that Burleson or Kenny Carr would have certainly been proud of.
And then there was the red jacket.
Keatts sporting a red blazer was a nice touch. His predecessor digressed from wearing the fabled jacket made famous by so many coaches before him, some successful and some not.
Perhaps Mark Gottfried was right to not sport that look after Sidney Lowe wore it often, and typically came up short, but the truth is NC State is a school where folks like their tradition.
Reynolds Coliseum is many ways represents what the plight of NC State Athletics in the 21st century. The balancing act of history and modernism, the harkening back to glory days while craving something current that others envy and the reminder of past success as excellence is on display are what those who invest time into the various sports programs strive for.
Wolfpack fans are sometimes lambasted for their passion but, for the most part, they are actually a pragmatic bunch. No reasonable NC State fan expects a title from the men’s basketball program in 2018.
Despite their Golden State-ish uniforms and a starting center that evoked memories of Dikembe Mutombo with his finger wagging when he blocked shots -- after Johnson had dunked over him earlier -- UMKC, bless their heart, is not the type of team that is likely to make waves in the basketball community, even if the 3-8 Kangaroos do regroup in time for conference play.
The excitement at the moment for NC State is the feeling one gets when seeing the Wolfpack run up and down the floor, both on offense and defense, while conducting itself in a way that balances the tradition with the modern.
It is not always easy to make the first move when aspiring to excel. NC State made its leap of faith both with Reynolds and the coaching staff of the men’s basketball program.
If the Wolfpack can mirror on the court, both at PNC and once a season at the Old Barn, what has been done at Reynolds then there are great days ahead that will also evoke the passion of the past.
The renovation of the basketball team should end in a first class structure, just as it did with Reynolds.
The game Saturday was a dry run of sorts. NC State handled it well. The refurbishing continues.