Wolfpack motivated, but not obsessed by NCAA tourney snub

Veteran players are determined not to leave the decision up to the selection committee this year

Rob Kinnan/USAToday sports)

CHARLOTTE -- Markell Johnson began to fear the worst a little more than halfway through the NCAA tournament selection show last March. As each bracket line was filled with other bubble teams besides NC State, the Wolfpack point guard braced himself for the bad news to come.

"When they started calling the eight and nine seeds and they weren't calling our name, I kind of put it in the back of my head that we weren't going to the tournament," Johnson said Tuesday at the ACC's Operation Basketball media day event. "It was horrible feeling. So many people had long faces" when the field was finally set.

Johnson and the Wolfpack reluctantly went on to play in the NIT, winning a pair of games at Reynolds Coliseum before finally ending their season at 24-12 with a quarterfinal loss to Lipscomb.

It was a consolation prize that has fueled the team to not let history repeat itself. 

Senior wing C.J. Bryce said that he and the six other returning members of last year's team are driven by the disappointing NCAA tournament snub. At the same time, though, he added that it's not something that will cause them to lose focus as they look ahead to the fresh start of a new season.

"It's definitely motivation," Bryce said. "We've got some guys on the roster from last year, but we try not to let it determine our mind set as far as thinking about it too much.

"We're over it. The committee made a decision. But we definitely look forward to being in (the NCAA tournament) this season."

Other than a short discussion about the subject early in preseason camp, coach Kevin Keatts said that missing last year's NCAA tournament isn't something he or his players talk about.

"I don't think kids look at things the way we do as adults," Keatts said. "It make take us months to get over it. A week later they're over it.

"We don't dwell on it. Every team is separate from each other and the ACC is totally different from last year with 20 games, so we've got to prepare just like we went last year."

According to Bryce, the key to avoiding another Selection Sunday disappointment is getting off to a better start.

"Just be a little more mentally prepared earlier," he said. "Playing (an ACC game against) Georgia Tech early in the season is going to help us as a team. A pretty strong nonconference schedule will also help us.

"Just be a little more dialed in early. We have a lot of experience and hopefully it will all pay off."