Bomani Jones has a good article about “What We Learned in Tampa” on ESPN Page 2. I’ve quote the parts referencing NC STate.

AMPA, Fla. — After four days, 11 games, a Cinderella run and very little sleep at the ACC tournament, here’s what we learned. Or at least what I can remember.

1. Coaching is really important

NC State’s surprising run to the tournament championship game can be credited to many factors, but none more important than Sidney Lowe. Forget all that talk about the luck of the red blazer. Rotating the other stuff is more important.

“I changed everything else,” Lowe said after Saturday’s win over Virginia Tech. “I’ve got four pairs of pants, shirts, ties. And the undergarments.” Everyone knows that clean knickers are the key to success.

This was all about the brilliant offense he runs, a motion scheme that still allows his players to use their individual talents to make plays. No team shoots 73 percent from the field (like the Pack did in the second half against Virginia) on luck and talent alone. The Wolfpack’s players were in great places at great times, and the reason for that was Lowe and his seemingly infinite reservoir of plays.

NC State’s wins over Virginia and Virginia Tech pointed out something important to remember when assembling a bracket — when talent is roughly equal, the team with the better coach is likely to win. Lowe controlled State’s run from the sideline, and that was the difference in the wins over Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Speaking of that …

2. The nation should be glad NC State didn’t make the NCAAs

My goodness, that team looked good. This wasn’t a charming Cinderella that got all the right breaks. This was a dangerous team.

The last thing anyone wants to face in the NCAA Tournament is a squad that has good athletes, two strong big men, a few capable ball handlers and a strong half-court game. After watching this team for four days, I couldn’t help but wonder how things would have been different if Engin Atsur, the player Gavin Grant referred to as their “general,” hadn’t missed 12 games with a bad hammy.

Also, consider what Grant said their approach was before the Duke game: “Don’t let anybody punk you.” A team with someone bold enough to say that from the dais of a postgame media session is a team to be reckoned with.

Plus, there’s that red blazer. Yeah, I’m starting to believe in it, too.

Not directly NC State related

• Tyler Hansbrough’s game is clearly bothered by the mask. “It affects my vision,” he said after Friday’s game against Florida State. For a player that lives on the block, peripheral vision is important. It must not be hard to draw fouls, though. Must be like driving with your eyes closed, you’re bound to bump into something. Hansbrough was 11-of-11 from the free-throw line Sunday.

And the best part

• A Carolina fan behind me wore a T-shirt that said, “NC State is not our rival.” Uhhh, yes it is. And it will be for a while.

[link to Page 2]