WASHINGTON— For the fresh-faced, wide-eyed rookie, Sunday’s loss felt like the end of the world.
The older, wiser Anthony Grundy knew better — and said as much to the devastated Julius Hodge.
“I told him to keep his head up,”Grundy explained following N.C. State’s 77-74 loss to Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “He wanted this probably more than anybody on earth. He’ll keep this with him for a while, but I think he’ll be all right.”
Hodge shuffled through the Wolfpack locker room as though in a daze after the season-ending defeat. Eyes boring holes into the ground, voice barely audible.
Grundy offered a little dose of perspective, though. A loss is not the end of the world — especially after the road he traveled to reach the NCAA Tournament in his senior season.
“It does hurt. You want to play,”said Grundy slowly, reasoning it out. “It’s interesting. It’s not a bad way to go out. We’re just happy to be put in the situation we were in.”
Occasionally, a smile crept onto Grundy’s face as he talked about different facets of the defeat.
He’s had far more than his share to frown about in his lifetime. Raised by his grandmother in Louisville, Grundy was expelled from his high school when he took a gun into the building to protect himself from gang members. When he moved in with a youth pastor in Bowling Green, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association called it a recruiting coup for the new school and wouldn’t let Grundy play basketball. He sat out nearly half of his games that season while the matter worked its way through the courts.
Just when things started to look up —Grundy accepted a scholarship offer to Bradley and got his required test scores — more bumps in the road appeared. The letter of intent that Grundy submitted was signed by his youth pastor, not a legal guardian. And he wanted to pursue other options. After getting the Bradley letter thrown out on the technicality, Grundy headed to Hargrave (Va.)Military Academy for a year.
It’s the same prep school former Wolfpack players Kenny Inge and Ron Anderson attended. Grundy followed their path, and when he arrived in Raleigh, made immediate contributions:eight points per game as a freshman, 12.5 as a sophomore.
That year, N.C. State headed to New York City for the NIT semifinals. The 20-14 season was a highlight reel for Grundy and head coach Herb Sendek.
Then it all fell to pieces in 2000. Grundy excelled, averaging 14.6 points per game, but the Pack plunged to a 13-16 mark. And Grundy faced an assault charge against a former girlfriend — in which he got a lot of negative publicity before being found not guilty.
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When the 2001-2002 season began, all eyes turned to the Pack’s fab freshmen.
That was before Grundy began turning heads. In earning a spot on the All-ACC first team, Grundy led State in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
“It’s been a great four years and a career for me. It’s prepared me to go from a young man to a man,”Grundy said. “I just thank the program, our coaching staff, the players, helping me develop the way I have.
“I think Coach has really led me in the right direction. He believed in me a lot this year and I respected that. I was glad Iwas able to be in a position where he trusted me.”
Sendek’s trust was earned, and paid back in full. Grundy led State within a game of the ACC Tournament title. He put the Pack in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991.
But Grundy’s first trip to the NCAAs got off to a rocky start. Against Michigan State in the first round, he was forced to watch the action from the bench thanks to foul trouble.
When his teammates came through with a win, it gave Grundy another chance. But against the Huskies on Sunday, Grundy made just one of his first 10 shots.
“I realized they had a lot of shot-blockers and forced several shots,”Grundy said. “I think it came to me. I started to get myself into it defensively and the offense came.”
Grundy scored six straight points on his patented awkward, leaning, running style, pulling State within two points at the 12-minute mark. A few plays later, he drove the lane and got a foul call as he hit the deck.
Before heading to the line, he stayed on the floor a moment, laughing at his good fortune in getting the call.
Just having fun playing. Yes, Grundy would’ve enjoyed playing another game next week. But things worked out just fine.
“To go to the Sweet 16 would’ve been special for us, but it has been a special year for us,”Grundy stressed. “The biggest part for me and (fellow senior) Archie (Miller) is we’ve been able to propel the program.”
And teach valuable lessons to the freshmen — like to accept a loss for what it is, dust yourself off and get on with life.
“I think Julius has learned a lot from me and Archie,” Grundy said. “He’s in position to be a great leader for next year.”
State will need one. Grundy’s maturity will be sorely missed.
“It’s been a great year for me,”he said. “I wouldn’t take anything back.”
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Contact Steve Hanf at 704-797-4256 or shanf@salisburypost.com
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