Senior Ben McCauley has seen some dramatic ups and downs during his tenure with the Wolfpack. He’s witnessed a coaching change, an NCAA run, a victory over powerhouse UNC and a 93-76 home loss this year that led to a scrap between himself and Carolina’s Mike Copeland.
In the meantime, however, he has put up some impressive numbers. He is averaging12.9 points per game this season and just under 8 rebounds a game.
“He’s having an excellent senior season,” forward Tracy Smith said of McCauley. “Some games he gets a little frustrated because we’ll get a big lead and then turn the ball over, but so would anyone else.”
McCauley’s senior year has been far from relaxing. After some early drama with head coach Sidney Lowe, McCauley found himself left at home while his team participated in a preseason game in Toronto, Ont.
“With Canada, that was just something that happened in practice,” McCauley said. “I think it was a way for Coach Lowe to sort of put his foot down early, to say I’m not going to tolerate this.”
McCauley said the incident had a positive effect on the team.
“I think it’s worked throughout the year because everyone has jumped on board,” McCauley said. “It was unfortunate at the time, but it sent the right message. I wasn’t going anywhere, N.C. State is my home, and I wouldn’t even have thought about leaving.”
Things have certainly changed since McCauley came into the organization as a fresh-faced 18-year-old from West Newton, Pa. His team went on an unexpected run to the NCAA tournament during McCauley’s sophomore year and has spent the last two years trying to get back.
“I’ve gotten back into my comfort zone,” McCauley said. “It feels like two years ago, only better. I have more experience mentally. In my sophomore year I didn’t really know what to expect, and now I know what to expect out of myself and my teammates.”
McCauley called the end of his collegiate career “bittersweet,” saying the last few regular season games will give him a chance to “put it all out there.”
“I want it to keep going forever, but at the same time, every good thing has to come to and end,” McCauley said. “I’m looking forward to going wherever it is I’m going to go, but I’m not going to take these last few games for granted.”
One of those games will take place tonight at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons will be looking for revenge after State pulled out an upset Feb. 11 at the RBC Center in the teams’ first meeting. McCauley only managed two points when the teams last faced each other, but Lowe insisted that was because McCauley was so ill he almost didn’t play.
“I was really sick that whole week,” McCauley said. “We actually wound up going 2-0 that week, though, which is funny.”
Naturally, McCauley said he wanted to play basketball for as long as possible after he graduates. However, he is undersized for a center – the position he currently plays – so he has begun weighing other options.
“I’m feeling good about maybe moving out to the four position and maybe getting some wing experience,” McCauley said. “That’s where I see myself in the future, maybe getting some more inside-out action.”
After his basketball career is over, McCauley said he is edging toward making a shift from shooting baskets to sinking birdies. The sports management major said he would like to manage a golf course one day.
“I enjoy playing whenever I get the chance,” McCauley said. “When I get done with basketball, I feel like that’s the ideal thing – run a golf course, live on a golf course, play whenever the heck I want, live the life.”
If McCauley tires of life on the links, junior Dennis Horner said he could have other career options. Horner said McCauley and Brandon Costner were “like coaches on the court.”
“It’s all about their leadership,” Horner said. “They’re leaders out there on the court, keeping us poised.”
That leadership will be front and center when State takes on Maryland, Boston College and Miami next week before attempting a Cinderella run in Atlanta during the ACC Tournament, which begins Thursday, March 12.
