If you forced me to talk about it—and I do not want to talk about it—but if you did, then I could tell you all about the most gutting NC State losses I’ve been through: the JJ Redick and Matt Freije games; Phil’s senior day; the 2021 College World Series.
I had talked myself into that 2021 team winning the College World Series, and in fairness to me at that time, the team was 2-0 and a win away from playing in the national title series.
The what-if part of that particular thing will never fully go away, but the underlying matter there was just wondering if NC State would ever get back. I’d never doubted that State would be in the postseason most of the time, but finding that kind of hot streak doesn’t just happen.
What I appreciate about this run is exactly how similar it looks. And also how this is happening now, and not in some future era I never thought possible. It’s hard to tell the difference sometimes.