COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried calls the NCAA tournament "the greatest show on Earth."
Yet through the first 67 teams mentioned on Selection Sunday, the Wolfpack were still on the outside looking in on that show.
Finally, their name came up. A strong finish, however, impressed enough people to get them to an 11th seed and a second-round game against sixth-seeded San Diego State on Friday in the Midwest Regional at Nationwide Arena.
No North Carolina State (22-12) player has ever been a part of an NCAA game. The Aztecs (26-7) have one starter, Chase Tapley, back from the team that lost in the regional semifinals a year ago.
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