Harper, Wolfpack prepare for post season

RALEIGH - Though her team fell one game short in the ACC Tournament of earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, N.C. State women's basketball coach Kellie Harper remains optimistic about the Wolpack's chances of making the field.

She doesn't find it necessary to lobby the NCAA Tournament Committee for a bid. That committee releases its selections on Monday at 7 p.m. during an ESPN broadcast. 

"I feel like we've done what we've needed to do to get in," Harper said on Wednesday. "Our strength of schedule is very strong. We finished tied for fifth. We made it to the championship game. We've won seven out of our last nine. I think all of those statistics speak for themselves."

Three days after falling to Duke, 70-60, in the ACC Tournament championship, the Pack (20-13) returned for a light practice at Reynolds Coliseum on Wednesday.

 Harper welcomed back a team eager to hit the hardwood after setting on a remarkable run deep into the conference tournament as a sixth seed. The Pack, a team picked to finish ninth during pre-season, nearly pulled off  the unthinkable.

 At least to observers. Players and coaches seem determine to keep this season going, especially with the recent success after an up and down season.

Three straight losses in January seem all but forgotten. 

"Right now I don't think I have to motivate this team," Harper said. "They've been mature about knowing what they've wanted, how they've wanted to finish the season. And again, I think they understand that they are presented, hopefully, with another opportunity."

 Harper, a standout point guard at Tennessee from , won three national championships as a player. As a coach, she guided Western Carolina to the tournament in 2005.

She's already jotted down her plan of attack for the next few weeks, even though the Pack will not learn if its even invited until Monday. 

 "A lot can be done in these two weeks," Harper said. "For us, one, we're going to make sure our kids are rested. That's our biggest priority this week. Then start getting them back in the groove athletically." 

Though Reynolds Coliseum felt hot and muggy, the mood over the team was breezy. 

 "This is a lot of fun,  at lot of fun," Harper said looking up at the Wolfpack NCAA Tournament appearance banner. "I'm proud that our kids get to put another another date on that banner, hopefully."