GLENDALE, Ariz. — DJ Burns stared out at a sea of reporters on Friday, trying to find the right word to describe what the past three weeks have been like.
“Hectic,” NC State’s charming big man finally said with a chuckle.
Only a few weeks ago, Burns was the little-known second-leading scorer on a 14-loss NC State team bound for the NIT. Now he’s the grinning, gap-toothed face of the Wolfpack’s improbable rampage to the Final Four.
Needing to win the ACC tournament to claim the league’s automatic bid, NC State reeled off five victories in five nights, one after a banked-in buzzer beater to force overtime.