RALEIGH - First-year N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried isn't involved in the school's dialogue with the ACC regarding referee Karl Hess, but Gottfried quickly is warming to the capricious basketball culture along Tobacco Road.

"I love it," Gottfried said Monday as his team prepared for Tuesday's visit from North Carolina.

"For me to be a part of where basketball is so prominent on the minds of everybody is just really special ... Fans knowing your team, knowing the opponents. I love it, I really do."

Hess, a veteran official, became the latest ACC hot-button personality late in the Wolfpack's 76-62 loss to Florida State in the RBC Center on Saturday.

When Hess ejected former State stars Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani from their seats behind the score table, yet another addition was made to 60 years of ACC surprises.

"At the end of the day it's such a great privilege to be a part of this league," Gottfried said. "It's different from most leagues in this country ... all of them really. I've having a ball."

Gottfried also said he invites the loyalty and support of former Wolfpack players.

"I've met a lot," he said. "I've enjoyed getting to know them. David Thompson was at the game Saturday. I thought that was great. I appreciate former players having that level of passion."

* * *

THE 1988-89 TEAM that State will honor Tuesday had one of the strangest seasons in ACC history.

Coached by Jim Valvano, the Pack won the league regular season race with a 10-4 record only to be stunned by last-seeded Maryland (1-13) in the first round of the conference tourney in Atlanta.

The Terps' 71-49 win was punctuated by the post-game hospitalization of coach Bob Wade, who complained of chest pains but did not suffer a heart attack. The Terps, coached by assistants Jeff Adkins and Ron Bradley, were routed by UNC a day later in the semifinals.

Seeded fifth in the NCAA East, State defeated South Carolina and Iowa (102-96 two overtimes) before losing a controversial game to Georgetown.

The '89 team included Corchiani, Rodney Monroe and Kelsey Weems at guards with Gugliotta, Chucky Brown, Brian Howard, Avie Lester and Brian D'Amico in the frontcourt.

In the NCAA win over Iowa, Monroe scored 40 points.