RALEIGH, N.C. — Many brackets have been busted by Cinderella teams like NC State.
While Wolfpack fans await Saturday's game, I had the honor of meeting a man who's been following the team a lot longer than most - and in a way you wouldn't expect.
For more than half a century, Baum has been the statistician for multiple NC State sports.
"I was always pretty good with numbers and I always did like sports growing up."
His hobby turned into a profession 57 years ago, when he was offered a job to record stats.
"Said I'll pay you $10 a game, I'll feed you in the press box and I'll give you a parking pass. And that was the start of me keeping stats at NC State radio network."
From Wolfpack football to basketball, the 89-year-old has been on the sidelines for nearly every game.
"One thing led to another and I'm still doing it."
He admits these past two weeks have been among his most memorable.
"It's a miracle. It was a miracle this year and I was around in '83."
Like most State fans, Baum was blown away by their ACC tournament run.
"All of a sudden, we put together five games like I've never seen before. Five games in five days."
He has a theory about their explosive postseason.
"I really can't pinpoint everything, but they really started believing in each other, which is hard to get across even if you're a coach."
So what's his prediction for Saturday's game against Oakland?
"I don't make predictions. If we play well, we'll win, no doubt in my mind."
Even as he approaches 90, Baum says it's not time to put down the pen just yet.
"As long as I'm physically able. Right now my mind's ok. I play sudoku a lot. That helps."
It also helps that his lifelong team is on a historic run.
"We proved something to people, it was a miracle, a miracle finish, and I've seen a lot of good finishes."
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