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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kellie Harper's coaching instincts tell her there's so much left to do before N.C. State's season opener that she'd love another month of practice.

Then again, Harper can't wait to get started.

"It's exciting," she said. "You coach basketball because of the games. This is why we do what we do: the competition. You have to love the competition or this is not the occupation for you."

For months, everything Harper has done — from recruiting trips to preseason drills to unpacking a box at a time at her new home — has built toward Friday night's game against Florida International.

It'll be the first time she paces the sideline where Gibsonville native Kay Yow spent three decades building a Hall of Fame career and becoming a nationally known figure for her courageous fight against the cancer that ultimately took her life in January.

It's a massive change for a program that has long been defined by Yow's success. Harper, 32, wasn't even born when Yow became N.C. State's coach in 1975. She is only the third coach in the program's history.

Harper has patiently answered all the questions about the pressure of following Yow ever since she was hired from Western Carolina in April, saying she wouldn't try to hide from Yow's legacy. Now, she can focus more on Xs and Os and try to approach Friday night like any other game.

"There will be that 'Whoa!' feeling," Harper said. "It will happen before I walk out on the court. I had it a little bit at the exhibition game (against North Greenville on Nov. 2) standing in the tunnel waiting to walk out. I cracked myself up a few times thinking about what I was doing and where I was. It's pretty cool, and I'm sure I'll have that moment again. I may have it several times this year."

She inherits a team that grieved its way through last season and needed a comforting touch. N.C. State (13-17) lost all six games in January around Yow's death, regrouped to win three in a row in February then lost three of four to end the year under interim coach Stephanie Glance — Yow's longtime assistant who had applied for the permanent job.

"It was just a kick in the face every time," junior Tia Bell said of last year. "But one thing I can say we learned from Coach Yow was if we were kicked in life, to let it kick us forward and never drown in your self-pity. I want to say we're back and ready to go this year. We've been at our lowest point and there's no other way we can go but up."

Harper said she's trying to be extra patient to help her team learn new plays and rebuild shaken confidence. But she's also blunt when asked what she won't accept even as N.C. State's program goes through transition.

"No excuses for our effort," she said. "No excuses on the boards. You'll hear that one from me as long as I'm coaching."

She'll get a good look at her team this weekend as N.C. State hosts the four-team Wolfpack Invitational. After playing FIU on Friday night, the Wolfpack plays either Vermont or Western Michigan on Saturday night.

"It's just a new beginning, that's how I look at it," senior Nikitta Gartrell said.

"The new coaches have gotten our confidence up a lot. They've really given us the green light to just play. It's a load off of us with just everything that built up last season, so confidence is key and we're looking forward to this year."