RALEIGH — March 14, 1996 - 12:44 p.m. EST

With March Madness getting into full swing Thursday, many basketball fans are disappointed that theN.C. State Wolfpackwill not be involved. That's got some people asking for Coach Les Robinson's head.

With a fifth straight losing season and just one year left on his contract, some fans are calling for his ouster. The school's athletic director won't comment on Robinson's status until the basketball program has been reviewed.

But, while performance on the court is the major focus for most, others are quick to point out that academic performance must also be taken into consideration when looking at the basketball program as a whole.

In that less visible area, Robinson has apparently done quite well.

Dr. Angela Lumpkin, chair of State's faculty senate, says that in the six years since Robinson took over, the team's grade-point-average is up by more than half of a point, and that two-thirds of his students graduate in five years.

None did before.

She adds that incoming Wolfpack freshmen have the second highest grade point average in the ACC,betterthan Wake Forest and UNC, and second only to Duke.

Lumpkin says she thinks his performance in that area has been remarkable and that he should be given more time to attend to on-court improvement.

Those fans who can't root for State in the NCAA Tournament might not be so patient