THE Dennis Smith Jr.
@SportsCenter #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/yVydsVYoIW
— NC State Men’s Bball (@PackMensBball) December 29, 2016
In their final non-conference tune-up, NC State looked like they were rounding into form as they took out a decent Rider team 99-71.
While not much of a matchup on paper, there were certainly takeaway from this game. Let’s examine them.
Dennis Smith Jr. is becoming elite, goes for 19pts and 16 assists
He was billed as a top 10 draft pick, and now he’s playing that way. Smith finished with 19pts and 16 assists and all of it was within the flow of the game. Smith is taking good shots and knocking them down, he using his quickness to get a step on his man and his physicality to put massive amounts of pressure on the defense. He’s to the point where defenses are having to make decisions. Stop him by helping (opening up other guys) or allow him a good look (which now he is knocking down). Smith is turning into a true force and just in time for ACC play. Oh wait…and we forgot to mention…this happened.
Abu goes beast-mode, finishes with 12 and 12
Ok, now we’re talking. We’ve been waiting for Abu to unleash and he’s starting to do just that. Ever since Yurtseven returned we have have seen a different Abu. With Yurt at the high post, Abu is reaping the benefits of one on ones on the block. He’s playing with more physicality, rebounding with more passion and starting to punish anyone who dares jump with him at the rim. This is the Abu that tested the NBA waters and the one NC State will need if they are going to be contenders this year. Abu finished with 12 points and 12 boards, but they were nearly all loud and memorable. Good news for State heading into the ACC season where they will need a physical athlete like Abu.
Unselfish play fueling the Wolfpack surge. The two stats you should be paying attention to:
There are two stats we think really are positives for NC State. The first is their assist number. 26 of their 40 buckets came via the assist. That is 65%. That is a very, very good number. Around 50% should be a number you’d be pleased with, but 65%? That means you’re clicking on all cylinders. Of course 16 of those 26 came from Dennis Smith Jr, but if the Pack wants to be a real force, then they’ll need big assist number from Smith night in and night out.
The other numbers to look at are the shot attempts. Abu had 8, Rowan had 9, Yurt had 11, Henderson and Dorn both had 10, and Smith shot it 15 times. Now that is how you spread the shots around, and when you spread shots around like that it means you’re team is playing together selflessly. This fact that this team is playing so well should make you happy, but what should really have you excited is how they are playing together.
“There’s really no one that’s selfish on this team. The guys are really interested in finding the open guy and passing the ball.” – MG pic.twitter.com/GyyCf3kWev
— NC State Men’s Bball (@PackMensBball) December 29, 2016
NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.
View this post on Instagram
Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.
NC State has 3 scholarships available now.
Best of luck Ernest!
NC State Basketball
What did the Wolfpack’s Incredible Run to the Final Four Mean to NC State Legend Chris Corchiani?
What did NC State’s miraculous run to the ACC Championship and Final Four mean to Wolfpack legend Chris Corchiani? I caught up with the man who is still NC State’s all-time leader in Assists and Steals to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
Man, it was unreal. They caught lightning in a bottle and it was an absolute amazing run. They were a mediocre team all year that turned into a feared team that nobody wanted to play! To win the ACC championship in 5 days and to get to Final Four…..Wow!!
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
Keatts received a lot of criticism for 7 years and after this run is deserving of great praise. I think shortening the lineup to 7-8 guys and doing away with the full court press and playing solid half court defense was a great move that obviously paid huge dividends. He also kept this team together which was not easy as they lost last 7-9 going into the. postseason. The guys also grew confident in their roles and played possessed!
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
This run was something I have dreamed about happening and the fact it was so unexpected made it so much sweeter! To see the students, alums, boosters, and fans get what we all have been waiting for was the best!
What was the most memorable moment for you?
Most memorable for me was going to Final Four with my family and enjoying catching up with old friends, boosters, friends and teammates!
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
This run gives us momentum in so many ways. Listen, this was good not only for our hoops team but for our University! Hopefully our recruiting will take a big step forward with kids wanting to run with the Pack! A month of free advertising should be Huge for the future of our Men’s and Women’s basketball programs!
_______
When NC State legend Chris Corchiani left NC State, he not only held the school’s record for career Assists and Steals, but he also was career leader in ACC conference history. His 40.8% career Three-Point Percentage ranks 7th in school history. Corchiani was the first player in NCAA history to have 1,000+ career assists.
NC State Basketball
ON3’s Jamie Shaw Puts in a Prediction Georgetown SF Transfer Dontrez Styles will Land at NC State
ON3’s Jamie Shaw put in an RPM earlier today for Georgetown Small Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles to land at NC State. All-time, Shaw’s prediction accuracy is 87%.
I spoke with a source, and it seems like this prediction has some merit.
ON3 ranks Styles as the #66 overall prospect in the Portal.
Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.
Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.
After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.
With his final year of eligibility, maybe he’ll make the right choice this time.
Based on what I’ve seen thus far I think this is a team that could win a couple of upset games but will also lose some games that they should have won. I don’t think this team will do well against a well disciplined team like uva but it could in my opinion beat unc or duke. Will they get up for games against Miami, VT, Clemson? This could be a very fun or very frustrating ACC season.
That Kapita chase down block was what’s been missing from this team. Ted brings a level of attitude and hustle that we have been missing from our bigs.