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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

 

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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.

NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

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NC State has won 5 ACC Championships this year, which is the most of any athletic program in the conference this year.

The Wolfpack has won ACC Titles in Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics.

The last time NC State won 5 ACC Championships in one year was 1979-80.

As far as I can tell, here’s a look at the Wolfpack Conference Titles from 1979-80:

Football
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Tennis

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

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NC State is 1 of 4 schools to have their Men and Women’s Basketball teams BOTH advance to the Sweet 16, along with Duke, Gonzaga and UCONN.

NC State and Duke are the only two schools in the country to send both Basketball teams to the Sweet 16, and also send the Football team to a bowl game.

This marks only the third time in school history that BOTH teams made the Sweet 16.

Years NC State’s Men & Women’s Teams Made the Sweet 16

1985
1989
2024

Despite the fact that the Men’s team has made the Elite 8 six times (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986), and the Women have made it 2 times (1998 & 2022), in the three occasions they both went to the Sweet 16 in the same year, neither team advanced to the Elite 8.

In 2024, Why Not Us?

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NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

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#3 seed NC State held on last night, defeating #6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Reynolds Coliseum to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th time in the last 6 tournaments.

The Wolfpack led by only 1 after the 1st Quarter, but they looked like they had things under control at halftime, leading by 18 points.

At one point, NC State led by as much as 20 points in the 3rd Quarter, but the Lady Volunteers weren’t about to give up.

With 4:19 left in the 4th, Tennessee cut the lead to 2 points, but NC State might have bent, but they wouldn’t break.

Junior Guard Aziaha James led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, which were both team highs. She scored 7 points in the final 3.5 minutes, helping to squash tue Last Vols’ comeback attempt.

Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 20 points (6-14 FG) and 6 boards.

Freshman Zoe Brooks was clutch off the bench, chipping in 16 points and 6 boards.

This marks the 16th time the NC State Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack will play #2 seed Stanford on Friday night at 7:30pm on ESPN in Portland.

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NC State Basketball

A Historical Breakdown of the Series Between NC State & Marquette

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#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Friday night, which will mark the 6th time the two teams have played one another.

The first time the Wolfpack and the Golden Eagles played one another was also in the NCAA Tournament, and it just so happened to be the 1974 Championship game, with NC State winning the game 76-64, giving the Pack their first National Championship.

Wolfpack led the way with 21 points, and Tommy Burleson had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards, with 7 blocks, which is tied for the 8th most in school history in a single game.

NC State also had 12 steals in the game, which is the most by a Pack team in an NCAA Tournament game.

The next time the two teams would meet was on January 21st, in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack won 89-76, and it was a night for the history books for Point Guard Chris Corchiani. In that game, set ACC career records for assists with 861 and steals with 276.

The following year, the Golden Eagles picked up their first win against the Wolfpack, winning 66-42 in Milwaukee.

It would be over 15 years before NC State and Marquette would play one another again, and this time it would once again be a home-and-home series in back-to-back years.

On December 22nd, 2008, the Wolfpack lost a close one at home, falling 65-68. Wolfpack Forward Brandon Costner hit all five 3-Point attempts in that game, which still stands as the best 3-Point Percentage in a single game in school history.

The following year, on December 5th, 2009, the Wolfpack would claim the lead in the series again, defeating the Golden Eagles 77-73 on the road. NC State big man Tracy Smith had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Point Guard Javier Gonzalez had 15 points and 7 assists, and Wing Scott Wood knocked down 4 of his 6 three-point attempts.

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