Connect with us

NC State Basketball

Wolfpack Basketball Getting Early Start This Year

Published

on

Don’t look now but this week officially kicks off the start of college basketball season. Does it seem abnormally early? Well yes it does, this is the earliest that the NCAA has allowed teams to begin practice. I remember when I was a part of the program; October 15th marked the official start to the season. However I think it’s a good thing that the NCAA is allowing the teams to get a head start. Not only does this give the coaches more time to implement their strategies, but it also gives the players more time to develop and gel with each other. Overall it should improve the product that we as fans see, especially early in the season.

In past time I remember the pains of the early games and the quality of teams to start the season. Many games would be plagued with turnovers, fouls, and low shooting percentages. However recently with the NCAA loosening their grip on coaches and the amount of practice allowed, teams have been more prepared and enjoyable to watch. Now I know what some people are thinking, this just adds to the already long season for the athletes. But the added time actually gives the coaches the ability to give athletes more days off to recover and absorb the information that is dumped on them.

As for the Wolfpack, look for a different look, or actually an earlier look. Last season proved to me that Coach Gottfried was willing to adjust to fit the strengths of the team that he had. He didn’t force certain aspects of the offense on them, he allowed the players to run a more basic form of the UCLA high post attack. Last season we were not as balanced as we were in the previous two seasons offensively. In Coach Gottfried’s first two season we had 4 to 5 players all average right around 10 to 14 points a game, personally I believe that is what Gottfried prefers. However last season we were short on scorers, luckily we had the BEST scorer in the country in TJ Warren to bail us out and shoulder most of the scoring load night in and night out!

This season I would bet that there would be 4 or 5 players averaging right around double figures. As always Coach Gottfried loves to run and attack in the break, but look for more execution out of this bunch than last year. Experience in the frontcourt will be a major reason why. Last season the only big that had any experience in the high post offense was Jordan Vandenberg; the others had to learn on the fly.

BeeJay, Kyle, and Lennard all have had one full season and a full offseason to improve. You will see them look much more comfortable in the high post, making reads and feeding each other in the low post. This is when the offense becomes nearly unstoppable. As you have the posts players working together, it opens everything up on the perimeter. Our point guard will find it much easier to initiate the offense; wings will get open more regularly and catch the ball in the proper location (I.E. not 35-40 feet from the basket). Overall the offense should look much more fluid.

I am extremely optimistic about the upcoming season. I cannot wait to see all of the new pieces and how they all gel together. Look for the incoming freshman class to have a big impact on the season. The Martin twins will be capable defenders given their length and athletic abilities. Abu will be a monster with he quickness and explosiveness around the rim. Only time will tell on how Coach Gottfried and his staff will utilize the wealth of depth and talent that this team possesses!

Tip off is slated for November 8th at PNC. If you want to see the talent before hand go and check out the Throwback with the Pack, and get to see some the legends of the past highlighted by David Thompson, Tom Gugliotta, Vinny Del Negro, Cozell McQueen, Thurl Bailey, Rodney Monroe, Chris Corchiani, and Julius Hodge.

Make sure to get to Reynolds early, Throwback with The Pack will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the NC State vs UNC Volleyball game (6:30 pm)

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

Published

on

Awesome. Obviously.

#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette tomorrow night in the Sweet 16. What would a win mean for the Wolfpack? Many things, but here’s just a few:

It would give NC State 25 wins on the year (25-14), which would be the most wins since 1982-83, when the Wolfpack went 26-10, winning the National Championship.

It would mark the 12th time in school history that NC State has won 25+ games in a single season.

1982-83 – 26-10 

1973-74 – 30-1 

1972-73 – 27-0 

1954-55 – 28-4 

1953-54 – 26-7

1952-53 – 26-6 

1950-51 – 30-7 

1949-50 – 27-6 

1948-49 – 25-8 

1947-48 – 29-3

1946-47- 26-5

It would be the 7th time NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

1950

1951

1974

1983

1985

1986

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

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

Published

on

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?

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

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

Published

on

#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.

Continue Reading