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NC State Basketball

NC State Falls To #25 Mizzou 68-64

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#25 Missouri 68 – NC State 64
Box Score

Mark Gottfried Postgame Audio


TJ Warren finished with 24 points and  13 boards while  Dez Lee added 12, but it wasn’t enough as Missouri’s dynamic duo, Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown combined for 38 points in Missouri’s 68-64 come from behind victory.

The Wolfpack seemingly controlled this entire game until Missouri reeled off an 11-1 run late in the second half. While State led throughout this one, Missouri never let the game get away from them. They stayed within striking distance the whole game and finally broke through with 6 minutes left, when Jabari Brown buried a 3 to finally tie the game. From there it was back and forth until Brown knocked down another 3 with less than a minute to go followed by Cat Barber missing the front end of a one and one. After 2 Jordan Clarkson free throws and a poor shot by Ralston Turner, the win was sealed for Missouri.

Let’s take a deeper look into why NC State fell apart in this one:

TJ Warren finished with 24 points and 13 boards, but he didn’t score over the final 12 minutes. That was the decider in this one. When Warren isn’t scoring, NC State state struggles to put up points. It seemed as if TJ was either a little tired, or just settling for jumpers, but he wasn’t working to get easy buckets like he was in the first half. Also, credit Missouri for making things really tough on him in those final 12 minutes.

57% from the FT line. That’s pretty much unacceptable. I know these guys work on free throws every practice after sprints to mimic the fatigue they feel during a game, so I’m not really sure what this was all about. Guys you wouldn’t expect to knock them down, like Tyler Lewis and TJ Warren, missed them. Cat Barber missed a very crucial one and one down the stretch that really hurt NC State.

Speaking of Cat Barber, he had his worst game as a college player. I think he was thrown off a bit after he got 2 quick fouls and sat almost the whole first half. It really took  him out of rhythm and he just didn’t look like himself. He did finish with 6 points and 6 assists, but he just wasn’t very aggressive and he struggled shooting the basketball where he was only 2-11.

– This team has trouble with the zone. Missouri is the first team NC State has faced that has been big, strong, quick and also sat back in a zone. State struggled against the zone early in the season, but lately has played better against it. Missouri, however, was able to stop dribble penetration and limit passes to the interior of the zone. This made the Pack settle for a lot of 3s,  and that is not their strong suit. State shot only 28% from 3 point range. TJ Warren hurt the Pack here, going only 1-7 from beyond the arc.

Even though this was a loss for the Pack, it’s good to remember that this is a young team that is still learning. Every game is a learning experience. With that said,  let’s take a look at some ‘bright spots’ from the game:

Dez Lee had an amazing first half. Lee scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half and was all over the floor. He was hitting 3s, finishing on the break and really holding down Jabari Brown on the defensive end. In the second half Lee sort of disappeared. He wasn’t as aggressive and didn’t really force the issue. Lee is still new to this level and is doing his best to fit into his role. I think a more aggressive Lee makes NC State a much better basketball team. Dez needs to step up a little more and take control when things get rough. He’s got that kind of talent.

Kyle Washington broke out. I think we finally got a taste of why K.Wash was being so heavily recruited by schools like Florida and Ohio State. He was in the zone in this one, scoring 10 points, all in the 2nd half. Washington flashed a nice midrange jumper and a soft lefty hook. He also flashed some serious confidence and passion down the stretch. Remember, this kid is still a freshman who is coming into his own. Seeing him have a game like this is a huge plus going forward for the Pack.

Overall, NC State played really well against Missouri. This was the #25 team in the nation and the Wolfpack could have easily walked away with a victory. I think this was a great learning experience for this young team and it will certainly help them going forward. Missouri has some of the best guards the Pack will see all season and they held their ground. State was pretty dominant for the first 30 minutes of this game, they just need to learn how to step on a team’s throat when they have them down.

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NC State Basketball

It’s Official. NC State Men’s Basketball will be Playing in the Lenovo Center

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On Monday, the “PNC Arena” sign came off the building where NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes play, with their naming rights contract ending on August 31st. Speculation swirled around the possibility of the building becoming the Lenovo Center, because a leaked image from NHL 25 had the Canes playing on the ice of the Lenovo Center.

There is no need for speculation any longer. It’s official. The Carolina Hurricanes announced this morning that the home of the Wolfpack and Canes is officially the Lenovo Center, beginning this month. Lenovo’s naming rights contract runs through the 2033-34 NHL season.

“Lenovo has been a valued partner of ours for many years,” said Fork. “We’re thrilled to elevate that partnership now by renaming the arena Lenovo Center. Lenovo has both strong local ties and a worldwide footprint, and we’re proud to have the Hurricanes’ name associated with a true leader in global technology. As we transition to this new era, we are grateful for our longtime naming rights collaborator, PNC, who will continue to be a major partner of our organization.”

“This is an exciting day for Raleigh, Wake County, and the whole state of North Carolina,” said Philip Isley, Chairman of the Centennial Authority. “This partnership is about more than just re-naming the arena. Lenovo will play a vital role integrating technology into our upcoming arena renovations and enhancements. Lenovo has deep roots in North Carolina, and we’re thrilled that they are strengthening those roots with this naming rights agreement.”

“Lenovo has called North Carolina our home for nearly two decades. Like the Hurricanes, we take great pride in being a part of the Triangle community and we’re excited to expand our partnership with a world-class sports organization,” said Ryan McCurdy, Senior Vice President and President, Lenovo North America. “The arena is one of the most recognizable venues in the state and the newly named Lenovo Center will continue to be the premier destination for people to enjoy sporting events, concerts, and more.”

Lenovo is a Fortune Global 500 technology company with deep ties to North Carolina since 2005. One of the company’s two global headquarters is located in Morrisville, North Carolina. Lenovo is one of the largest employers in the Triangle region, with an estimated $1.5 billion economic and fiscal impact in North Carolina each year. Lenovo also supports the local community through philanthropic giving, employee volunteering, and community engagement initiatives.

(Link)

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-2034 = Lenovo Center

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NC State Basketball

A “First Look” at the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District has been Unveiled

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Pacific Elm Properties and Gale Force Sports and Entertainment unveiled today a “first look” of the forthcoming Raleigh Sports & Sports Entertainment District that will neighbor Carter-Finley Stadium and the building formerly known as PNC Arena.

The redevelopment of the 80-acre site, located just off I-40 and adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, will provide new opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment throughout the year, and will feature a unique outdoor realm for sports tailgating and programming. Tenants and outdoor spaces will be curated to serve fans of the Hurricanes and NC State alike, offering new ways to gather before sporting events while honoring the classic tailgating experiences that people have grown to love.

Phase one of the development will include more than 200,000 square feet of entertainment and lifestyle retail, 150,000 square feet of office space, a 150-key hotel and more than 500 apartments. Additional phases will expand this variety of uses over the expected 15-year development timeline.

The first phase, which is slated to kick off in December 2025, will include an expanded plaza to complement the upcoming arena renovation and will feature a 600-foot promenade lined with tailgating suites, balconies and new open space for thousands of fans to gather, blending time-honored traditions with state-of-the-art innovation.

The new tailgating experience will be directly adjacent to a 4,300-seat music venue operated by Live Nation and part of a larger five-acre tailgating space, including the plaza between Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena, which will also receive improvements. Enhanced tailgating and pre- and post-game entertainment options range from well-appointed luxury suites to roomy balconies and community spaces, new food and beverage offerings, a promenade and stage for live entertainment, and elevated amenities like convenient restrooms and additional quick and easy parking. Construction of the first phase also includes two parking garages that line either side of the tailgating experience, which is projected to be completed in time for the 2027 Wolfpack football season.

(Link)

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NC State Basketball

Is the PNC Arena About to Become the Lenovo Center?

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Ever since 2012, PNC Arena has been the home of NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes. Today, the sign “PNC Arena” came off of the building.

PNC Bank’s naming rights contract ran out on August 31st.

The Hurricanes announced today that they had reached an agreement for PNC Bank to be the sponsor of the arena’s club and club-level seating.

Could the home of NC State Men’s Basketball be called the Lenovo Center Next?

In a leak from the video game NHL 25, the following image has Lenovo Center written on the ice of the Hurricane’s home arena.

Image

Obviously it hasn’t been confirmed that Lenovo will be the next official sponsor of the arena, but the leaked image from the game  does seem oddly coincidental.

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-TBD = Lenovo Center?

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball To Play in the Jimmy V Classic for the 5th Time

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NC State’s Women’s Basketball team will be playing in the 2024 Jimmy V Classic on December 15th at Louisville at 1pm on ABC.

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Because the game will be against the Cardinals, it will serve as the Wolfpack’s ACC opener.

Here’s a look at the other matchups in the Women’s Jimmy V Classic.

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This marks the 5th time that the NC State Women’s Basketball team has played in the Jimmy V Classic: UConn (2002), Texas (2003), Tennessee (2004), South Carolina (2020).

The Wolfpack are 8-8 all-time against Louisville, but are currently on a 5-game winnings streak against the Cardinals.

ESPN ranks NC State 8th in their Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25, and they rank Louisville 12th. The Wolfpack finished 4th in the AP Poll last season, and the Cardinals finished 30th.

 

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