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Wolfpack Smokes Queens in Preseason Opener, 78-47

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10 years ago

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NC State 78 – Queens 47
Box Score

We keep saying that there are loads and loads of unanswered questions coming into this season. In tonight’s preseason opener against Queens, a lot of those questions began to get answered.

The Pack really ran away with this game in the second half, but we really weren’t watching the score. Instead we were watching the substitution patterns, the chemistry and the freshmen. Sure, it was nice to get a 78-47 win in an exhibition game, but there were much more important things going on out there tonight. Here’s what we’ve got.

Making Money On Defense
I don’t think we know enough yet to say that this team isn’t going to be a great offensive team, however on paper you’d have to believe that there will be night when they struggle to score it. That’s going to be ok if they can defend like they showed they can tonight. This was a different type of Mark Gottfried basketball. These guys were really getting into their guys, hassling ball handlers, playing great help defense, owning the glass and altering nearly any shot put up in the lane. Now, I know this was a small, undermanned Queens team but it was the hustle, the want-to and the desire that really caught my eye. Barber and Dez Lee were hounding ball handlers as soon as they crossed half court. They were in passing lanes and jumping point-to-point passes. I was seriously impressed with the showing on that end of the floor. State forced 30 TO’s as their offense fed off of their defense all night. If that is going to be this team identity then it’s fine by me.

Freshmen Lead the Way
Early on the offense looked a little disjointed. The Pack was forcing shots, dribbling into trouble and just bumbling around a lot over the first 8 minutes. It actually was the freshmen who came in and kind of settled things down. First you had Caleb Martin. I know this was just one game, but this kid brings a different dimension to this offense. He was red hot tonight, finishing with team high 16 points on 6-10 shooting and 4-6 from 3pt range (he also added 3 steals, 2 blocks and 4 boards). He’s got a pretty stroke from long range, but he’s not a one dimensional player by any means. Caleb showed his ability to take the ball into traffic, as well as finishing on the break. He’s going to have his ups and downs like anyone else this season, but in the long run this kid is going to be special. This was quite a way to start a career.

Another freshmen who had a big showing was Abdul-Malik Abu who finished with 14 points and 5 boards. Abu showcased an all around game that should have Pack fans pretty excited. He was very active in the paint, very physical on both ends of the floor and even showed off a nice 15 foot jumper. Abu had some drives to the hoop that made it seem as if he’s been here a while. His body control and physical nature are going to be big  pluses for this team. He was the second leading scorer in this one and will be certainly getting a nice chunk of minutes come season time.

Lacey Struggles Again
Trevor Lacey is going to be good. There’s no debating that fact, but just how good is still up in the air. So far he really hasn’t had much success in front of the Wolfpack faithful. In the red/white scrimmage he was more of a distributor and did not score and tonight he just couldn’t find his touch. Lacey finished 3-12 shooting, notching only 7 points. I think it might be another game or two before he gets in the groove, but when he does this team is going to start kicking into gear.

Anya As Advertised
Although he didn’t start the game, Beejay Anya really made a big impact in this one. He only played 20 minutes, but in those minutes he scored 7 point (2 dunks), had 6 blocks and pulled down 4 boards. The big man is going to be a big factor for State on defense this season. Queens wasn’t able to get a many clean shots off inside the arc with Anya patrolling the paint. His length and now his ability to get off the floor makes anyone driving into the lane think twice.

More Zone?
State went zone in the second half and I really thought it was a good look for them. This team is very long and if they can learn positioning and to not fall asleep when in the zone, then they’ll be able to really shut some teams down with this defense. With the quickness of Barber and Lee, the length and quickness of the Martin twins and the sheer size of Anya in the middle, there isn’t much room to work the ball inside the zone without having it deflected, or being met with a big body when you do catch it. It will be interesting to see how often Gottfried employs that zone.

Barber Still Settling In
When Barber pushes the issue too much the team suffers. They just lose rhythm and the offense gets out of whack. But when Cat lets the game come to him and plays within the flow, the gears start turning for these guys. Early on Barber was pressing, but in the second half he really settled into his PG role and started looking more like the guy that could end up being a true threat in this league. Barber finished shooting only 2-9 but he did add 5 assists and only had 1 TO. Cat needs to just stop thinking about scoring and become a true distributor first. The scoring is a given and there will be times when he has to create his own shot, but right now I think he’d be best served trying to average double digit assists by getting into the lane and looking to dump it off or kick it out for a wide open 3.

NC State opens up their season this Friday at 7pm against Jacksonville at the PNC Arena.

 

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball Releases Their 2024-25 Non-Conference Schedule

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12 hours ago

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July 26, 2024

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NC State Women’s Basketball team released their 2024-25 Non-Conference Schedule yesterday.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women’s basketball program has announced its non-conference slate for the 2024-25 season, as revealed on Thursday.

The Pack will play eight of its 11 games, in addition to a preseason exhibition, at Reynolds Coliseum. Coming off a historical 2023-24 season that was highlighted by the program’s first Final Four since 1998, second in program history, head coach Wes Moore is entering his 12th season at the helm. With a strong home court advantage, the Pack has accumulated a 117-15 (.886) record at home since the renovation of Reynolds Coliseum was completed in August 2016.

NC State will participate in the Pink Flamingo Championship at Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas on Monday, Nov. 25 and Wednesday, Nov. 27 against opponents that will be announced at a later date. As previously announced, NC State will play the defending NCAA Champion South Carolina at the Ally Tipoff at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Sunday, Nov. 10, as well as host Ole Miss for the SEC/ACC Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The Wolfpack will host Anderson (S.C.) for an exhibition on Tuesday, Oct. 29 before officially starting the season at home vs. ETSU on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Following the Ally Tipoff, NC State will return home to host Kent State on Thursday, Nov. 14.

NC State’s first true road game of the season is at TCU on Sunday, Nov. 17. The Pack will then play Coastal Carolina at home on Thursday, Nov. 21 before its trip to the Bahamas for two games (Nov. 25-27).

The Pack will close out the non-conference slate with four straight games at Reynolds Coliseum, starting with the SEC/ACC Challenge game vs. Ole Miss (Thursday, Dec. 5). NC State will then host Old Dominion (Sunday, Dec. 8), Davidson (Wednesday, Dec. 11) and James Madison (Thursday, Dec. 19) to wrap up non-conference play.

With NC State’s known non-conference opponents, six are coming off postseason tournament appearances. Three received NCAA Tournament bids (Kent State, Ole Miss and NCAA Champion South Carolina), two were invited to play in the WBIT (TCU and James Madison) and one played in the WNIT (Old Dominion).

NC State’s Atlantic Coast Conference schedule will be announced by the league office at a later date. NC State will play Wake Forest, Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Miami, Notre Dame, Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech at home. The Pack will take on Wake Forest, Cal, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina, SMU, Stanford and Syracuse on the road.

Season tickets are sold out for the 2024-25 season. Tip-off times and television designations will also be released at a later date.

2024-25 Non-Conference Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 29 – Anderson (Exh.)

Tuesday, Nov. 5 – ETSU

Sunday, Nov. 10 – South Carolina $

Thursday, Nov. 14 – Kent State

Sunday, Nov. 17 – at TCU

Thursday, Nov. 21 – Coastal Carolina

Monday, Nov. 25 – Opponent TBD &

Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Opponent TBD &

Thursday, Dec. 5 – Ole Miss +

Sunday, Dec. 8 – Old Dominion

Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Davidson

Thursday, Dec. 19 – James Madison

$ – Ally Tipoff (Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.)

& – Pink Flamingo Championship (Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas)

+ – SEC/ACC Challenge (Raleigh, N.C.)

 

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NC State Basketball

NC State Legend Julius Hodge Named Head Coach at Lincoln University

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2 days ago

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July 24, 2024

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NC State Legend Julius Hodge has been named the Head Coach at Lincoln University.

This marks Hodge’s first stint as a Head Coach.

Hodge has been in the Coaching world since 2015, when he served as Director of Player Development at the University of Buffalo under Bobby Hurley. Then, he spent 2016 and 2017 as an Assistant Coach under Herb Sendek at Santa Clara. From 2018-20, Hodge served as an Assistant Coach at San Jose State. Hodge has spent the past three seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

At NC State, Hodge earned 1st Team All-ACC honors in 2003 & 2004, and 2nd Team honors in 2005. Hodge was named the ACC Player of the Year in ’04. He earned the All-Freshman Team in 2002.

Hodge is 1 of 11 players in NC State history to earn 1st Team All-ACC honors more than once.

His 2,040 career points scored rank 3rd in NC State history. Hodge also ranks 1st in Free Throws Made, 14th in Rebounds, 7th in Offensive Rebounds, 6th in Assists and 7th in Steals.

Congrats Julius! You deserve this!

 

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WATCH: Getting to Know NC State’s Trey Parker

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3 days ago

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July 23, 2024

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NC State Men’s Basketball is releasing videos helping fans get to know the new players on the 2024-25 roster.

Below is the video of Freshman Trey Parker (6’1″/178), with a transcript underneath.

“My name is Trey Parker. I’m an incoming Freshman from Fayetteville, North Carolina.” 

“I was recently playing at Overtime Elite. It was a great experience. A whole lot of development and great energy.” 

“Coach Levi (Watkins) recruited me. As soon as I got to the campus, it was a great experience. They just gave me that big inspiration to feel like I’m home, and feel like a great student outside of basketball.”

“I knew I wanted to be a part of the Pack back in November of 2022. I just felt like it was a great fit for me.”

“Living in North Carolina, and now playing in North Carolina, is a big opportunity. There’s a lot of people from North Carolina looking up to me, and I want to give them what they want to see.” 

“Being close, allows for them to bring the whole city out. It just feels like I’m already at home.” 

“Y’all stay tuned. Showtime is coming this year.”

_______

Parker originally signed with NC State in November of 2022, as a member of the 2023 recruiting class. He decided to reclassify, making him a member of the 2024 class.

Parker is a consensus 3-Star prospect, though 247Sports’ Composite Rankings have him as a 4-Star prospect. 247 ranks him as the #135 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, the #26 Shooting Guard, and the #13 player in the state of Georgia.

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Jersey Numbers for 2024-25 NC State Men’s Basketball Team Revealed

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1 week ago

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July 18, 2024

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The NC State Men’s Basketball team revealed the Jersey Numbers for their 2024-25 team yesterday.

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Numbers that are Staying the Same

Michael O’Connell – #12

Ben Middlebrooks – #34

Dennis Parker Jr. – #11

KJ Keatts – #13

Jordan Snell – #22

Numbers that have Changed

Jayden Taylor – #1 –> #8

Breon Pass – #10 –> #4

Numbers of New Players

Mike James – #0 (He wore #0 at Louisville last year)

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield – #1 (He wore #5 at Louisville last year)

Paul McNeil – #2 (He wore #2 in High School last year)

Dontrez Styles – #3 (He wore #0 at Georgetown last year)

Trey Parker – #5 (He wore #5 in High School last year)

Marcus Hill – #10 (He wore #0 at Bowling Green last year)

We don’t know what number Ismael Diouf will be wearing at NC State next year yet. 

 

 

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