NC State Basketball
Wolfpack Cages Cardinals 74-65
Published
9 years agoon

The Pack finally managed to hold on in the second half as they used Louisville’s aggression to their advantage. Cat Barber was outstanding as he finished with a game high 21 points, 4 assists, and only 2 TO’s. By attacking the press Cat was able to draw the Cardinals out of position, this led to him to be able to dish to Anya who had some thunderous dunks in traffic. I am extremely pleased with the heart and guts that Cat has shown over the past 5 games. He has been using his strengths and playing within himself by using his outstanding quickness and speed to beat defenders to the basket. The most improved part of Cat’s game in this 5 game stretch has been his ability to finish among the trees. His focus and use of the hesitation has allowed him the daylight to convert inside. Today Cat was 10-13 at the charity stripe. If he keeps attacking the paint there is no reason why this outstanding play cannot continue.
Cat was a catalyst but he was not alone. Trevor Lacey provided the usual fireworks off of the dribble hitting some tough shots in crucial times to help keep Louisville from evening the contest in the second half. Lacey finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Not only did Trevor push the pace off of the press but he did an excellent job at slowing the tempo to settle the Pack as the Cardinals mounted their comeback. This was the first game that I have had a confidence in our guys that they would walk away with a win. Contributions came from each player that stepped foot on the floor. Caleb Martin came away with a beautiful lob pass that he converted from Lacey, and then on the next possession hit a big three in the corner.
At times it was a struggle for either team to come away with points, but make no mistake about it the Wolfpack was the better defensive team today. We battled the Cardinals on every possession and even beat them on the glass posting a plus 10 advantage. The reason NC State came away with the win is because they decided that they were going to stifle the Cardinals by not allowing them any easy buckets. Every drive by their star Harrell was contested and played straight up. Harrell only manged 7 points on the day, well below his average of 15. The Pack was not simply satisfied with taking Harrell away but made life difficult for the leading scorer in the ACC; Terry Rozier. Rozier had to watch the last 4 minutes from the bench as he fouled out. On the day Rozier was 3-11 from the field and only registered 7 points. Yes, the leading scorer in the ACC at 18.5 points per didn’t even make it into double figures. This intensity and desire must be matched each and every game from this point on if the Pack wants a chance at the NCAA.
Today’s performance is exactly what makes this season so dumbfounding. How can we go into a hostile environment and beat a top 10 team at their own game? How can we out rebound a team that has bullied so many teams thus far and then have so many games slip away just as it looks like we are building some momentum? Let’s look forward though, 5 games remain and nothing is set in stone in the ultra competitive ACC. State must use today as a confidence builder and come out next Saturday and demoralize the Hokies. There cannot be anymore playing down to the competition. There cannot be anymore slow starts. This is the time of the season where we must have that killer instinct and prove that we deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament.
NC State has to forget about this win and have a great week in practice and be ready to win in the PNC this coming Saturday versus Virginia Tech. Game is slated for a 6PM tip.
Side Note: How sweet were the black jersey’s? Personally I loved them and I know the guys were amped to be wearing the black threads and gold shoes.
NC State Basketball
NC State to Honor David Thompson with Statue Outside Reynolds Coliseum
Published
11 hours agoon
September 25, 2023
RALEIGH – NC State University will pay tribute to three-time All-American David Thompson with a statue sculpted in his honor that will be placed outside of Reynolds Coliseum.
The unveiling will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the day of the Wolfpack men’s basketball team’s annual Heritage Game at Reynolds Coliseum, and will be open to the public.
“This is such a deserved honor for the greatest basketball player to ever wear an NC State jersey,” NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan said. “He is one of the most iconic players to ever play in the ACC and our hope is that this statue will ensure that generations of NC State students and fans will always remember the legacy and contributions of David Thompson.”
Thompson is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in college basketball history. A 2008 ESPN story ranked him as one of the ten best college basketball players of all-time, and he is regarded as one of greatest athletes in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
The Boiling Spring, N.C., native played three seasons at NC State from 1972-75 and was a unanimous first-team All-American at the conclusion of all three seasons. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year all three seasons.
He was named the Associated Press National Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975 and remains one of just five players in college basketball history to win multiple AP National Player of the Year honors.
Thompson immediately made his mark on the Pack, helping lead NC State to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973. The Pack dominated the 1972-73 season and was at the top or near the top of the polls all season as Thompson averaged 24.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Thompson returned in the 1973-74 season and led the Wolfpack to a 30-1 record and the school’s first NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball National Title.
In the Final Four, Thompson and the Wolfpack met up with UCLA, the seven-time reigning National Champions and the only team to have defeated NC State that season. The Pack trailed 74-67 in the second overtime when Thompson’s heroics helped lead NC State back. Thompson pulled down a defensive rebound and made the go-ahead basket with under one minute remaining and then made two free throws with 38 seconds to go to give the Pack a 78-75 double overtime win in a game that is still considered one of the greatest Final Four games ever played.
Thompson finished the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Bill Walton and the Bruins.
Two nights later, the Pack won the National Title over Marquette, 76-64, behind 21 points from Thompson. Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
To make it into the NCAA Tournament, the Pack defeated fourth-ranked Maryland, 103-100, in overtime in the 1974 ACC Championship, in a game that is routinely considered one of the best games in college basketball history.
As a senior, Thompson averaged 29.9 points, still the highest single season average in NC State history. He scored an NC State and ACC record 57 points in an early season win over Buffalo State. The Pack started the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and never fell out of the top-10, but lost in the ACC Championship game to end its season. The Pack finished the season ranked seventh in the nation but because the NCAA Tournament at that time only allowed the conference champion into the tournament its season was over.
Thompson closed his career with 2,309 points in 86 career games. He led the ACC in scoring all three seasons and was NC State and the ACC’s career scoring leader when he graduated.
NC State Basketball
Former NC State Basketball Player Torin Dorn Joins Coaching Staff of G-League SLC Stars
Published
2 days agoon
September 24, 2023
Former NC State basketball player Torin Dorn has joined the staff of the Salt Lake City Stars, the G-League team for the Utah Jazz. Dorn’s title is Player Development Associate/Assistant Coach.
After playing 3 seasons at NC State, Dorn went on to play professionally overseas in Poland and Czech Republic, before joining the Wolfpack coaching staff last season as a Graduate Manager.
Dorn will be working under newly appointed head coach Steve Wojciechowski (former Duke PG), who was the head coach at Marquette the past 7 seasons.
NC State Basketball
NC State Guard MJ Rice Will Be Returning Soon After Stepping Away for a Period of Time
Published
6 days agoon
September 20, 2023
NC State Guard MJ Rice (6’5″/215) announced yesterday that due to personal reasons, he had to step away from the basketball program, but was excited to be back with his teammates soon. He was clear that his commitment to NC State hasn’t wavered.
(Tweet)
Life is much bigger than sports. These young men are human beings first and foremost, and as we all know, this life is never simple and easy.
Rice transferred to NC State this offseason from Kansas with three years of eligibility remaining. The former High School McDonald’s All-American didn’t get a lot of playing time in his Freshman season at Kansas, averaging 7.6 minutes per game in only 23 games played.
Coming out of Prolific Prep in California, Rice averaged 20.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a Senior. Rivals ranked him as a 5-star prospect, ON3 ranked him 24th nationally, and ESPN ranked him as the #1 player in the state of North Carolina.
Whatever Rice is working through, we value him as a person more than we do a player.
NC State Basketball
NC State Announces Hiring of Larry Dixon as NC State Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Published
1 month agoon
August 24, 2023
RALEIGH – NC State men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts announced Wednesday that Larry Dixon has joined his staff as an assistant coach.
Dixon comes to NC State after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at South Florida.
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted in January to allow two more assistant coaches on men’s basketball staffs. Dixon, will serve as one of the Pack’s two new assistant coaches that can engage in coaching activities but may not recruit off campus.
“I think Larry is a great addition to our staff,” Keatts said. “He’s a North Carolina native that has dedicated himself to a coaching career since graduating from college. He started at the high school level in North Carolina and eventually moved up to college and now has been a Division I assistant coach for almost 20 years. I think his experience is going to be a great asset for me and our coaching staff, as well as the young men in our program as we develop them on and off the court.”
Larry Dixon joined the USF coaching staff as assistant coach on May 12, 2018.
In just his second season with the team in 2018-19, Dixon helped USF to the top win turnaround in the NCAA during the 2018-19 season, as the Bulls won 14 more games than the previous season. In addition, USF turned in a 24-14 overall record to set a new single-season school record for wins. The Bulls would go on to win the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship and claim the program’s first postseason title since 1990.
Dixon also played an instrumental role in the development of 2019 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Laquincy Rideau and 2019 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Alexis Yetna.
Dixon helped USF become one of the top defensive teams in the NCAA during the 2019-20 season, finishing the year ranked 20th in scoring defense by allowing only 62.7 points per game. The Bulls limited eight teams to fewer than 60 points during the season and held 27 of their 31 opponents under their scoring average at the time of play. The Bulls also ranked 44th in the nation in turnovers forced with 15.6 per game, and stood 65th in the NCAA in steals with 7.5 thefts per game.
In 2021-22, Dixon helped develop Russel Tchewa and Corey Walker Jr. into one of the best frontcourt tandems in the league. The Bulls were again among the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 45th in the NCAA in scoring defense (64.9 ppg).
Dixon came to Tampa after five seasons as an assistant at Georgia Southern under head coach Mark Byington. Prior to his stint with the Eagles, Dixon had collegiate assistant coaching jobs at Winthrop (2007-12), East Carolina (2005-07), South Carolina State (2003-05) and St. Andrews College (2002-03).
In his final season at Georgia Southern, Dixon helped lead the Eagles to a 21-12 record, including an 11-7 mark in the Sun Belt. In 2016-17, he helped Georgia Southern reach the postseason for the first time since 2006, playing in the College Basketball Invitational.
Prior to arriving at Georgia Southern, Dixon spent the 2012-13 season as head coach at York Comprehensive High School in York, S.C.
During his five seasons (2007-12) on the coaching staff at Winthrop under head coach Randy Peele, Dixon was recognized as the top assistant coach in the Big South by Fox Sports.
Before entering the college game, Dixon served as the head coach at Garinger High School in Charlotte, N.C. for three seasons. In 2001, he led Garinger to a North Carolina High School sectional championship and earned Mecklenburg County Coach of the Year honors from the Charlotte Observer. Dixon also spent one season as an assistant at Carver High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. and one season at South Rowan High School in his hometown of Salisbury, N.C.
Dixon graduated from Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, N.C) in 1996, where he was a four-year letterman as a player. He was named the team’s most improved player following his junior season and the top defensive player after his senior season. He helped the Golden Bulls to a pair of CIAA Southern Division titles and a championship game appearance as a sophomore.
A native of Salisbury, N.C., Dixon has two children, Devin and Leah.


NC State’s Kevin Concepcion Earns Week 4 ACC Rookie of the Week Honors

NC State to Honor David Thompson with Statue Outside Reynolds Coliseum

NC State is a 3-Point Underdog vs. Louisville

NC State Offers 4-Star 2026 SF Cole Cloer

Former NC State Basketball Player Torin Dorn Joins Coaching Staff of G-League SLC Stars

NC State Now Has Seven 4-Star Commitments in Their 2024 Class

NC State Men’s Basketball Recruiting Update (9/21/23)

4-Star PF David Punch Takes Official Visit to NC State

NC State Announces Home Game vs. Louisville will be a BLACK OUT

NC State Guard MJ Rice Will Be Returning Soon After Stepping Away for a Period of Time

NC State lands combo guard DJ Horne from the portal

NC State adds Butler CG Jayden Taylor in Transfer Portal

VIDEO: NC State falls to Creighton 72-63 in first round of NCAA Tournament | Extended Highlights & Box Score

VIDEO: Smith, Joiner and Keatts talk in postgame press conference

cooperpack I am not big on alternate jersey’s but as alternate jerseys go, these were very nice! Red and white are the primary colors, trim has been blue or black. http://brand.ncsu.edu/color/
You gotta also give a lot of credit to Freeman. Freeman’s defense was real tough. He was agressive, moved his feet and physical. He was tasked from tipoff to stick to Harrel, and he did. And to compliment this, he also finished well inside. While Cat and Lacey were excellent, I thought Freeman was the key to that game. His presence downlow set the tone for our team. Over the last few games, we’ve given up too many easy buckets off simple cuts/post-ups and the bigs cut those out this game. Great game!
sorry. don’t like the black unis. basketball, football, bass fishing or checkers. Colors are red and white.
wormncsu He’s deserved the criticism most of the season and he earned the praise today. He put a complete game together against Louisville. He handled the pressure, drove hard to the basket, made some sweet interior passes, and played really good defense.
I was just really happy to see this team handle the pressure. Attacking the press. It only took them most of the season to figure that out.
wormncsu I’m with you… All year I have been saying with his skill set, “Does he know how good he is?”… Sometimes it takes a while, but I think we have seen enough over the last several weeks to validate the excitement we had when he committed to us. I am real happy for him. With his speed… once he believes, the sky is the limit.
I think we all need to give cat some credit for the job he has done the last few games. He has taken a lot of heat this year but I hope he continues to improve and show the dominant player he can be. Lets hope this is a turning point for the rest of the season.