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NC State Basketball

Gameday: No Hangover Allowed For Wolfpack vs BC

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9 years ago

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NC State @ Boston College
Noon | Boston, MA | ESPN3

State is coming off a pretty impressive stretch with wins over Louisville and UNC (both ranked in the top 15). They have really put themselves in a good spot come selection Sunday, but the season isn’t quite over. This is still a young team and they’ve been accustomed to streakiness all season long which likely gives most State fans pause when thinking about today’s Boston College game. Sure the Eagles are in last place in the ACC and only have 1 victory, but this is the ACC and if you know anything, you know that anything is possible. Case in point, Pitt has been one of the hottest teams in the ACC over the past month, but on Tuesday night they almost lost to Boston College when Olivier Hanlan went off for 39 points. State can’t allow something like this to happen if they want to stay off the bubble. This is a game they’ll have to keep their focus and really concentrate on execution and defensive pressure. Here are our keys….

Stay Humble, Stay Hungry
This State team is different than a lot of others we’ve seen in the past. This team doesn’t have a ton of ego or attitudes on it. It’s a group of guys that, for the most part, are on the same page. The reason they have been so streaky has not been because they don’t feel like putting in the work, or are’ too cool/ too good’ to compete in some of the lesser games, but because they are young and still learning to win together. This team has always been improving since day 1. They went from a team that depended strictly on Lacey and Turner to a team that usually has 4 legit scoring option on the floor at any given time. They seem to have a clear vision of where they want to be. After the UNC game they celebrated but they all talked about “we have to keep going…the season isn’t over” in their interviews. This was a good sign and a reason to believe that this team thinks they could do something very special come March.

Play Physical
On the road in what might be a pretty empty stadium against the ACC’s last place team. Gottfried is going to have to do his best job to keep the guys zeroed in and focused on business. One thing State can’t do is come out soft and think they can go through the motions in this one. BC is pretty bad, but they are an ACC team and have enough talent to take advantage if you’re not prepared. The Pack needs to focus in on their mission. Sure this should be an easy win on paper, but you know how that usually goes. This is going to have to be a point of emphasis for the Wolfpack bigs. Freeman and Abu have done a great job throwing their bodies around in the post and it’s a real reason Gott has stayed with that lineup. BC isn’t strong in the paint and has had trouble rebounding all season long. If the Pack bigs come out looking to get physical, the Eagles aren’t going to have much of a chance.

Stop Hanlan
Remeber the guy that dropped 4o points in an ACC tournament game as a freshman? Yeah, he’s still around and he’s been white hot over the last few weeks. Olivier Hanlan has scored over 3o points in 4 of his last 6 games. He went to the foul line 14 times against Pitt last time out and connected on all 14. He’s BC’s motor.  You stop him and you stop the Eagles. State will probably start with Lacey on him, but you could see Barber end up there by game’s end. I wouldn’t be surprised to see State face guard Hanlan like they did Paige (if Hanlan gets hot early). BC doesn’t have many more playmakers, so taking him out of the game would spell death for BC.

 

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
9 years ago

What the hell has happened?  Put the wagon back in the barn and burn the barn.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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56 mins ago

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April 17, 2024

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta is entering the Transfer Portal.

Peneueta transferred to NC State last offseason from Sacramento State, where she averaged 8.4 points, shooting 45.5% from three.

In her one year at NC State, Peneueta only played 8 games for the Wolfpack, battling injuries throughout the year. Peneueta has 1 year of eligibility.

With Peneueta entering the Portal, NC State now has 3 scholarships available heading into the 2024-25 season.

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NC State Basketball

Boston Center Caitlin Weimar is on an Official Visit to NC State

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6 hours ago

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April 17, 2024

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Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.

Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.

This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.

With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.

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NC State Basketball

What did an ACC Title & Final Four Mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren?

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9 hours ago

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April 17, 2024

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What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.

What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?

I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.

What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?

I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.

As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?

As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.

What was the most memorable moment for you?

I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.

How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?

I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.

_______

Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.

TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Ernest Ross Enters the Transfer Portal

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1 day ago

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April 16, 2024

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NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.

 

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Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.

Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.

Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.

NC State has 3 scholarships available now.

Best of luck Ernest!

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