Connect with us

NC State Basketball

NC State vs Syracuse: NCAA Implications

Published

on

Tomorrow NC State will host the Syracuse Orangemen in the final home game on the season. Syracuse received less than pleasant news today as they were hit hard for numerous infractions that will penalize their program for years to come. Will this have a bearing on tomorrow’s contest? I am not sure how Syracuse will respond but I have noticed over the years that teams usually band together and play extremely hard as their program has been run through the mud. NC State must be prepared to close the season with a win!

In my opinion Syracuse will be a great test for the Pack and help prepare them for the NCAA Tournament. It is no secret that the Orangemen will play a 2-3 match up zone, this fact should be enough for our guys to really hone in tomorrow. Throughout the season we have struggled against the zone as we have been pleased to move the ball around the perimeter and then settle for a long outside shot. We cannot fall in love with the three ball tomorrow if we want to win. Cat Barber and Trevor Lacey must attack the gaps and find our big men for easy baskets. I think this game could be a great matchup for Kyle Washington as he would give Syracuse a fit flashing the middle which is a soft spot of the zone. Kyle has the skill set to catch the ball and score it from that distance. Coach Gottfried will be able to keep him at bay by only allowing him to flash the middle and work in the focused area.

Defensively NC State must keep tabs on Trevor Cooney who has the ability to score in bunches from distance. On the season he is averaging 13.5 points per game and he attempts 7.2 three’s per contest. Although Cooney is their leader from the perimeter the engine that makes the Orangemen run is Rakeem Christmas. The 6-9 250 pound senior is averaging 17.9 points a game and is ripping down 9 boards per to sweeten the pot. Hopefully our big men are excited to play against someone who has been a nightmare underneath all season. BeeJay Anya has proven to up his game each time he squares off with a hearalded big man. Will he step up once again?

If State can take care of home court tomorrow afternoon then they will be a lock for the NCAA Tournament. There shouldn’t be any question of having to win X number of games in the ACC Tournament this coming week. Joe Lunardi of ESPN has the Wolfpack as a 9 seed in the West region. NC State should have their eyes set on a higher goal than a 9 seed. If the Pack can find a way to win tomorrow and find a way to rip off two more wins in the ACC Tournament it is certainly possible that they could end up as a 7 seed. This would allow them to avoid a second round matchup against a #1 seed.

State finds themselves in familiar territory as they must find a way to play their best basketball entering into post season play. Over the last 5 games they are 4-1, but I do not feel like we are operating as efficiently as we could be. Trevor Lacey has been out of sort of late but I am confident that he is about to get his act together starting tomorrow afternoon. I predict that he will break out of his funk in a big way in front of the Wolfpack faithful. Cat Barber has cooled off of late but I too think that he will be a tough matchup for teams in the NCAA Tournament. One thing that the Pack has on their side is the element of surprise. Each game it seems that someone different catches fire to save the day; however, what if a couple of guys catch fire for a couple of games together? We have proven all season that we are capable of beating any team in the country, but our guys must find it in themselves to garner the energy and focus needed to win each game. The greatest show on earth is within State’s sights but invitations are not handed out easily…now is the time to claim our spot!

 

Tip-Off is set for 12PM at the PNC. If you can’t make it out the game will be televised on CBS.

1 Comment
Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

I think Lacey may be having the same problem that TJ had at the end of last season. He was playing too many minutes and it caught up with him.

Coach needs to give Lacey more breathers and have him distribute more rather than trying to score himself.

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