Selection Sunday

Teams are anxiously awaiting their fate as today is the day bubbles burst for many teams around the country. NC State and their fans have had the uneasy feelings associated with Selection Sunday for the past few years as the Pack has eeked their way into the dance. This season is different as the Wolfpack is seen as a lock to be in the NCAA, but there are still plenty of unknowns that create excitement. It’s not a question of are we in, but what seed will the Pack receive. As I have researched the “so called experts” (ESPN,CBS,USA Today, FOX, and Bracket Matrix) it is a safe bet that the Wolfpack will be as high as an 8 seed or as low as a 1o seed. The consensus seems to have the Pack playing the 8 vs 9 match-up as 3 of the 5 have State as an 8 or 9. Only two have the Pack as a 10 seed (CBS and USA Today).

Personally I hope that Shelby Mast of USA Today and Jerry Palm of CBS are correct in projecting the Wolfpack as a 10 seed, this would eliminate the possibility of playing a #1 seed in the second round. In my opinion I believe that the Wolfpack is as capable as any team to knock off a #1 as we have proven to beat elite teams this season; however, I would still prefer playing a #2 seed in the second round especially since Gonzaga and UVA are likely two seeds. Some of the things that the Pack have in their favor as they enter the NCAA is that they have played a difficult schedule and have seen different playing styles thus far. The ACC has provided State will a variety of philosophies that will help the Pack strategize against any team that they may be matched up against.

Here are some of the potential match-up’s as of Sunday Morning:

ESPN Joe Lunardi: (8) NC State vs (9) Dayton: Winner plays Villanova in 2nd round

CBS Jerry Palm:  (7) Utah vs (10) NC State: Winner plays Gonzaga in 2nd round

USA Today Shelby Mast: (7) Michigan State vs (10) NC State: Winner plays Kansas

FOX Stewart Mandel (8) ST. John’s vs (9) NC State: Mandel doesn’t have #2 seed locked down

Bracket Matrix: (9) NC State: Bracket Matrix uses statistics to determine seeding but does not show match-up’s

Tune into CBS at 6 PM to find out who the Pack will play this coming week. We will have plenty of breakdowns coming leading up to NC State’s game. Who would you like to see the Pack play?