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NC State Basketball

Tourney Time: The Stage Is Set

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NC State will take the court today to face the Tigers of LSU in what many have predicted to be a great match-up that pits two teams against one another that have contrasting strengths. LSU uses a pair of athletic multi-faceted big men to create havoc on its’ opponents inside the paint. Contrasting the Tigers, NC State prefers to utilize its’ trio of guards to plague their challengers. In order for the Pack to advance to the round of 32 it will be imperative that Cat Barber, Trevor Lacey, and Ralston Turner show up with their proverbial “A Games”.  Personally I think it will be more important that these three set the tone on the defensive end as this will be what determines if the Wolfpack advances.

One thing that has been consistent for the Pack this season is their ability to be inconsistent. I wish I knew the source of the inconsistency. How can a team look like a top five team nationally at times and then look like a bottom dweller at other times? Even in the same game we have seen it. But with this inconsistency comes a certain element of hope that the light switch will suddenly click! You cannot deny the fact that this team has overachieved this season. A season ago we squeaked into the field of 68. We beat an Xavier team in the first four only to succumb to St. Louis in the next round. Heading into this season there were a ton of unknowns. Coach Gottfried had to replace arguably the best scorer to come through Raleigh since David Thompson in TJ Warren who also captured ACC POY. Gottfried then had to find a way to incorporate Trevor Lacey, and the incoming freshmen in order for this season to be relevant.

I commend Coach Gottfried and his staff for the job they have done. This season he has beaten Coach K, Roy Williams, Jim Boehiem, and Rick Pitino. How many coaches can claim this feat in a single season? With all that being said tomorrow night’s contest versus the LSU Tigers is a critical game that our guys must take advantage of. Our players and program are on the cusp of something great but they must start to turn potential into results. I honestly believe that great results are right around the corner. I hope that the Pack proves me right by playing with the focus and energy to beat LSU. It will take a total team effort and intelligence to win.

At this time of the year the Pack is only guaranteed 40 more minutes…it is completely up to them if they will be awarded another 40 minutes come tomorrow night!

Tip-Off is slated for 9:20PM and can be seen on TBS.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

OMG!!! I spent about thirty some minutes yelling at the TV and cursing Gottfried. Then Dez Lee and Kyle Washington bring us back. Then Anya makes unbelievable back to back scores to win the game. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it. This was a physical game. Probably the most physical game I’ve witnessed all season. LSU brought it and the Wolfpack didn’t. That’s part of what led to our struggle the 1st half. Our boys didn’t adjust to the physicality. 2nd half I thought our boys made the adjustment but the defense was still not there.… Read more »

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

The unc game has way too many whistles blowing. Hope we have better refs for our game.

NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

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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

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NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

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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

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

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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?

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NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

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#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.

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