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Sweet 16 Coverage: State’s Keys Against Louisville

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As we mentioned earlier, this isn’t the same Louisville team that NC State faced, and beat over a month ago. That Louisville team was peaking. Harrell was being looked at as one of the best bigs in the ACC and Chris Jones was one of their leading scorers. Fast forward to today and while Harrell might not be the offensive beast we once thought, and Chris Jones has been dismissed from the team, this group is creating a much more balanced attack. Let’s take a look at the keys for NC State surviving and advancing against the Cardinals…

Make it tough on Rozier and Snider
Sophomore guard Terry Rozier has been putting up some big numbers as of late. With the dismissal of Chris Jones, Rozier has taken the team on his back and took the role of team leader. He went off for 25 against Northern Iowa last round and scored 20 in the Cardinals loss to UNC just 3 games ago. In State’s win on Feb. 14th, Rozier was shut down with only 7 points. State had him in foul trouble a lot of the game before fouling out, but it was their physical defense and lane presence that really bothered him.

In their first meeting it was Chris Jones who was a handful for the Pack (20pts), but in his place is another talented guard. This time it’s Quentin Snider. Since Jones was kicked off the team Snider has slowly but surely been coming into his own. He’s combined for 26 points over his 2 tournament games and has shot the ball well (10-21). He’s a 6’2 freshman that’s pretty thin so physicality from Lacey might really bother him.

These two guys really control the pace and the flow for Louisville so bottling them up will be the difference for State.

 

Limit Turnovers
Louisville is going to try to turn State over. No doubt about it. They’ve forced 24 turnovers over the past two tournament games and will look to keep that train rolling. For the Pack, playing at their pace and handling the pressure from the Cardinals scrappy guards will be big. State turned it over 8 times against Louisville in their first matchup. That’s a pretty good number against this team, but they could even improve a bit on that.

As of late you’d have to say that handling pressure has been a plus for this team. With the emergence of Cat Barber, State all of the sudden has a very reliable backcourt who can make teams pay for pressing.
The Barber, Turner and Lacey Show
Pitino can’t stop talking about Anthony Barber. He recruited him, decided to let him get away and then was ravaged by him (21 points, 4 assits) in State’s win in mid February. Now in all of the pregame articles you’re seeing quotes from him talking about how important it is to stop Barber. They’ll be keying on him, helping off on him and really overcommitting on ball screens with him. That means someone is going to be getting less attention. That someone will likely be Ralston Turner or Trevor Lacey. Lacey’s confidence is riding high after a huge game against Villanova and Ralston Turner is still looking for a big breakout game in the tournament. This one is likely to be it. Pitino might game plan to slow down Barber, but he better have an answer for the other two scoring threats if he wants to play on Sunday.

 

Stay Physical with Harrell and the Bigs
State did a great job of making it hard on Harrell in their first matchup. He managed only 7 points, 5 of which came in the 2nd half. He’s still a beast, but most of his damage is done against teams that done have true physical bigs. State has a ton of them and will likely key on taking away position from Harrell. If he gets going, watch out, but if Gottfried game plans properly, State should be able to limit his looks like they did last time out.

This team is physical. It’s a Pitino team. So they’re going to want to win the battle of the boards. That starts with Harrell but doesn’t end there. Physicality, boxing out and being aggressive on the glass is another big time key. Abu, Freeman and Anya will likely see most of minutes in this matchup and will need to make sure the Cardinals know they aren’t getting anything easy. State dominated them 45-37 on the boards last time out and it was a huge reason why State was able to pull off that upset.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
8 years ago

I’ve got my NC State shirt on that I wore through the first 2 wins. Hopefully it will continue to bring this team wins. 

#GoPack

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
8 years ago

DaPack Winning is the cure-all. Helps recruiting, helps national image, helps get calls from refs. I’m still hoping we win it all like a true Cinderella but this team has turned around what was a few weeks ago a largely forgettable season and that is an accomplishment all on its own.

DaPack
DaPack
8 years ago

I would still prefer the survive and advance type of winning. You’re right though leave it all on the court and there’s nothing to feel bad about regardless of outcome. Go Pack!
I wonder how a few more wins will affect recruiting. As you look at this team’s progress it seems pretty clear to me that State is getting the brand back together!

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
8 years ago

How physical we play and how physical Louisville plays will be completely dependent on the refs. Yesterdays games were called really tight by tourney standards which hurt physical teams like WVU. I think if the refs allow physical play then it’s just a matter of who wants it more. But I’m afraid the refs will cause players like Anya to have limited minutes. I thought Anya got called for a couple a fouls in the Nova game that should have been no calls. We’ll see I guess. As for turnovers, this team has handled the pressure well enough. Aside from… Read more »

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NC State’s Week 1 Depth Chart Against UCONN (with Notes)

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NC State will kick off their 2023 Football season next Thursday night against UCONN at 7:30pm. The Wolfpack released their Depth Chart for the game today.

Image

Notes

  • Redshirt Sophomore Anthony Carter Jr. is listed as the starting Left Guard. If Redshirt Sophomore Lyndon Cooper wasn’t missing the first game due to injury, I wonder if Carter would be starting. Doeren did praise Carter in his press conference today. Also, he stated that Cooper should be back for the Notre Dame game.
  • Noticeably, Graduate Transfer Offensive Lineman Dawson Jaramillo is also missing from the Depth Chart. Unfortunately, Jaramillo has suffered an injury, and will miss the entirety of the 2023 season. This is a huge blow for Jaramillo, and a huge blow for the depth of the Wolfpack Offensive Line. Jaramillo was a Swiss Army knife, having the ability to play in numerous positions.
  • Very often, Doeren has stated that the “Or” in between two names means that the coaching staff sees both players as starters. There is an “Or” in between Chris Toudle and Trent Pennix at Tight End, with the former being listed first. Maybe it doesn’t matter whose name is listed first, but I’m shocked Pennix’s name wasn’t the one at the top.
  • I’m not shocked that Julian Gray and Keyon Lesane are listed as the starters at the X and Y Wide Receiver positions. They both have had a lot of buzz surrounding them in Fall Camp, and Lesane was named a captain. Obviously, with Gray’s speed, Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae is going to want to find a way to get the ball in his hands. With that being said, and this is no disrespect to the two of them, but both of them are 5’11”, which isn’t exactly the way you would sculpt your prototypical outside receivers. I expect Terrell Timmons and Bradley Rozner to both be heavily in rotation at the X and Y, to give the outside receivers a good dose of speed as well as height.
  • True Freshman Running Back Kendrick Raphael might be buried at the bottom of the Depth Chart at his position, but I bet he sees a carry before Mimms or Jones. Doeren mentioned that we would see Raphael against UCONN, but didn’t mention Jones or Mimms. Anae likes to run 2 Running Back sets, with one of them almost functioning like a Full Back. As a result, I’m not shocked to see Jones and Mimms where they are in the Depth Chart.
  • Props to True Freshman Kevin Concepcion for earning the starting job at the Inside Wide Receiver position. Get ready to hear his name a lot this year. KC is backed up by Redshirt Sophomore Jalen Coit, who Doeren spoke highly of today.
  • Junior Porter Rooks is no longer sitting behind Thayer Thomas on the Depth Chart. Doeren said that Rooks has had a great camp. The former 4-Star prospect has an opportunity to show that those stars meant something by his name. With that being said, he will be pushed by True Freshman Javonte “Juice” Vereen, who even has national media buzzing about him heading into the season.
  • Three True Freshman are on the Offensive Depth Chart: Left Guard Kamen Smith, IWR Kevin Concepcion and FLEXY Juice Vereen.
  • True Freshman Kamal Bonner is 2nd on the Depth Chart at the Will Linebacker spot, backing up Payton Wilson. What’s noteworthy, is that he’s ahead of former 4-Star prospect Jordan Poole in the Depth Chart. Bonner must have made a heck of a first impression.
  • As expected, ODU Graduate Transfer Robert Kennedy is starting at Nickel.
  • True Freshman Brandon Cisse is backing up Aydan White at Right Corner, and Doeren said we should expect him to contribute.
  • Redshirt Sophomore Jalen Coit will be filling in the shoes of Thayer Thomas at Punt Returner.

 

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Elliot Avent is interviewed on MLB Network about rule changes and Wolfpack Alums

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Elliot Avent gave a great interview on MLB Network.

Avent talks about the rules changes in baseball and doesn’t seem too pleaseed about them, while also breaking some news that they might be naming the hitting facility after Trea Turner and the Pitching lab after Carlos Rodon.

Give it a watch.

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NC State Basketball

Mady Traore Will No Longer Enroll at NC State

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This unfortunately seemed inevitable.

According to 247Sports’ Travis Branham, 3-Star Mady Traore is no longer planning on enrolling at NC State.

Traore was a member of the Wolfpack’s 2022 recruiting class, but wasn’t able to enroll in the Fall because of Visa issues and the English Competency Test.

Back on November 29th, I posted the following article, saying that Traore was set to join the team for the 2nd semester. Traore himself told me when I posted it, that he was expecting to join the team in December.

I received the intel 2 weeks prior to posting, and prior to things beginning to brew between NC State and Isaiah Miranda. In hindsight, I wish I would have posted it when I got the intel (haha).

4-Star Mady Traore Expected to Suit up for NC State Soon

Obviously, that didn’t happen, and isn’t happening.

When I posted the article, things were in flux, because there was one scholarship available. If Miranda came, he was going to get the scholarship, and the staff was hoping Traore would be willing to wait and enroll in April. If Miranda didn’t come, then the expectation was for Traore to join the team in December, in the way that Miranda just did.

I still believe my source’s info was solid, and there are always a lot of moving pieces in play that can change scenarios quickly.

From what I hear, the staff was genuinely hopeful they could add Miranda in December, and Traore in April, but it didn’t work out that way, and that’s the way it goes sometimes.

We wish you the best Mady! You’ve got a special future in basketball.

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NC State Football

Ben Finley After He Led NC State to a Win Over #17 UNC: BULLETED

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Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Ben Finley defied the odds and led NC State to a 30-27 win over #17 UNC yesterday. He spoke with the media after the game, and you can watch it here, or check out a BULLETED breakdown below.

  • I think he [Ryan Finley] went 2-0 here in Carter-Finley West [Kenan Stadium].
    • But just having my 1st start and being able to go out there with the guys and get the W, this is the greatest feeling ever.
    • 5 weeks ago I was the 4th-string Quarterback messing around on the Scout Team.
      • I was still getting better, and having those guys still trust me when I came back up.
      • It just means the world to have the support from the entire team. They just played so well.
      • The defense. The offensive line gave me so much time. It was like I was just camping back there. It was awesome.
  • My roommate [Matt McCabe], who starts on our artillery, which is just the PAT and field goal unit, we were like ‘dude, the 1st week against ECU, there’s no way we would have thought we both would have been starting at UNC.’ It’s unreal.
  • I was just running around trying to hug everyone. I grabbed an NC State flag and planted it on the field, as I should have.
  • The nerves go away when you take the 1st hit.
    • It helped to get that lead at 7-0.
    • Leading up to the game if you’re not nervous then something is wrong with you.
    • I was a little nervous, but it’s just football.
  • It’s his [Devin Carter] 1st week back in a while.
    • To be honest, I haven’t thrown a pass to Devin Carter in probably over a year-and-a-half.
    • It’s like that with Thayer Thomas and Darryl Jones.
    • I had never thrown a pass to Darryl until last week in Louisville.
    • It’s just kind of weird. It’s like I’m playing on an All-Star team or something. I’ve just got ballers everywhere.
  • We knew if we got this win at UNC that it would be a big old band-aid on the season. Any time you can beat your rivals, especially at their home on Senior Night, it’s just huge.
  • You can never doubt yourself.
    • To be able to persevere, that’s the biggest thing in life. Things are going to happen to you.
    • Just keep fighting and climbing up the hill. You never reach the pinnacle of the mountain.
    • You’ve just got to keep climbing and getting better. That’s what our entire team does. We’re just constantly fighting.
  • It [being on the Scout Team] definitely helped with some of the throw windows and being comfortable in the pocket.
    • It definitely doesn’t help with the speed.
      • I definitely thought the game was going to be pretty slow when I got out there last week in Louisville and this week, and it wasn’t. With the scout team you let up.
      • You don’t get tackled. I haven’t taken a hit in three years. It was just kind of getting back into that.
      • But my O-line, I don’t even look like I’ve played a game. My jersey is pristine white. Any time you can go and just camp back there and deliver the ball, it’s a privilege.
  • I wanted to graduate from NC State [didn’t consider transferring from NC State]. That’s huge.
    • I graduate in December. That’s going to be really important for me to get my degree here.
    • I never tried to get into UNC, but according to Drake [Maye] I couldn’t have. It’s good that I get a nice degree from NC State in finance and go from there.
  • I had to find my parents. I love them so much, and they’ve just been such a big part of my life.
    • They’re the best parents that anyone could ask for. They show constant support.
    • Even when I was fourth string they were coming to every single game. The last three years they haven’t missed a game. I love them so much.
    • The least I can do is go over and celebrate with them. I’m definitely going to be continuing that celebration when I get home.
  • It was Terrell Timmons [was his go-to receiver on the Scout Team], and then I got him moved up. We were just tearing up the defense. He was bumped up.
    • Then it was Jalen Coit.
    • My tight ends were ballers. We were balling. Wake Forest was fun with that slow mesh.
  • I’m glad I could do that, but it’s a team win.
    • I made some crucial mistakes that I wish I could get back that I’ll learn from.
    • It was the entire team, starting with Chris Dunn.
      Jack [Chambers] went in there and put that 1st touchdown in.
    • Our defense was making stops. It was so fun watching our defense out there.
    • This is a big-time NC State win no UNC’s Senior Day. It’s not a Ben Finley win.
  • Oh yeah [wants to be the starter at NC State next year].
    • I’ve got 3 years of eligibility to play, which is crazy that I’m going to be in college just as long as my brother and he was in college for like 20 years.
    • I want to keep playing football. I love this game. I love this team. I love this school.

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