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We continue our Monthly Previews of the upcoming Men’s Basketball season today with the month of February.  February could be considered the roughest month in the college basketball season, as it is the 3/4 point in the season.  There is still a month until the NCAA and it’s the worst part of the winter season.  However, a team must survive the month and NC State has some tough road tests in Febuary.

The schedule (7 games/3 @ home): 

  • Florida State 2/1/16 9 PM
  • Duke 2/6/16 2 or 7PM
  • Wake Forest 2/13/16 12 PM @ PNC
  • UVA 2/15/16 7 PM
  • Clemson 2/20/16 3 PM @ PNC
  • UNC 2/24/16 8PM @ PNC
  • Syracuse 2/27/16 2 PM

What to watch for: 

The Wolfpack must be prepared to hit the road, as they will play at some of the toughest venues in all of college basketball, traveling to FSU, Duke, UVA, and Syracuse.  Florida State may not be on many peoples list as a tough place to play, but the Pack have struggled to escape FSU with a win in recent years.  Leonard Hamilton touts the #14 incoming recruiting class that should mesh well with his returners, including standout Xavier Raythan-Mayes. 3straight 3-0

After FSU, the Pack must take the short ride up I-40 to Cameron Indoor, as they will look for their first win in Cameron with Coach K on the sideline since 1988.  The Pack won there in 1995, but assistant coach Pete Gaudet was filling in for K, who was battling back issues.

Febuary offers NC State a great opportunity to score some solid road wins against teams that should be highly ranked. Road wins are critical in the NCAA selection committees eyes, the schedule sets up nicely for the Wolfpack to win some of these games, having 5 days to prepare for Duke.  Then the Pack should have an easy matchup with Wake Forest prior traveling to UVA.

Most intriguing: 

Can the Pack get the elusive win in Cameron Indoor?  In my opinion this is the most intriguing matchup in Febuary. Nothing is better than breaking a futile streak, especially versus one of your rivals.  The Wolfpack have been stepping out of the shadow of both Duke and UNC since Gottfried arrived and nothing moves this process along like a good road win in enemy territory.  Last season State won in Chapel Hill and in Louisville, so the next step is to win at Duke.

It will take a monumental effort and focus to win at Duke.  There is no other venue in college that tests a team more mentally and physically as Cameron Indoor.  However, I think the Wolfpack could have the makeup to do this.  Circle Febuary 6th on the calendar.

Summary: 

February will be a tough month for NC State, as they will face teams in the ACC on the road that should all be in the Top 25.  Three of those road opponents boast some of the best coaches in the business, as Gottfried will square off against Coach K, Tony Bennett, and Jim Boehiem.  Such is life in the ACC.  The Pack must find a way finsh .500 in the four road games they face in the month of Febuary if they want to have a bye in the ACC tournament.  February will be a great test mentally and physically for the Pack and will be a great preparation for March Madness.

 

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NC State Basketball

Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James is Currently Visiting NC State

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6 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) is on a visit to NC State currently, according to a source.

Indiana State Transfer Ryan Conwell was on campus last week, but he just committed to Xavier.

From what I hear, the staff preferred James over Connell anyway. A plus with James is he has 2 years of eligibility, whereas Conwell has 1.

News broke about James entering the Transfer Portal back on March 25th, and NC State was quick to reach out. Kevin Keatts and his staff recruited the former 4-star prospect out of high school heavily, but he ultimately chose the Cardinals.

Rivals ranked James as the #71 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, and ESPN ranked him as the #7 prospect in the state of Florida.

After redshirting his first year in Louisville due to torn achilles, James has been a starter for the Cardinals the past two years. This year, he averaged 12.6 points and 5 rebounds.

For a more extensive look at James’ game, click here.

Rivals ranks James as the #77 overall player in the Transfer Portal.

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NC State Basketball

Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James is a Priority for NC State

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10 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) is a priority for NC State, according to a source.

News broke about James entering the Transfer Portal back on March 25th, and NC State was quick to reach out. Kevin Keatts and his staff recruited the former 4-star prospect out of high school heavily, but he ultimately chose the Cardinals.

After redshirting his first year in Louisville due to torn achilles, James has been a starter for the Cardinals the past two years.

This past year, James averaged 12.6 points per game (3rd on the team) and 5 rebounds. He’s extremely physical and aggressive, taking 47% of his field goal attempts at the rim (making 46%). As a result, he draws a lot of fouls, ranking 10th in the ACC in Fouls Drawn, and 4th in Free Throw Rate. James made opponents pay this year when they put him on the line, making 81.8% from the charity stripe, which ranked 15th in the ACC.

James shot the ball better as a Redshirt Freshman, than he did this past season. His Effective Field Goal Percentage in 2022-23 was 55.8%, which ranked 19th in the ACC, and his True Shooting Percentage of 59.6% ranked 14th.

He does have the ability to knock down a three, making 34.8% for his career.

NC State already hosted Indiana State Transfer Guard Ryan Conwell last week, and while the Wolfpack coaches like both players, from what I’m hearing, James would be their preference.

NC State hasn’t had James in for a visit, but that could happen soon.

James has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Casey Morsell is the 4th Player in NCAA History to Start 41 Games in a Season

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15 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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NC State Guard Casey Morsell started 41 games for the Wolfpack this season, becoming the 4th player in NCAA history to do so.

 

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A post shared by NC State Basketball (@packmensbball)

Prior to this season, the record for most games started in a single season in NC State history was 37, with three Wolfpack players doing so: Lorenzo Brown, Richard Howell, CJ Williams.

Morsell now sits atop the list, and a fellow teammate, DJ Burns ranks second, with 40 games started this season.

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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Georgetown Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/212) has committed to NC State!

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #104 overall player in the Portal.

With his final year of eligibility, Styles’ made the right choice this time.

NC State now has 2 scholarships remaining after Styles’ commitment.

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