NC State Schedule Breakdown: Febuary

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.