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With the 2015-16 just about to kick off, NC State still has a lot of unanswered questions. The questions aren’t necessarily about the talent, this team is stacked with raw talent. The questions are about roles. Some players are taking on new roles, others are growing into larger versions of the roles they had last year.

Two players that we’re going to be keeping a close eye on in the opener are Cody and Caleb Martin. The twins were always looked at as prototypical Gottfried guys. They’re big, athletic, have great motors and can play multiple positions. Last year however, both had trouble finding their long term niche. They earned their minutes by hustling, staying in the passing lanes and getting tons of deflections on defense, but they both had trouble finding a true position.

Their main problem was their offensive consistency. They both showed glimpses at times, but like any freshman they could be unreliable shooting from 3 or finishing through contact. This year, that should change.

A year in the ACC has the Martin’s ready. Caleb is looking at a starting role and will be relied upon for his ability to attack the rim off the bounce as well as becoming more accurate from the perimeter. Cody is more of an interesting case. With the Pack’s talented but thin front court, he’ll be asked to fill in at the 4 at times. Cody will also be asked to fill in, at times, for Cat Barber at the point. On paper this may not make sense, but it’s a Gottfried experiment that could very way pay dividends.

One of NC State’s biggest questions is ‘Who steps in for Barber when he’s gassed, in foul trouble, or (God forbid) injured?’ A year ago, the answer of Cody Martin may haven’t made much sense. But with his size, speed, handles, and an offseason of training, it might just be genius. Cody has already shown that he can guard other point guards on defense, so if he can take care of the basketball, he could create massive mismatches and carve out quite an unsuspecting role for himself.

We’ll be watching close tonight.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
8 years ago

Going to be a long long season.  I knew this team would suck and it shows unless W&M is a top ten team, Not.

NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta is entering the Transfer Portal.

Peneueta transferred to NC State last offseason from Sacramento State, where she averaged 8.4 points, shooting 45.5% from three.

In her one year at NC State, Peneueta only played 8 games for the Wolfpack, battling injuries throughout the year. Peneueta has 1 year of eligibility.

With Peneueta entering the Portal, NC State now has 3 scholarships available heading into the 2024-25 season.

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NC State Basketball

Boston Center Caitlin Weimar is on an Official Visit to NC State

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Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.

Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.

This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.

With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.

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NC State Basketball

What did an ACC Title & Final Four Mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren?

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What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.

What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?

I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.

What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?

I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.

As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?

As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.

What was the most memorable moment for you?

I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.

How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?

I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.

_______

Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.

TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Ernest Ross Enters the Transfer Portal

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NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.

 

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Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.

Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.

Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.

NC State has 3 scholarships available now.

Best of luck Ernest!

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