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NC State led Duke by 7 going into the half on Saturday afternoon. They were playing great defense, Cat Barber was the best player on the floor and they were 6-9 from beyond the arc. Gottfried’s group was doing everything they needed to do to down the Blue Devils.

Things changed in the second half. Duke got red hot, Barber was slowed by a leg injury and Abu got into foul trouble. This propelled Duke to a masterful second half that saw them shoot 70% from the field and end up out-rebounding NC State 31-28. Here are our takeaways from last nights loss.

– Gottfried had these guys ready. It took them a few possessions to get comfortable playing against Duke’s extended zone, but you could tell right off the bat that they knew exactly what they wanted to do. They worked hard to get the ball inside the zone to the high post and then work from there. Abu and Cody Martin both did great work from this position and it was a real reason State took their early lead. When Abu got in foul trouble and they were forced to put Freeman there, things got dicey. While Freeman is a very good player, he does not offer much when he catches the ball at the high post. This hurt the Pack and was a reason they went a bit stagnant at times in the 2nd half.

– Cat was never the same after he was kneed by Plumlee early in the 2nd half. Barber was masterful in this game. He was quick enough to get away from the double teams and was knocking down nearly every shot he took in the first half, but after that small injury Cat didn’t score another point all game. That was a huge blow and was another reason for State’s second half demise.

– Defense has got to be better. Grayson Allen had 28 points and Brandon Ingram scored 25. Those two guys killed the Pack. Allen is a true talent and can score from anywhere on the court, but he’s best when going to the rim. One major problem was penetration. The Wolfpack could not keep their guys in front of them and it caused all kinds of havoc. When Allen and Kennard starting putting pressure on the D by driving, there was no one who stepped up. Now, they are good, quick guards with good body control, but they are by no means too quick to stay in front of. State desperately needs to figure out how to play in games like this with Mav Rowan. He hit some big shots early, but his defense really puts pressure on the rest of the team. Too often his man is getting by him and causing the dense to help and shift, and usually giving up an open shot. This was huge in the second half and something Gottfried needs to find a fix for. But it wasn’t just Rowan. Even Cody Martin was having trouble checking his man. You know that they want to contest shots, but they need to do so under control. This team is notorious for closing-out out of control and allowing a pump fake to take them out of position.

Then there was Brandon Ingram. NC State worked real hard in getting the Kinston native to Raleigh, but in the end Coach K landed him and man was he good. Ingram is such a tough matchup. He is tall, nimble and has great touch. He can shoot and score from just about anywhere on the court. He was obviously going to be a problem for the Wolfpack, but we didn’t think he would be this much of one. The thing with Ingram is that while he is a mismatch on offense, you can punish him in the post on D. But Duke didn’t let that happen. They were in a lot of zone and when they weren’t they always had Ingram on someone who couldn’t hurt him as bad offensively. These small things are the reason Coach K is the best coach in the history of college basketball and a major reason Duke won this game.

– Rebounding wasn’t great. State had a big advantage on the boards coming in, but it was the Blue Devils who won the battle. Abu only had 5 and Anya with just 4. Those numbers need to be better. In fact, NC State needs to light a fire under Beejay Anya. I’m not sure what’s up with him, but he looks lost out there a lot of the time. He is too talented to be just a body on the floor. He only had one block, 4 boards and 4 points in 19 minutes. Every single one of those numbers are too low. It seems like a confidence problem right now, but if State wants to be a major factor in the second half of the ACC season, Anya needs stop playing soft and get to work.

– Overall, Wolfpack fans should be proud. Duke may had lost 3 in a row coming into this game, but they are probably one of the most talented offensive teams in the country. State’s offense and defense looked great in the first half, and it looked great against Pitt and UNC. This team is trending up. They just need to keep grinding. Keep staying the course, and start getting a little more from a few guys. If that happens then you’ll see this team finish out the season strong.

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NC State Basketball

It’s Official. NC State Men’s Basketball will be Playing in the Lenovo Center

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2 days ago

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September 12, 2024

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On Monday, the “PNC Arena” sign came off the building where NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes play, with their naming rights contract ending on August 31st. Speculation swirled around the possibility of the building becoming the Lenovo Center, because a leaked image from NHL 25 had the Canes playing on the ice of the Lenovo Center.

There is no need for speculation any longer. It’s official. The Carolina Hurricanes announced this morning that the home of the Wolfpack and Canes is officially the Lenovo Center, beginning this month. Lenovo’s naming rights contract runs through the 2033-34 NHL season.

“Lenovo has been a valued partner of ours for many years,” said Fork. “We’re thrilled to elevate that partnership now by renaming the arena Lenovo Center. Lenovo has both strong local ties and a worldwide footprint, and we’re proud to have the Hurricanes’ name associated with a true leader in global technology. As we transition to this new era, we are grateful for our longtime naming rights collaborator, PNC, who will continue to be a major partner of our organization.”

“This is an exciting day for Raleigh, Wake County, and the whole state of North Carolina,” said Philip Isley, Chairman of the Centennial Authority. “This partnership is about more than just re-naming the arena. Lenovo will play a vital role integrating technology into our upcoming arena renovations and enhancements. Lenovo has deep roots in North Carolina, and we’re thrilled that they are strengthening those roots with this naming rights agreement.”

“Lenovo has called North Carolina our home for nearly two decades. Like the Hurricanes, we take great pride in being a part of the Triangle community and we’re excited to expand our partnership with a world-class sports organization,” said Ryan McCurdy, Senior Vice President and President, Lenovo North America. “The arena is one of the most recognizable venues in the state and the newly named Lenovo Center will continue to be the premier destination for people to enjoy sporting events, concerts, and more.”

Lenovo is a Fortune Global 500 technology company with deep ties to North Carolina since 2005. One of the company’s two global headquarters is located in Morrisville, North Carolina. Lenovo is one of the largest employers in the Triangle region, with an estimated $1.5 billion economic and fiscal impact in North Carolina each year. Lenovo also supports the local community through philanthropic giving, employee volunteering, and community engagement initiatives.

(Link)

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-2034 = Lenovo Center

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NC State Basketball

A “First Look” at the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District has been Unveiled

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2 days ago

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September 11, 2024

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Pacific Elm Properties and Gale Force Sports and Entertainment unveiled today a “first look” of the forthcoming Raleigh Sports & Sports Entertainment District that will neighbor Carter-Finley Stadium and the building formerly known as PNC Arena.

The redevelopment of the 80-acre site, located just off I-40 and adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, will provide new opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment throughout the year, and will feature a unique outdoor realm for sports tailgating and programming. Tenants and outdoor spaces will be curated to serve fans of the Hurricanes and NC State alike, offering new ways to gather before sporting events while honoring the classic tailgating experiences that people have grown to love.

Phase one of the development will include more than 200,000 square feet of entertainment and lifestyle retail, 150,000 square feet of office space, a 150-key hotel and more than 500 apartments. Additional phases will expand this variety of uses over the expected 15-year development timeline.

The first phase, which is slated to kick off in December 2025, will include an expanded plaza to complement the upcoming arena renovation and will feature a 600-foot promenade lined with tailgating suites, balconies and new open space for thousands of fans to gather, blending time-honored traditions with state-of-the-art innovation.

The new tailgating experience will be directly adjacent to a 4,300-seat music venue operated by Live Nation and part of a larger five-acre tailgating space, including the plaza between Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena, which will also receive improvements. Enhanced tailgating and pre- and post-game entertainment options range from well-appointed luxury suites to roomy balconies and community spaces, new food and beverage offerings, a promenade and stage for live entertainment, and elevated amenities like convenient restrooms and additional quick and easy parking. Construction of the first phase also includes two parking garages that line either side of the tailgating experience, which is projected to be completed in time for the 2027 Wolfpack football season.

(Link)

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NC State Basketball

Is the PNC Arena About to Become the Lenovo Center?

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4 days ago

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September 9, 2024

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Ever since 2012, PNC Arena has been the home of NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes. Today, the sign “PNC Arena” came off of the building.

PNC Bank’s naming rights contract ran out on August 31st.

The Hurricanes announced today that they had reached an agreement for PNC Bank to be the sponsor of the arena’s club and club-level seating.

Could the home of NC State Men’s Basketball be called the Lenovo Center Next?

In a leak from the video game NHL 25, the following image has Lenovo Center written on the ice of the Hurricane’s home arena.

Image

Obviously it hasn’t been confirmed that Lenovo will be the next official sponsor of the arena, but the leaked image from the game  does seem oddly coincidental.

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-TBD = Lenovo Center?

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball To Play in the Jimmy V Classic for the 5th Time

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3 weeks ago

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August 24, 2024

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NC State’s Women’s Basketball team will be playing in the 2024 Jimmy V Classic on December 15th at Louisville at 1pm on ABC.

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Because the game will be against the Cardinals, it will serve as the Wolfpack’s ACC opener.

Here’s a look at the other matchups in the Women’s Jimmy V Classic.

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This marks the 5th time that the NC State Women’s Basketball team has played in the Jimmy V Classic: UConn (2002), Texas (2003), Tennessee (2004), South Carolina (2020).

The Wolfpack are 8-8 all-time against Louisville, but are currently on a 5-game winnings streak against the Cardinals.

ESPN ranks NC State 8th in their Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25, and they rank Louisville 12th. The Wolfpack finished 4th in the AP Poll last season, and the Cardinals finished 30th.

 

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