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For the fourth year in a row, NC State is losing their leading scorer to early entry. This time it’s Cat Barber and this time it’s not all that unexpected.

Barber was a junior who led the Pack in scoring at 23.5 ppg and was one of the nation’s most feared offensive players. While some wondered if he might stay for his senior campaign, most realistically understood that this was easily Cat’s best case scenario. On an NC State team that really didn’t have many scoring options, Barber was able to lead, handle the ball and be the top scorer. He will likely go late in the first round, or slip into the second.

So, what does this mean for the Wolfpack? Well, they again lose their leading scorer, but they do have some serious talent that spent this season on the bench. After Warren left, you had Lacey, and when he left they could lean on Barber. Who will they turn to next season?

Well, I think you will see a big shift for the Wolfpack. Instead of a team dominated by one scorer, they will be a team that really will be able to attack from multiple positions.

With incoming freshman Dennis Smith Jr at the point, you’ll have a whole different feel for the offense. This kid is a bonafide point guard. While he can score, he’s not really a shoot first type of guard. Smith is a creator. He’s someone who wants his teammates involved and is a vocal leader on the floor. His presence and style alone will go a long ways to making NC State a contender in the ACC. Alongside Smith you will have Torin Dorn. The Charlotte transfer will give the Pack a real versatile piece. He’s a slasher who is very strong and very talented north to south. He invites contact and plays with tenacity that was lacking this past year.

You also have Terry Henderson. We recently got to see Henderson in action over the past week and were impressed. He’s moving well, playing near 100% and really shooting it with confidence. He’ll give Gottfried another good, but not elite scoring option.

This trio should be able to step in make up for the loss of Cat Barber. While Cat was a great player, an elite scorer and really did it all for this year’s team, he also wasn’t surrounded by the right talent. Frankly, this year’s team was tough to watch. Not because they weren’t talented, but because they never gelled. I think that will be different next year. When you have a scoring point guard, you lose a lot of the team element. Cat was by no means a selfish player, but when your leading scorer dominates touches and also is looked to as the lead distributor, you have what plays out as a conflict of interest. It usually doesn’t, and in this case didn’t, create animosity, but it isn’t the most fertile grounds to grow team chemistry.

Gottfried is going to be forced to rely on a new group of players and if they are going to be successful they are going to have to rely on each other.

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NC State Basketball

Snag 5 New ACCT Inspired NC State Shirts Today!

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Our friends over at BreakingT have released 5 new ACC Tournament Inspired NC State Shirts, and they can become yours today!

Click here today to check out these shirts, and many others!

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 11 Schools with Men’s & Women’s Teams in the NCAAT, & a Football Team in a Bowl Game

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NC State is 1 of 11 schools to have both their Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams earn spots in the NCAA Tournament, while also having a Division-I Football team that played a game in the postseason.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team is a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the Men are an #11 seed. The Football team lost to Kansas St. 19-28 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Here’s a look at the other the 11 schools who have pulled off the trifecta.

NC State
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Kansas
Alabama
Arizona
Auburn
Duke
Iowa St.
UNC

NC State is the only school in the nation, to have both their Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams play in their Conference’s Championship game.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s DJ Burns Joins the 2,000 Point Club

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This past Saturday was a good night for NC State’s DJ Burns. He led NC State to their 1st ACC Championship since 1987. He earned the ACC Tournament MVP Award. He also joined the 2,000 point club.

With 11:52 left in the 2nd half, Burns fittingly made a hook shot that added up to his 1,999th point and his 2,000th point.

Burns joined DJ Horne, who joined the 2,000 point club earlier in the ACC Tournament in the Wolfpack’s victory over Duke.

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NC State Basketball

NC State is Right Outside of the AP Top-25 Heading into the NCAA Tournament

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The new Men’s College Basketball AP Poll is out, and NC State is right outside of the Top-25, sitting at 29th heading into the 1st round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack will be playing Texas Tech in the 1st round on Thursday night at 9:40, and the Red Raiders moved up 3 spots in this poll to #22.

ACC Teams in the AP Poll

5. UNC
13. Duke
29. NC State
39. Clemson

It is interesting that NC State is the 3rd highest ranked team in the AP Poll, but are the lowest seed of any ACC team in the NCAA Tournament.

With a good showing in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack could find themselves in the Final AP Top-25 for the first time since 2003-04, when they finished 15th. NC State has been ranked in the Final AP Top-25 seventeen times.

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