ESPN recently released an article that ranks the ACC venues from least toughest place to win to the toughest. NC State was ranked 9th out of the 15 teams in the ACC. Here is what they had to say about NC State and the PNC…

9. NC State Wolfpack: PNC Arena, opened in 1999
Reynolds Coliseum, the old on-campus home of the Pack, was a much tougher place to play with the noise level and proximity of fans surrounding the floor. When NC State moved to PNC, capacity went up by 7,000 seats and the Wolfpack lost a bit of their edge. It did not stop Wolfpack fans from losing their sharp tongues. State fans have a dubious honor around the league for being the most vulgar.

Fun fact: Stephen Curry held the record for most points scored in the building with 40 against Gonzaga in the 2008 NCAA tournament until State’s T.J. Warren went for 42 against Boston College on March 9, 2014. ESPN

I am not sure I agree with NC State being ranked 9th, but I agree that the Pack lost some edge with an off-campus arena, and the fact that it is hard to fill it for a weeknight non-ACC opponent.  I have always wished that they could find a way to close off the top level for the non-conference games during the week, I know this is almost impossible with season ticket sales, but it would be nice to not see a single empty seat in the lower bowl.

Hopefully this seasons’s product will be worth the price of admission, and bring more fans out to see the action. Dennis Smith Jr. should be one of the more exciting players in the NCAA, if State can find a way to accept their roles, and defend they should have a chance at something special.

Where would you rank the Pack and the PNC? What about the rest of the ranking?