NC State vs Mcneese St.
7pm | PNC Arena | ACC Network Extra (ESPN3)

Tonight NC State faces off against McNeese St. in what is their second to last non-conference tune-up before the ACC season starts. So what are the keys to the game for NC State?

1. Attack the rim…

NC State needs to move the ball side to side and attack the rim with purpose, by getting the ball inside they will be able to overmatch the Cowboys. Malik Abu and Omer Yurtseven will have a tremendous advantage on the interior as McNeese State will not be able to match up with their size and skill. Dennis Smith and company need to exploit this advantage early by getting the ball inside. NC State had great success aginst Fairfield by running their offense inside out which yielded a high shooting percentage from three.

2. NC State needs to leverage their size advantage on defense…

The Cowboys lack size, NC State needs to use their size and athletic guards to smother and force them into contested shots and turnovers. By creating turnovers and poor shots the Wolfpack should be able to score quickly in the open court. Jamaya Burr’s quickness allows him to penetrate; however, NC State’s guards must take the challenge to prevent this. Burr will test Dennis Smith’s discipline on defense because he will have to be in a stance to keep him from driving. The Pack should be able to notch another stress-free win as they use their size to overwhelm the Cowboys.

3. Dennis Smith needs to continue getting everyone else involved…

Dennis Smith is the only NC State player to score in double figures every game this season; however, he must keep getting others involved. In his last two games he is averaging 19.5 PPG, 7.5 APG, and shooting 61% from the field. The addition of Omer Yurtseven has helped Smith because he creates space and does the little things off the ball. Recently, Smith has been efficient since he has been crisp in calling his own number or deferring to his teammates. By allowing Henderson, Abu, and Dorn to get going early, Smith has had cleaner looks as the game progresses. Experience will help Smith find the right balance of scoring and distributing.

4. Be decisive and continue to play…

By not hesitating NC State has started to gain some continuity on offense that has led to some efficient scoring. Terry Henderson must build upon his last game as he was surgical in his offensive moves aginst Fairfield. Gottfried had to like Henderson attempting 6 free throws in addition to hitting threes. NC State’s big men made quick decisions in the post and tallied 9 dimes on the day. McNeese State will not stand a chance of winning especially if State continues to react in their offensive sets.