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NC State will have their final non-conference game on Wednesday as they host Rider. Energy and focus will be front and center coming off the holiday break as State cannot overlook the Broncs before Miami. The game can be watched on ACC Sports Extra at 7 PM. What must NC State do to gain more momentum and close out non-conference play?
NC State must keep the defensive pressure cranked up…
Guards have been much more active pressuring the ball and causing turnovers in the past couple of games. Dennis Smith is averaging 2.7 SPG in his last three games and has been a catalyst for getting everyone else to play better defense. It is their defense that will determine how good of a season they will have and they need to have a clean sheet Wednesday. NC State big men have also benefited from the added pressure on the perimeter. Opposing teams have not been able to catch the ball as deep in the paint. Rider does not stand a chance if State can smother their guard play.
The Wolfpack needs to exploit mismatches as Rider lacks size…
Coach Baggett has four senior starters; however, his forward positions are only 6 feet 7 inches tall. In addition to small big men they also start a freshman guard Stevie Jordan who is only 5 feet 10 inches tall. Dennis Smith, Terry Henderson, and Torin Dorn must recognize who Jordan is guarding and use their size and athletic ability to score over him. Another area where NC State should find success is on the block. Malik Abu, BeeJay Anya, Ted Kapita, and Omer Yurtseven should be able to score over the top of the smaller Broncs as well as draw fouls.  If State takes advantage of these mismatches they will win easily.
Offensively NC State needs to continue getting everyone involved…
Since the arrival of Omer, NC State has recorded their three highest assist outputs of the season. The 25 assists versus Fairfield were the most since 2011. Shooting at a 50% clip from three has helped State rack up the assists as well. Mark Gottfried’s group has done a better job at controlling turnovers also. State has recorded more assists than turnovers in all but two games this season.  Wednesday should also give Rowan the opportunity to find his groove. Rowan should get plenty of clean looks from outside on the break. NC State’s bench has produced by scoring over 29 points in each of the last three games. With Rowan, Yurtseven, Kapita, and Johnson the Pack have options off the bench capable of producing. NC State’s depth will prove to be too much for the Broncs.
NC State has got to be ready to play as Rider will be hungry and desperate to beat an ACC foe. Rider will not stand a chance if State comes out with energy and executes their game plan. What are your thoughts on the final non-conference game?

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

19 pts and 16 assists. That’s what’s going to make Dennis a great player. Not scoring 30 ppg. I like it when he takes between 12-15 shots and looks to get his team involved. That’s when he’s at his best. Lots of guys can score points but few guys can get double digit assists.

Anthony
Anthony
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

sometime we are gonna need him to take over and score 30 tho. that versatility makes him dangerous.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Was Markell injured? Doesn’t look like he played.

mc991
mc991
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

Gottfried said Markell Johnson not playing was his decision, but he expects him to play Saturday. “Sometimes young people need to learn”. Not sure what he did, left for speculation. Grades maybe?

Anthony
Anthony
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

i all i have is second hand info.. but he needs to stop going to ohio over the break and stay in NC that’s all. Nothing serious but Gott is nipping it in the bud right now. Markell is a good kid he’ll respond well tot his and bounce back.

NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

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Awesome. Obviously.

#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette tomorrow night in the Sweet 16. What would a win mean for the Wolfpack? Many things, but here’s just a few:

It would give NC State 25 wins on the year (25-14), which would be the most wins since 1982-83, when the Wolfpack went 26-10, winning the National Championship.

It would mark the 12th time in school history that NC State has won 25+ games in a single season.

1982-83 – 26-10 

1973-74 – 30-1 

1972-73 – 27-0 

1954-55 – 28-4 

1953-54 – 26-7

1952-53 – 26-6 

1950-51 – 30-7 

1949-50 – 27-6 

1948-49 – 25-8 

1947-48 – 29-3

1946-47- 26-5

It would be the 7th time NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

1950

1951

1974

1983

1985

1986

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NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

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NC State has won 5 ACC Championships this year, which is the most of any athletic program in the conference this year.

The Wolfpack has won ACC Titles in Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics.

The last time NC State won 5 ACC Championships in one year was 1979-80.

As far as I can tell, here’s a look at the Wolfpack Conference Titles from 1979-80:

Football
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Tennis

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

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NC State is 1 of 4 schools to have their Men and Women’s Basketball teams BOTH advance to the Sweet 16, along with Duke, Gonzaga and UCONN.

NC State and Duke are the only two schools in the country to send both Basketball teams to the Sweet 16, and also send the Football team to a bowl game.

This marks only the third time in school history that BOTH teams made the Sweet 16.

Years NC State’s Men & Women’s Teams Made the Sweet 16

1985
1989
2024

Despite the fact that the Men’s team has made the Elite 8 six times (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986), and the Women have made it 2 times (1998 & 2022), in the three occasions they both went to the Sweet 16 in the same year, neither team advanced to the Elite 8.

In 2024, Why Not Us?

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NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

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#3 seed NC State held on last night, defeating #6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Reynolds Coliseum to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th time in the last 6 tournaments.

The Wolfpack led by only 1 after the 1st Quarter, but they looked like they had things under control at halftime, leading by 18 points.

At one point, NC State led by as much as 20 points in the 3rd Quarter, but the Lady Volunteers weren’t about to give up.

With 4:19 left in the 4th, Tennessee cut the lead to 2 points, but NC State might have bent, but they wouldn’t break.

Junior Guard Aziaha James led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, which were both team highs. She scored 7 points in the final 3.5 minutes, helping to squash tue Last Vols’ comeback attempt.

Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 20 points (6-14 FG) and 6 boards.

Freshman Zoe Brooks was clutch off the bench, chipping in 16 points and 6 boards.

This marks the 16th time the NC State Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack will play #2 seed Stanford on Friday night at 7:30pm on ESPN in Portland.

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