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NC State @ Miami 
4:30pm | Miami, Fl | TV: RSN
NC State travels down to the sunshine state to take on the Miami Hurricanes to kick off the ACC season. Mark Gottfried will need his group of young players to up their play to escape Miami with a victory. Game time is at 4:30 and can be seen on RSN. What are the keys to the game for the Wolfpack?

NC State must be patient offensively in order to solve Miami’s sound defense…

The Hurricanes sport one of the stoutest defenses in the country as they are ranked 8th nationally, giving up 58.6 PPG. NC State will have to display discipline when attacking the basket. Miami has plenty of size in both the backcourt and frontcourt which allows them to alter teams shots. NC State will need to seek out contact when attacking the paint and not worry about getting blocked. Malik Abu and Omer Yurtseven should be able to outplay Miami’s frontcourt if they are patient instead of rushing shots. Wolfpack guards will need to be strong and challenge Miami defenders off the dribble with penetration. If Dennis Smith and company can get into the paint Miami will be in full scramble mode, which will lead to easy buckets. NC State cannot settle for contested jump shots.

Turn Ja’Quan Newton into a passer…

Newton can score in a variety of ways, including off the dribble, pull-up jumpers, and floaters. Three-point shooting has not been a strength for Newton. Thus far Newton is only shooting 33% from the arc; however, he has only attempted 18 on the season. NC State must take advantage of this knowledge! Dennis Smith and Terry Henderson must stay on their feet and not bite on shot fakes from the perimeter when matched up with Newton. Ja’Quan wants to attack the paint where he is most effective. Newton has struggled with turnovers he has registered 39 in 12 games. It will take a team defensive effort to force Newton into passing versus scoring. NC State has to like their chances if they limit Newton’s shot attempts forcing the ball out of his hands.

NC State needs to keep playing unselfishly and for each other…

The Pack is averaging 22 APG over the last four games. Dennis Smith has spearheaded the attack for NC State leading the charge in assists. The Hurricanes have one of the best defenses in the country but even the best defenses break down after a couple of rotations. NC State needs to keep playing with movement and not revert to hero ball this Saturday. Keeping the ball moving will go a long way towards winning this Saturday.

Timing will be critical for NC State…

Mark Gottfried’s team cannot afford to be lackadaisical in running their offense. Dennis Smith needs to take control by getting into their sets quickly. Miami’s defense is too good to allow them the extra defender known as the shot clock. It will be imperative that the Pack cuts hard off the ball to get open to initiate the offense near the three-point line. Malik Abu must work with his feet and not his hands to avoid senselessly offensive fouls. NC State will win if they run their sets efficiently and in the optimal range (not so far away from the three-point line).

Saturday will be exciting for NC State as they kick off their ACC season on New Year’s Eve. It will also be refreshing to play a talented team with a shot to make the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack has a chance to end 2016 with a road ACC win!

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

Too many new guys trying to form a team using a Coach that can’t coach during the game. No defense, no rebounding, not tough. Take that seven footer to Harlem and get his a$$ beat several times and make him tough. Playing like a p___y at seven foot is ridiculous. During the part of the game I watch, Smith acts like he is God’s gift to NCSU basketball. Set the rotation, and stick with it.

RIZ DOLLA
RIZ DOLLA
7 years ago

Once again Mav should be 7-8th off the bench.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

This is why I’ve been saying “wait until the Miami game”. There was no way to get a good measure of this Wolfpack squad against inferior teams. Miami showed that this team needs a lot of improvement. People blamed not having this guy or that guy early in the season and I saw poor perimeter and transition D, poor shot selection, bad habits, and lack of toughness. Lots of work to do.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

About what I expected. Out-coached, out-hustled, out-played. Turnovers and rebounding alone made it tough to stay in this game. This team developed bad habits while playing bad teams and it bit them on the ass against a well coached team. Coach Larranaga is probably one of the most underrated coaches in the country.

RIZ DOLLA
RIZ DOLLA
7 years ago

Coaching is not just about plays you have to get your guys. Kapita should have been in the game a long time go not when its 4 minutes and we are down by double digits. Smith, Doren, Mav (shouldve been Henderson), Y7, and kapita was when we did the best. I must say Abu played pretty good.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  RIZ DOLLA

Yeah surprisingly Abu has shown up the last few games. It’s like a lightbulb went off in his head and he realized that he was 6’8″ and had a 40″+ vertical. He’s been going at the rim and not settling for a bunch of jumpers.

Kapita’s toughness was definitely missed.

RIZ DOLLA
RIZ DOLLA
7 years ago
Reply to  RIZ DOLLA

Coaching is not just about plays you have to get your guys energized and ready to play from the tip. Miami made us look soft. That is what the first line was suppose to say. Blame it on the early start to the new year. lol #getemrightgott

RIZ DOLLA
RIZ DOLLA
7 years ago

Mav Rowan doesn’t need to come in so early 1 or 2 3s doesn’t make up for the lack of defense and turnovers.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  RIZ DOLLA

And some of those cringe worthy shots off the dribble. I’d prefer he take it all the way to the hoop and at least try to get a foul.

RIZ DOLLA
RIZ DOLLA
7 years ago

Gott Gott to go!! he doesn’t know how to use what he Gott (has), coach defense or make players better. Point blank. he has had good players to get to where he is but that get exposed. Just like I said in the beginning of the season we dont come out with energy and team jump on us and have control. #Gott-Gott-todobetter-buthecant. Do you see the word play on Gott?

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago
Reply to  RIZ DOLLA

I agree. But then I have been called a Troll for not drinking the Kool-Aid. Fire Gottfried.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

NIT here we come.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Blue bloods both go down today. Wolfpack better come ready or it will be an ugly game. Miami is not Ryder or Fairfield. Hope these kids are ready for a battle.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

Ugly is my conclusion. Not ready for prime time. Loss by blue bloods just makes it tougher for Pack.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

We blew a big opportunity to get a head start on our neighbors.

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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