What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.
What was the most memorable moment for you?
I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.
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Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.
TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.
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Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.
NC State has 3 scholarships available now.
Best of luck Ernest!
The only problem is who do you bring in to replace Gottfried. State has shown in coaching searches we are not a top destination for the upper esalon of coaches.
I realize that coaches can not go out on the court and play the game, but they are responsible for the personality, attitude, and effort of a team. It is okay to lose when giving your all but inexcusable when you go out and represent your school in the manner that our players so often do. Williams and Coach K would have lost their minds and sat every player. We need a coach to motivate
“They cannot do anything about that performance but they can make sure it never happens again.” Here’s my problem, they already did and it was against Miami. Fool me once as the saying goes. They’ve got me worried at this point.
As I’ve mentioned before I was done before last season. We don’t need to see 2 more years of this crap to know what we have. This is the most talented and deepest roster maybe ever in Raleigh but if the coach can’t get them to play hard at minimum then what else needs to be said? I’ll return when we have a new coach. Until then best wishes to all Wolfpack fans.
A friend of mine and fellow Alumnus who happens to be a lot more forgiving than me was using this season to make the final call on our beleaguered coach. I’m pretty sure I know which way he’s leaning.
This is a defining moment. State can either get back up and learn or stay down. This team has to mature quick since a third of the team will be gone next year and this is the first time state has had depth in a good while. I’ve been a state fan since I was 13 when Herb Sendek was the coach, and even then there was inconsistency. Someone needs to step up and change the culture and fast.
Who’s leaving? Only Anya is a senior and maybe Henderson. The rest need to stay and learn how to play as a team because none are that talented to consider the NBA yet. It only looks like we have depth. Most are first year players that don’t play hard or together. However, the real problem is the coaching. No ability to develop players especially the bigs. Sorry to hear Wolfer96 is out.
That was a fairly accurate breakdown. As mentioned the lack of effort is a real concern. But lacking discipline is nothing new for a Gott coached team. I saw guys walking back on defense when unc was pushing the ball in transition. Standing around after a score and giving up wide open shots. At some point these guys have to show a little pride.
This is type of game that players and coaching staff should come out and apologize to WPN. Except for one or two players, They should know it was embarrassing to wear Wolfpack jersey. 27% FT, 26 TOs, 51 margin loss is inexcusable. Team was out-coached, out-hustled, out-everything. This is recurring theme for Gottfried and co. Will Gott’s true team only come in March? WPN have to swallow poops til?