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NC State looks to revenge their first ACC loss as Miami travels to Raleigh this Saturday to face the Wolfpack. Game time is at 3 o’clock with coverage on The ACC Network. What must NC State do to beat the Hurricanes?

The Wolfpack need to build upon their last game offensively.

NC State had a solid game offensively as Dennis Smith posted a triple-double and Maverick Rowan scored a career-high 31 points. The Wolfpack shot 51.5% from the field as well as 43.8% from three. Smith tallied 15 assists masterfully distributing the ball to the open man. Not only did Smith dish the ball out well but he did it under control by registering just two turnovers. Malik Abu played well running the court hard and finding openings underneath.

Miami will look to cut off Smith when he drives the basketball which is why NC State must move off-ball. Dennis will need to be prepared to get rid of the ball quickly instead of dribbling the air out of the basketball. Miami will sell out to stop his penetration meaning that other players will be open to attack the Hurricanes disadvantaged side. The Wolfpack must be active as well as ready to make quick decisions before Miami can recover. Ball movement can go a longs ways to solving Miami’s defense.

Defensively NC State has to take a stand aginst Miami.

A reoccurring theme is NC State’s defensive efforts. The Pack has not been able to get stops this season. Defending the pick and roll has been a thorn in the Pack’s side. Dennis Smith needs to be consistent in his approach to defending the pick and roll by not switching as often( in depth ). Too often teams get mismatches because the Wolfpack switch on pick and rolls leaving a big man on a guard or vice versa. Dennis can minimize this by fighting through screens on defense to stay with his man. Miami will put Newton in pick and rolls as he excels at turning the corner to get to the basket. The Pack must find a way to protect the paint off the pick and roll if they are going to beat Miami.

The Wolfpack must be willing to adjust.

In NC State’s last two games they have allowed a player to get going early. Aginst Louisville Donovan Mitchell scored early and often on his way to 28 points. Syracuse’s John Gillion got comfortable early building his confidence as he tallied 43 points on 13 shots (14-14 FT). Players have to listen to the staff because I know they were preaching to not go under screens after Gillion hit a couple of threes. Miami has players capable of scoring in bunches, NC State must take it upon themselves to stop them before things snowball.

NC State sits at 3-7 in the ACC and 14-9 overall heading into Saturday’s matchup. The Pack have had nice moments this season, but have not been able to put it all together. Results have not matched up to the perceived talent the Wolfpack possesses. Miami offers an opportunity for NC State to execute offensively aginst a tough defensive team that got the better of them earlier in the season. NC State will be tested individually as the Hurricanes have talent throughout their lineup. The question remains can NC State forget the past and gel together to play on both ends of the court? Game time is at 3 o’clock with coverage on The ACC Network.

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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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