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NC State has had a rough season, to say the least. They have lost five in a row looking lost most of the time. The Pack must find a way to get over themselves as they host UNC this Wednesday night. What are the keys to the game for the Wolfpack to atone for their earlier encounter with the Tarheels?

The Pack must be physical with Carolina.

The Tarheels are among the best in the country at rebounding the basketball. They fight hard on both ends of the court to secure rebounds. Their ability to attack the offensive glass helps them secure extra possessions as well as easy baskets. The Wolfpack need a complete team effort to limit Carolina on the glass. That means being physical in boxing out with each player putting a body on their man each time the ball goes up. Malik Abu and Omer Yurtseven will need to make contact with UNC big men by moving them out of the way using their legs instead of their arms. The Pack will need to be tough if they are going to upset Carolina. They cannot back down if they do it will be another lopsided result.

Be the aggressors on offense.

Offensively NC State needs to handle Carolina’s pressure on the perimeter with poise and aggression. Dennis Smith, Terry Henderson, and Maverick Rowan cannot turn their back once they catch the ball. Instead, they need to be strong ripping the ball through and facing the basket so they can be a threat to shoot, dribble, or pass. Joel Berry took Dennis Smith out of the game last time these teams met by forcing him to initiate the offense too far out on the court. Smith needs to be aggressive attacking the paint taking the ball at Berry, not settling for quick jump shots. NC State will need to be patient staying within themselves moving the ball and turning down contested jump shots. In the first meeting, things snowballed for the Pack which led to quick irrational shots that put them further behind, that cannot happen again.

Don’t beat yourself.

NC State cannot give UNC any extra advantages by turning the ball over or not hustling. The first meeting NC State turned the ball over a whopping 26 times (yielding 39 points for UNC) and were out-rebounded 50-36 (22-second chance points). The Wolfpack must use ball fakes and move for one another to help each other when one gets in trouble. The Pack cannot give UNC extra possessions Wednesday if they are going to have any chance of winning. Carolina is too good in transition to be gift wrapped that many turnovers. NC State needs to secure defensive rebounds because UNC is too good at capitalizing on second chances. The Wolfpack will need to be near perfect to knock off UNC on Wednesday night.

Optimism is not a word that has been thrown around in regards to NC State basketball in recent weeks. In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Pack has a chance to end that streak with a win over UNC. In a season of little triumphs, Wednesday offers an opportunity for NC State to have a bright spot. An opportunity for a fanbase to enjoy a little relief. Can NC State band together and beat their rivals this Wednesday? Game time is at 8 o’clock at the PNC Arena with coverage on The ACC Network.

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Tarhater
Tarhater
7 years ago

General Custer, if we can just stop the first couple of attacks we will be just fine. Ice stands a better chance of staying frozen in the dessert than this team beating UNC. At least Les’ teams played with some pride. This season can’t end fast enough. Most gutless team I have ever seen wear an NC State uniform.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  Tarhater

The high desert gets snow in the winter 🙂

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

Fans need to show respect for NCState and stay home on Wednesday.

SatchPack85
SatchPack85
7 years ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

How is that respect? No fair weather fan here.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago
Reply to  SatchPack85

By showing they don’t want Gott anymore. By the looks in the stand tonight, a quite a few people stayed on.

SatchPack85
SatchPack85
7 years ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

Fair enough.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  SatchPack85

A fair weather fan would have quit on State during the Les/Sendek years. I can’t imagine Gottfried staying on past this season so the fans will get what they have been demanding. Hopefully Yow doesn’t hose up the search.

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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NC State Basketball

A Historical Breakdown of the Series Between NC State & Marquette

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#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Friday night, which will mark the 6th time the two teams have played one another.

The first time the Wolfpack and the Golden Eagles played one another was also in the NCAA Tournament, and it just so happened to be the 1974 Championship game, with NC State winning the game 76-64, giving the Pack their first National Championship.

Wolfpack led the way with 21 points, and Tommy Burleson had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards, with 7 blocks, which is tied for the 8th most in school history in a single game.

NC State also had 12 steals in the game, which is the most by a Pack team in an NCAA Tournament game.

The next time the two teams would meet was on January 21st, in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack won 89-76, and it was a night for the history books for Point Guard Chris Corchiani. In that game, set ACC career records for assists with 861 and steals with 276.

The following year, the Golden Eagles picked up their first win against the Wolfpack, winning 66-42 in Milwaukee.

It would be over 15 years before NC State and Marquette would play one another again, and this time it would once again be a home-and-home series in back-to-back years.

On December 22nd, 2008, the Wolfpack lost a close one at home, falling 65-68. Wolfpack Forward Brandon Costner hit all five 3-Point attempts in that game, which still stands as the best 3-Point Percentage in a single game in school history.

The following year, on December 5th, 2009, the Wolfpack would claim the lead in the series again, defeating the Golden Eagles 77-73 on the road. NC State big man Tracy Smith had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Point Guard Javier Gonzalez had 15 points and 7 assists, and Wing Scott Wood knocked down 4 of his 6 three-point attempts.

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