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!
Gott has done nothing but talk good about the program. He is fired. Let him finish the season with class Pack Fans. Don’t have to agree with his coaching … That being said…If we are pressing for Archie…why does fire happen during the season. Now Archie has to answer media ?’s while coaching a 21-5 Tourney Team. Dayton is going to through the vault at him. This parting of ways seems sloppy.
As long as the ppl involved can keep their lips sealed we can talk to coaches during the season without anyone knowing. It’s all about being discreet and letting those outside of the administration do the talking. We should stay away from coaching search firms as they have a horrible track record. Let friends of the program do informal querying of interest by the coaches on our list.
Congratulations- this is one of the best post I’ve seen in a while (not just talking about in this site – packpride, statefansnation, backingthepack, etc). Loved the videos – very informative.
Wish someone could really catch the ear of the one with the pocketbook at State and really open it up for Greg Marshall – or someone like that. Just seriously stop trying to find the bargain coach.
Now the a$$hole gives a $hit what the fans think. Why in the hell is he still coaching in Raleigh? Let’s not say he is fired, let’s say he is transferring.
Rejoice. Let’s celebrate. Can’t get any worse. Get rid of Smith and keep the rest. Get Y7 in shape. Fire all of the staff. Move on.
Basketball coaches aren’t the only people whose past performance has little bearing on the present. What Coach Gott did 2-4 years ago is only relavent as standard to compare his performance to today. His performance drop off has been rapid and dramatic. Any business person knows the price you pay in a performance based environment when this happens. It got Gott. I wish him future success.
The ACC in my opinion has always been the best conference. But with the addition of Louisville/Notre Dame/Syracuse/Pitt, the ascension of UVA/VT, and overall improvement by league teams… it’s going to require a coach of magnitude to compete in this league. A half-ass coach will no longer make it in this new ACC. I hope we get a real motivator and bball scholar. Someone with V like charisma.
Call me stupid but if you want a motivator and bball scholar, go get Bruce Pearl at Auburn. I watched him take a lack luster Tennessee all the way to number 1. Didn’t end well but it was fun living in the midst of it.
Yeah I think he’s a great coach but doesn’t seem to realize that he’s an old man and shouldn’t be partying with college kids. I prefer a little more mature coach.
Remember – State only dropped off the last 30 years due to an overreaction by shitty administrators. It had nothing to do with unc or duke or facilities or anything other than mismanagement of the program. No excuses, hire the right guy and get this program back to where it should be.
I agree Mark did some good things. He recruited at a high level and even had some tourney success. But we deserve even better. Too many ppl compare him to Les, Sendek, and Lowe. That is crazy. Those were some of the worst coaches in State history. We need to aim high and not be afraid to have high expectations.