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Mark Gottfried was fired today by NC State. The pressure had become too much for the university to let things ride out any longer. At the start of the season, optimism was high with a highly touted roster that featured potential lottery pick, Dennis Smith, as well as landing five-star Omer Yurtseven. In addition to those two guys Gottfried landed Markell Johnson, Ted Kapita, and Darius Hicks. The new guys paired with in-house guys Terry Henderson, Torin Dorn, Maverick Rowan, Malik Abu, and Beejay Anya had things trending up.

It all proved to be a mirage at this point as NC State finds itself at 14-13 and 3-11 in ACC play. Defense and a general lack of heart have doomed the Pack to the cellar of the ACC. In the midst of a six-game losing streak AD, Yow decided that they needed to go in a different direction as a program but will allow Gottfried to finish the season.

Mark Gottfried did help NC State University. He found a way to get the program back to the NCAA Tournament four straight times after not making an appearance in its’ previous five seasons. Coach Gottfried afforded me a great opportunity allowing me to be a student manager his first two years at NC State. He knew us all by name and treated us with great respect and for that I am thankful. Gottfried and his staff worked hard to bring NC State resources and talent to compete in the ACC.

NC State has a rich basketball history. Mark Gottfried came into NC State and displayed that history throughout the practice facility with renovations worthy of that tradition. The training room was top-notch with resources to help players recover and heal quickly. At the PNC he helped renovate the locker rooms as well as the training rooms to reflect an ACC program. Gottfried also didn’t back down from the two schools to NC State’s west. He was savvy with the media helping NC State gain more national exposure with features on ESPN as well as ESPNU that gave inside looks to practice.

NC State has a lot to offer Mark Gottfried’s successor. The fanbase, facilities, tradition, greatest conference in the country, competition, and potentially a decent roster for next season. Things did not reach the heights many wanted for NC State; however, Mark Gottfried did provide some great memories. We beat UNC and Duke. Two Sweet Sixteens including knocking off the one seed Villanova. There is no reason to dwell on his shortcomings at this juncture. He made the most of his opportunity upon his arrival. He injected some much-needed life into the NC State Basketball program and for that, I am thankful for his service. I will be applauding him this Saturday and I hope others will too.

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FUQUAYPACK
FUQUAYPACK
7 years ago

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  FUQUAYPACK

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.

tookandsaid
tookandsaid
7 years ago

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.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

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.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

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.

Tarhater
Tarhater
7 years ago

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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.

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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