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The Wolfpack looks to prolong UVA’s four-game losing streak as well as give Head Coach Mark Gottfried one last win at PNC. The Pack has some momentum following their road win over Georgia Tech this past Tuesday night. What are the keys to the game for NC State to beat Virginia?

Do not help Virginia’s struggling offense.

UVA has been bad as of late when it comes to scoring points. In their four-game losing streak, they have averaged 55.5 PPG compared to their average of 65.4 PPG in ACC play. NC State must take care of the basketball to guard against easy transition buckets for Virginia. Defensively The Wolfpack need to contest jumpers and secure defensive rebounds. The Cavaliers are struggling to score baskets, NC State cannot surrender easy second chance buckets or layups in transition if they are going to win.

The Pack needs to be decisive on the offense end.

The Cavaliers have the number one ranked defense when it comes to points allowed. In ACC play UVA allows 61.7 PPG. NC State will need to make quick decisions when attacking against UVA’s defense. Terry Henderson needs to have another big game as he did against Georgia Tech. Three of NC State’s four ACC wins Terry has scored over 20 points, the Pack needs him to score. Dennis Smith must not over dribble because Virginia is too good at staying in front of the basketball. NC State’s best chance at solving UVA’s defense is with quick ball movement not hesitating or holding the ball too long. Mark Gottfried should turn to Johnson again to encourage more ball movement.

Energy.

NC State needs to have lots of energy this Saturday to beat a tough UVA team. In what will be Mark Gottfried’s last game at PNC Arena his players need to send him out with a win. NC State needs to play hard for 40 minutes to beat a disciplined Virginia team. The Cavaliers style of play can be frustrating; however, NC State needs to have positive body language, to play through the ups and downs.

Two games remain for NC State until the ACC Tournament commences in Brooklyn. They will have to try and beat another solid defensive team this Saturday at the PNC Arena. Saturday’s game marks the final home game for Mark Gottfried and his staff. Seniors Terry Henderson and BeeJay Anya will be playing their final home game for NC State. Dennis Smith will be moving on as well due to his projection of being a sure-fire lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Can the Pack finish the home slate with a win over UVA? Game time is at 12 o’clock with coverage on ESPN.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Worst case scenario I think we keep Bobby Lutz on the back burner. He’s not the ideal candidate but he’s a solid coach. He would just need some good recruiters on his staff because I hear that he’s not that big into recruiting himself. I wonder where we would be right now had we hired him as head coach 11 seasons ago? I remember his Charlotte squad pounded Sendek’s team years ago.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

I hope Yow learned some lessons from her last coaching search. Here are my keys to the search:

1. Stay away from established coaches – for a seasoned coach this may not be an upgrade
2. Don’t allow coaches to use this opportunity to get a raise at current job – if they are not excited about the job walk away
3. Don’t lowball – this cost us a couple of options the last time
…

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

4. Young coaches will show some reverence at the coaches in the triangle/ACC – don’t hold that against them
5. Don’t necessarily have to hire for next 20 years – during the Sidney Lowe search I was high on coach Fisher (formerly of Michigan U and now at SDSU) – ppl kept saying he was too old but guess what? He’s still coaching 11 seasons later

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

If you are in the midst of a losing streak, play State.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Cavs break out of shooting slump against Gottfried coached team… no surprises there.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball Ranks 8th in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25

Published

12 hours ago

on

May 7, 2024

By

ESPN released their updated Way-Too-Early Preseason Top-25 for the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball season, and NC State ranked 8th.

8. NC State Wolfpack

The dynamic backcourt that took the Wolfpack to their first Final Four since 1998 returns. Aziaha James (16.8 PPG), Saniya Rivers (12.5 PPG) and Zoe Brooks (9.0 PPG) are enough to keep NC State near the top of a highly competitive ACC. How well a new mix of bigs fits in will determine if the Wolfpack are good enough to win the conference and contend for a trip to Tampa. The experience of River Baldwin and Mimi Collins can’t be replaced, so how well 6-5 recruit Lorena Awou adapts to the college game and 6-4 Boston University transfer Caitlin Weimar, the Patriot League player of the year and two-time defensive player of the year, adjusts to the upgrade in competition will have a big impact on NC State’s season. Previous ranking: 8

(ESPN)

ACC Teams in the Top-25

4. Notre Dame

8. NC State

11. Duke

12. Louisville

17. UNC

18. FSU

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NC State Basketball

The Roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball Team is all but Set Heading into 2024-25

Published

4 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

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NC State does have 1 scholarship available, and could still add a player out of the Transfer Portal. With that being said, the roster for the Men’s Basketball team is pretty much set for the 2024-25 season.

Non-graduates had to enter the Transfer Portal by April 30th, and Graduates had to enter by May 1st. Jayden Taylor and Michael O’Connell both made public announcements that they were returning, but the closure of entrance to the Portal means that Breon Pass, Ben Middlebrooks, Dennis Parker Jr. and MJ Rice are all set to return next season.

In a world where the Transfer Portal has all but become free agency in College Basketball, with some players switching schools on an annual basis, it’s encouraging that Kevin Keatts not only recruited a Top-10 Transfer Class, but also recruited a majority of the eligible players to stay. Three players that could transfer entered the Portal (I’m not counting Mohamed Diarra in these numbers, who opted to go pro), while 6 opted to continue running with the Wolfpack.

As a result, below is a breakdown of the roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball team heading into 2024-25, realizing the Wolfpack could still add one player (this team is deep).

1 year of Eligibility 

Guard Michael O’Connell
Guard Marcus Hill
Guard Breon Pass
Guard/Forward Jayden Taylor
Forward/Guard Dontrez Styles
Forward Ben Middlebrooks
Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

2 Years of Eligibility

Guard/Forward MJ Rice
Guard Mike James
Guard Jordan Snell (Walk-On)
Guard KJ Keatts (Walk-On)

3 Years of Eligibility 

Guard/Forward Dennis Parker Jr.

4 Years of Eligibility 

Guard Paul McNeil
Guard Trey Parker

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2024 Transfer Class Ranks in the Top-10 Nationally

Published

5 days ago

on

May 2, 2024

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.

ON3

247Sports

NC State’s 2024 4-Man Transfer Class

Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)

Guard/Forward Dontez Styles (Georgetown)

Guard Mike James (Louisville)

Guard Marcus Hill (Bowling Green)

NC State still has a chance to move up in the rankings. East Carolina Power Forward Ezra Ausar just wrapped up an Official Visit to NC State, and things are looking good for the Wolfpack. ON3 ranks Ausar as the #67 overall player in the Portal, and the #15 Power Forward.

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NC State Basketball

WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

Published

5 days ago

on

May 2, 2024

By

Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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