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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.

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

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

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

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

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

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

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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