Connect with us
NC State closes their regular season tonight at 8 o’clock at Clemson. Both teams have just four ACC wins on the season. The Tigers have lost a handful of close games as of late, including a one-point loss to VT and a two-point loss to FSU. NC State is looking to finish their regular season with a road victory. What are the keys to the game for the Wolfpack to win?

Control Jaron Blossomgame.

Blossomgame has been tough for opponents this season as he uses his athletic ability and size to get inside to score. NC State needs to seal off the paint when defending him as well as shade help-side defense his way. Outside shooting is a weakness for Blossomgame; he is connecting on 27% of his three-point attempts on the season. The best way to stop Jaron is to not press up too much on him on the perimeter. This way NC State can try and bait him into outside shots and have extra time to cut off his drives.

The Pack needs to win the rebounding battle.

The Tigers are among the worst rebounding teams in the ACC. The Wolfpack must take advantage of this flaw if they are going win tonight. Collectively NC State can damage Clemson if they can get second chance points and defensive rebounds to end possessions. Malik Abu could be in line for a big night if he can get some easy baskets off of offensive rebounds. Last season, Abu punished the Tigers with 17 points and 16 rebounds as NC State beat the Tigers 77-74 in Raleigh. Clemson will struggle to win if Abu can replicate that performance tonight.

Offensively NC State needs an inside-out attack.

The Pack has been at their best this season when they attack inside early. NC State needs to feed Malik Abu often to create space on the perimeter. Going inside will create high percentage looks for NC State shooters. Dennis Smith and Markell Johnson need to be aggressive attacking the paint as well as not holding the ball on the outside. An inside-out attack should put the Pack in a position to beat Clemson tonight.

The Pack has the tools to beat a tough Clemson team; however, it will come down to execution and energy to close the season with a win. NC State must be disciplined in their assignments to stop Jaron Blossomgame who is capable of carrying the Tigers. Malik Abu needs to be a focal point for NC State tonight as he can create problems for Clemson underneath as well as on the glass. Can NC State beat Clemson? Tune in at 8 o’clock to find out

3 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
3 Comments
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

If you told me that we would have the leading scorer in the ACC and not make the NCAA tourney then follow that up with one of the highest rated recruits ever in Wolfpack history and miss the tourney again – I would have said you were crazy.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

I have no feeling about Archie one way or the other but I found it concerning that the last 2 coaches from Dayton (Brian Gregory & Oliver Purnell) both made moves to the ACC and both failed to win a single game in the NCAA tourney. I wonder if the leap from the A10 to the ACC will be too big for most coaches? Although in Archie’s defense he has done better than both while at Dayton.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Is it just me or is Wes Moore from the women’s team looking more and more like a candidate?

NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

Published

on

Awesome. Obviously.

#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette tomorrow night in the Sweet 16. What would a win mean for the Wolfpack? Many things, but here’s just a few:

It would give NC State 25 wins on the year (25-14), which would be the most wins since 1982-83, when the Wolfpack went 26-10, winning the National Championship.

It would mark the 12th time in school history that NC State has won 25+ games in a single season.

1982-83 – 26-10 

1973-74 – 30-1 

1972-73 – 27-0 

1954-55 – 28-4 

1953-54 – 26-7

1952-53 – 26-6 

1950-51 – 30-7 

1949-50 – 27-6 

1948-49 – 25-8 

1947-48 – 29-3

1946-47- 26-5

It would be the 7th time NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

1950

1951

1974

1983

1985

1986

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

Published

on

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?

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

Published

on

#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.

Continue Reading