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NC State Upsets #2 Arizona 90-84 in the Battle 4 Atlantis!

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6 years ago

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Welcome to the Kevin Keatts Era of basketball ladies and gentlemen.

NC State defeated #2 Arizona 90-84 in the Battle 4 Atlantis down in the Bahamas. The last time NC State beat a Top-5 team was when the Wolfpack defeated #2 ranked Duke on January 11th, 2015.

From the tipoff, to the end of the game, NC State controlled this basketball game. Over the first four games, the Wolfpack won because they forced the other team to commit an obscene amount of turnovers.

That wasn’t the story tonight.

In fact, Arizona only committed 8 turnovers tonight.

What happened?

NC State wasn’t scared of #2 Arizona. Not one bit.

In fact, Arizona out rebounded NC State 39-31, and actually only committed 8 turnovers, compared to the Wolfpack’s 10.

How did this happen?

The Wolfpack wanted it more. They were more consistent. They were more clutch. They had an answer for every Arizona surge. They were poised.

Allerik Freeman looked like a star, posting a stat line of 24 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.

But the hero of the night was none other than Braxton Beverly, who almost wasn’t allowed to play this season, if it wasn’t for the reversal of the NCAA’s decision on his eligibility. Beverly had 20 points, hitting 3 of his 5 shots from 3-point land. It was the ice running through his veins at the end of the game that kept the Wildcats from creeping back. He hit a three-point dagger at the 4:19 mark, and then after that he hit 7 of 8 free throws to put the knife in the steak.

10 points in the final 4:19.

Kevin Keatts team was resilient, and he made these players believe that they belonged on this court. He told the media that they weren’t looking to earn moral victories in the Bahama’s, and his words became prophetic.

They shot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 80% from the charity stripe against the #2 team in the land.

NC State wasn’t lucky tonight.

They simply were the better team.

And nothing about tonight’s performance looked like a fluke.

The victory didn’t look like an oversized shirt on a little kid. It looked like a tailor made slim fit suit that they were meant to wear.

 

 

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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18 hours ago

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April 17, 2024

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta is entering the Transfer Portal.

Peneueta transferred to NC State last offseason from Sacramento State, where she averaged 8.4 points, shooting 45.5% from three.

In her one year at NC State, Peneueta only played 8 games for the Wolfpack, battling injuries throughout the year. Peneueta has 1 year of eligibility.

With Peneueta entering the Portal, NC State now has 3 scholarships available heading into the 2024-25 season.

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NC State Basketball

Boston Center Caitlin Weimar is on an Official Visit to NC State

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24 hours ago

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April 17, 2024

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Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.

Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.

This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.

With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.

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NC State Basketball

What did an ACC Title & Final Four Mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren?

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2024

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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.

_______

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.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Ernest Ross Enters the Transfer Portal

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2 days ago

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April 16, 2024

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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!

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