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GAME PREVIEW: Getting to know Penn State

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6 years ago

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NC State basketball got a much-needed rest over the past week and is set to take on Penn State tonight in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. (7:15pm on ESPNU).

The Nittany Lions come in 6-1 with an 11-point loss to #16 Texas A&M and an insane 31 point win over Pitt. So who is this team and what type of matchup can we expect?

Tony Carr is a 6’5 sophomore who was named to the Big-Ten All-Freshman team last year is back and their defacto leader. He’s a highly efficient scorer who can do it all. He’s averaging 20 ppg, shooting 50% from the floor and knocking down 65% of his 3s. He is basically Allonzo Trier lite. Trier (Arizona’s leading scorer) came in with eye-popping scoring and efficiency stats just slightly better than Carr and NC State focused on taking him out of his game. They were successful early on, limiting to 3 first-half points. Al Freeman will likely once again be faced with the same task in this one. Slow down Carr and don’t let him get off. Doing this will be a deciding factor in this ball game.

Lamar Stevens is a 6’8 sophomore forward who is this team’s second-leading scorer. He’s putting up 14 points and 7 boards per game. He’s a versatile big who is pretty bouncy, however, at only 226lbs, he isn’t really that tough to move around.

From there it’s kind of a team effort for Penns State. They have three guys in the 10ppg range, but none of them are really prolific scorers, wow you with assists or rack up the rebounds. Check out these highlights of Penn State’s loss to #16 Texas A&M.

Watching some Penn State video will show you that they aren’t the most disciplined team out there. It’s not so much their guards, either. They haven’t done a bad job at taking care of the ball. It’s been their defense in the paint. When challenged with bigger, stronger guys, they have struggled. Against A&M they were outrebounded by 13.

Where the Nittany Lions really can match up with the Pack is by creating turnovers. They rank 2nd in steals (in the Power 5), while State sits at 6th. So you’re looking at two elite teams in that category.

Overall, this is a young Penn State team, but also an experienced one. They returned 5 of their top 6 scorers from last year, but all of their big time players are sophomores.

Expect a fast-paced chaotic game when these two teams meet.

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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6 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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Georgetown Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/212) has committed to NC State!

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #104 overall player in the Portal.

With his final year of eligibility, Styles’ made the right choice this time.

NC State now has 2 scholarships remaining after Styles’ commitment.

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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

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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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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.

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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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