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NC State vs. Louisville : Info, Preview, Keys to the game & How to Watch

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6 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs Louisville Cardinals
Gametime: 6:00 pm
TV: ESPN
Location: Raleigh, NC

Get to know the Cardinals…
Louisville comes into this game 19-11 and 9-8 in the ACC. They are coming off a stretch where they have lost 3 of their last 4, although those 3 losses came against UNC, Duke, and Virginia (at the buzzer).

The Cardinals are led by Deng Adel, a 6’7 forward who averages 15 points and 5 boards per game. He’s an athletic and bouncy wing whose size is likely to provide problems for the Pack.

Their point man is Quentin Snyder who seems to have been at Louisville for 10 years now. The senior guard is having another solid campaign, averaging 12 points and is their best 3pt shooter who logs significant minutes (41%)

Inside they rely on Ray Spalding, who has been playing really good basketball as of late.  He’s a 6’10 junior who averages nearly 9 boards and puts up 12 points per game. Spalding is very skilled and decently quick big who could be a problem for Yurtseven who has had problems with bigs who can face him up.

 

Keys to the game for NC State…

  • Big games from the seniors. It’s senior day at the PNC and it’s time for Pack fans to say goodbye to two guys who have been in the NC State frontcourt for years. Lennard Freeman and Malik Abu have logged some major minutes for this ball club and will play their final game in front of their home crowd. Neither guy has played a major role since ACC play started, but tonight would be a great night for them to come alive. Abu has averaged 9 points and 6 boards over his career at NC State, while Freeman has averaged 5 points and 5 boards over his career.
  • Big game from grad-seniors. NC State fans owe a lot to these two guys, Al Freeman and Sam Hunt were late additions to this roster and both guys have paid major dividends. Al Freeman is averaging 15 ppg and has really come into his own as of late. Over his past four games, he is averaging 22 points, shooting 49% from the floor and 63% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Sam Hunt has been lights out from long range, going and insane 14 for his last 18 from deep.
  • Play hard, Play together. NC State is going to be in front of a sell-out crowd tonight at the PNC, They are coming off a very frustrating loss and playing for either 4th or 5th in the conference. There is a lot riding on this one, so you can believe they’ll be locked in and ready to go. The key will be playing together. Against GT, they did have 15 assists on 29 made buckets, but they really didn’t establish a flow or move the basketball like they had been in the previous 4 games. Look for Markell Johnson to have a much bigger impact tonight.
  • Defend, Defend, Defend. The NC State defense really has been hit or miss. When they are pressing, they’re at their best, but they aren’t deep enough to press for a full 40 minutes like Keatts would like. They need to lock down on shooters and jam cutters against Louisville. They also need to dominate the offensive boards. If NC State plays physical and focused. They win this game. If they get away from what they want to do and let the Cardinals push them around, they coudl be in trouble.

 

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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8 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 Basketball

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

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2 days 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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