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NC State’s Omer Yurtseven Met With Kevin Keatts About Future Yesterday

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NC State Sophomore Center Omer Yurtseven met with head coach Kevin Keatts yesterday to discuss his future. In other words, he met to talk about whether he would/should return for his Junior season in Raleigh, or head to the NBA Draft.

This season, Yurtseven earned All-ACC Third Team honors, averaging 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting 57.2% from the field, and an audacious 50% from three (22 of 44).

When Yurtseven came to Raleigh, he was expected by many to be a first-round pick after his freshman season, if not a lottery pick. After struggling as a Freshman, he decided to test the NBA Draft Process without an agent, and even attended the NBA Combine. Ultimately, Yurtseven decided to return to NC State for his Sophomore season.

Around midseason, we were hearing from a source that the chances of Yurtseven returning were slim-to-none. With that being said, Omer played his best basketball early in the year, regressing a little bit deeper into the season.

After yesterday’s meeting, from what I’m hearing, nothing has changed. The odds of Yurtseven returning for his Junior season are slim-to-none.

Now let me be clear, this isn’t a guarantee that he will leave, but from our source close to the program, that is the impression that Yurtseven has given the coaches.

This isn’t a guarantee that Omer will not return. This also isn’t a guarantee that he will sign with an agent. It’s nearly 100% guarantee that he will test the NBA waters like he did last year.

For what it’s worth, from what I can tell, Yurtseven isn’t predicted to go much higher in current mock drafts than he was last year (late first round/early second round). He added a three-point shot to his game this year, and showed strengths of using both hands in the post. With that being said, he didn’t improve that much on defense in rebounding in my opinion.

Don’t expect Yurtseven to be in Raleigh again next season. If he returns, it will be a welcome surprise.

 

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.

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Afterglow
Afterglow
6 years ago

So, how many times can a player “test” the waters?

WolfPackOldtimer
WolfPackOldtimer
6 years ago

I would hope that he has been upfront and honest concerning his intentions with Coach Keatts. Whether or not a scholarship will be available while there are still potential recruits is essential in planning for the future.

NC State Basketball

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

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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

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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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