NBC Sports releases ACC Preview, predicts NC State to finish 8th

NBC Sports released their ACC Preview yesterday and slotted NC State in at #8.

Here is what they had to say about the Pack.

8. N.C. STATE: Unknown, and perhaps underrated, the Wolfpack have eight new players on the roster as they try to acclimate transfers and freshmen into the rotation. But after a surprise NCAA tournament appearance last season, there’s reason to be decidedly optimistic that N.C. State is a potential darkhorse.

Loaded at guard, head coach Kevin Keatts will utilize a lot of small-ball lineups with 6-foot-5 veteran Torin Dorn often playing the four. Starting guards Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverley are also back after promising seasons. Newcomers will ultimately dictate the season. Guards C.J. Bryce (UNC Wilmington), Devon Daniels (Utah), Eric Lockett (FIU), Blake Harris (Missouri) and forward Wyatt Walker (Samford) are all expected to contribute. If the Wolfpack can mesh the old starters with the talented newcomers, then this could be a dangerous team.(NBC Sports)

I’m sure Wolfpack fans will initially be a bit miffed at this projection, but to NBC’s credit, they do litter the write-up with hedged-bets and admissions that they really have no clue as to what type of team this is going to be. Couple that with the fact that they recently ranked NC State as a Top-25 team, and you realize this prediction might be more about the ACC’s strength than the Wolfpack’s weaknesses.

In their preview, they also project the All-ACC first team and highlight a few other’players to know’ (none of which are from NC State.) while also highlighting the non-conference games to ‘circle on your calendar.’

For whatever reason, they make no mention of the Pack’s matchup with #10 ranked Auburn.

Our Take: Interesting ranking, especially when they put the Pack at #24 overall just a few days ago. At this point, rankings are mostly meaningless but are fun to look at. They give us an idea of what the national media is thinking.

And what does this say they’re thinking?

It seems like they think the ACC is stacked and that they really have no idea what this Wolfpack team will look like. All they have to go off is last year’s results under Keatts.

The people who have the Pack ranked high are likely just betting on Keatts as a coach to figure this puzzle out. Those that aren’t ranking State high, they are probably just looking at the roster, seeing all the transfers and freshmen, and figuring this team will be too green to win in the ACC.