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Primetime with the Pack Recap: Funderburk wins dunk contest, Daniels wins 3pt shootout

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Primetime with the Pack was a success in many ways for NC State.

The biggest success was the fact that they raised nearly $15,000 for Hurricane Florence disaster relief.

The event also allowed Pack fans to meet a roster filled with new players and see them compete in a skills competition, a 3pt shootout and a dunk contest. Here is what we learned…

-Kevin Keatts son can dance
Keatts didn’t repel down from the rafters or go shirtless for a boxing match (a la Mark Gottfried). In fact, Keatts left the entertainment of his entrance to his son who rattled off a bunch of 2018s viral dance moves, putting the crowd in a frenzy.

-Wyatt Walker’s entrace will never be forgotten
Pack fans really haven’t gotten to know Wyat Walker up until now, and man did the grad-transfer from Samford make an entrace. Walker came out to a little Guns n Roses, head-banging with his massive mane and shredding his air guitar.

-Devon Daniels’ (who won the 3pt shootout) shot is as good as advertised and Jericole Hellems has a better stroke than we thought
Devon Daniels is billed as the replacement to Al Freeman. The two battled daily in practice and two separate sources told us that Daniels often got the best of Freeman. He will be asked to shoulder a great deal of NC State’s scoring load since he can score at all 3 levels with ease. Today was his first time being able to show the public a preview of his offensive abilities. We also got to see freshman Jericole Hellems participate, and he’s actually a much better spot shooter than we expected.

– Sophomore transfer DJ Funderburk (who won the dunk contest) is 6’9 and freaky athletic. Missouri transfer Blake Harris can fly, and Ian Steere dunked over his bodybuilder dad.
Blake Harris was always billed as a kid who could really fly and finish above the rim while he was in high school at Word of God in Raleigh. Last night he got to show it at NC State. Meanwhile, the biggest takeaway from this dunk contest is that DJ Funderburk is a freak of nature. The guy is 6’9 and reeled off some spectacular dunks. He had a nice little cradle revers and then won the contest with a dunk from a foot inside the free throw line. Check out the dunks below.

Overall, the men’s basketball kickoff event went great. The fans enjoyed the festivities and the contests and it seemed like the players were amped up to get this season going.

While we used to like to see the red/white scrimmage that they used to host, it’s probably better that they don’t do it anymore. It sometimes got boring, you risk players getting hurt, and there is no defense. So while it gives a site like ours more to talk about an examine, doing it the way they did is probably the right call.

Next up for the basketball team is a closed door ‘secret-scrimmage’ against ECU on Sunday followed by the first open exhibition game that fans can attend. That takes place October 29th vs. Chowan at 7pm at the PNC Arena.

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NC State Basketball

Snag 5 New ACCT Inspired NC State Shirts Today!

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Our friends over at BreakingT have released 5 new ACC Tournament Inspired NC State Shirts, and they can become yours today!

Click here today to check out these shirts, and many others!

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 11 Schools with Men’s & Women’s Teams in the NCAAT, & a Football Team in a Bowl Game

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NC State is 1 of 11 schools to have both their Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams earn spots in the NCAA Tournament, while also having a Division-I Football team that played a game in the postseason.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team is a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the Men are an #11 seed. The Football team lost to Kansas St. 19-28 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Here’s a look at the other the 11 schools who have pulled off the trifecta.

NC State
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Kansas
Alabama
Arizona
Auburn
Duke
Iowa St.
UNC

NC State is the only school in the nation, to have both their Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams play in their Conference’s Championship game.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s DJ Burns Joins the 2,000 Point Club

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This past Saturday was a good night for NC State’s DJ Burns. He led NC State to their 1st ACC Championship since 1987. He earned the ACC Tournament MVP Award. He also joined the 2,000 point club.

With 11:52 left in the 2nd half, Burns fittingly made a hook shot that added up to his 1,999th point and his 2,000th point.

Burns joined DJ Horne, who joined the 2,000 point club earlier in the ACC Tournament in the Wolfpack’s victory over Duke.

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NC State Basketball

NC State is Right Outside of the AP Top-25 Heading into the NCAA Tournament

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The new Men’s College Basketball AP Poll is out, and NC State is right outside of the Top-25, sitting at 29th heading into the 1st round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack will be playing Texas Tech in the 1st round on Thursday night at 9:40, and the Red Raiders moved up 3 spots in this poll to #22.

ACC Teams in the AP Poll

5. UNC
13. Duke
29. NC State
39. Clemson

It is interesting that NC State is the 3rd highest ranked team in the AP Poll, but are the lowest seed of any ACC team in the NCAA Tournament.

With a good showing in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack could find themselves in the Final AP Top-25 for the first time since 2003-04, when they finished 15th. NC State has been ranked in the Final AP Top-25 seventeen times.

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