RALEIGH – For the second straight season, the 10th-ranked NC State women’s basketball team (26-5) will be hosting NCAA Tournament games in Raleigh. Announced Monday evening during the 2019 Women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show on ESPN, the third-seeded Wolfpack will host 14th-seeded Maine on Saturday, March 23 at 1 pm inside Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State University.

The Wolfpack hosted Maine on Dec. 15 of this season, defeating the Black Bears 84-46. Maine (25-7) has won 14 straight games and won its second consecutive America East Conference Tournament title, defeating three foes by an average of 22.6 points per game during the competition.

Saturday’s winner will take on the winner of sixth-seeded Kentucky and 11th-seeded Princeton on Monday, March 25 (time TBD). Kentucky and Princeton will open the action in Raleigh by playing at 11 am on Saturday, March 23.

NC State has played 16 NCAA Tournament games in the city of Raleigh throughout program history. The Wolfpack is 14-2 in these games and has not lost an NCAA Tournament contest in its home city since 1983. The 2019 season marks the Wolfpack’s 25th trip to the NCAA Tournament and 28th appearance in the top national postseason tournament (AIAW National Tournament appearances prior to the beginning of the NCAA Tournament in 1978, 1980, and 1981).

Last season, the Wolfpack hosted and defeated Elon (62-35) and No. 16 Maryland (74-60) in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh.

With a 26-5 record and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference that was followed up by an exciting run to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack is in the midst of a very strong season and will be making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Photo Credit: @PackWomensBBall

Look…I get it.

NC State coaches, players and fans of the program all wish the Men’s Basketball team was dancing in the NCAA Tournament.

The NIT is never the goal of any program.

Back in 1975, NC State legend David Thompson said…

“Personally, I don’t want to play another basketball game unless it’s in the NCAA. The NIT just seems like such a loser’s tournament.” 

While I get the sentiment, I don’t agree with Skywalker.

This team is not a group of losers, and they have been given another opportunity to put the Red and White on with pride, and stand as brothers once again, and beat whoever walks onto the court with them.

One of the best ways to stick it to the NCAA selection committee would be to win the NIT, something the Wolfpack have never done.

This will mark the 12th time NC State has played in the NIT (National Invitational Tournament), and they enter the 2019 tournament with a 16-12 NIT record.

The Wolfpack have made it to the Final Four of the NIT 4 times.

1947: 3rd Place
1976: 3rd Place
1978: 2nd Place
2000: 4th Place

NC State has only lost in the 1st round of the NIT on two occasions: 1948 & 1984.

(Via NC State Media Guide)

NC State has an opportunity before them to prove the doubters wrong.

Also, the Wolfpack fanbase has an opportunity to not cry over spilled milk, and show once again they are the most faithful and loyal fanbase in the nation. This isn’t a time to boycott. It’s a time once again to support your team.

If your invited to play in a tournament, you might as well win the dang thing.

While NC State didn’t make it into the 2019 NCAA Tournament, they have earned a #2 seed in the NIT, and will host Hofstra on Tuesday night in Reynolds Coliseum at 7pm on ESPN2.

If the Wolfpack wins they will face the winner of Georgetown and Harvard.

If they were to win that game, they would likely face a team from North Carolina in the Quarterfinals.

How on God’s green earth UNC-Greensboro earns a #1 seed, and the Wolfpack are slapped with a #2 seed in the same bracket…no words.

NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow might be on her way out, but if you thought she would keep hush-hush on the Wolfpack being left out of the NCAA Tournament field, you were wrong. 

Yow’s STATEment:

I will miss Dr. Debbie Yow.