CBS Predicts NC State Men’s Basketball Will Finish 5th in the ACC

CBSSports released their 2019-20 ACC Men’s Basketball predictions, and they think NC State will finish 5th in the conference.

1. Duke
2. Louisville
3. UNC
4. UVA
5. NC State
6. FSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Syracuse
9. Miami
10. Pitt
11. Clemson
12. Wake Forest
13. Boston College
14. Virginia Tech
15. Georgia Tech

Here’s what they had to say about the Pack

NC State was a pretty consistent pick for around this range; of CBS Sports’ five experts, two picked NC State, two picked Notre Dame and one picked Florida State in fifth, while the three who didn’t pick the Wolfpack at No. 5 picked them one spot lower at No. 6. If backcourts carry the load come March, NC State has plenty of candidates, led by Markell Johnson and buoyed by C.J. Bryce and Braxton Beverly. Together, the trio should give NC State the best backcourt on the court against nearly every opponent. There’s plenty of depth as well, though whether NC State does any damage once the Wolfpack reaches the postseason depends on how well the forecourt manages to come together around those guards. (247)

Look out for Markell Johnson, who I expect to be right there with Tre Jones and Cole Anthony among the best guards in the league. NC State is a notch below the four teams listed above, but this should be a bounce-back season after last year’s group was kept out of the NCAAs due to a horrendous nonleague schedule, which affected its reputation and its metrics (and rightfully so). The Wolfpack return three starters (Johnson, C.J. Bryce, Braxton Beverly) and figure to win on the strength and depth of their point guards, shooting guards and multi-functional wings. NCAA Tournament is absolutely the expectation. (CBS)