NC State Won’t be at Full Strength for Season Opener

NC State’s Men’s Basketball team is currently sitting as a 7-point favorite in their season opener tonight against Georgia Tech, but they are entering 2019-20 licking their wounds.

First off, they won’t have Redshirt Junior D.J. Funderburk tonight due to suspension, which puts extra pressure on 3 front court players that have never suited up for the Wolfpack.

One of those is Graduate Senior Danny Dixon, who missed the Wolfpack’s exhibition against Mt. Olive.

Head Coach Kevin Keatts made it clear that they would likely be without a few players tonight due to injury, but he refrained from dropping any names.

Dixon could be one of those missing players (bruised foot). Also, in my opinion, the player most likely to miss tonights game due to injury is Freshman Guard Dereon Seabron, who had a boot on his foot (sprained ankle) at the Mt. Olive game. After the game, Keatts said he didn’t have a prognosis of when his return would be. Finally, Sophomore wingman Jericole Hellems could be one of the players to miss tonight, with a dinged up shoulder. He left the exhibition game, and didn’t return.

Enough of the bad news…Junior Guard Braxton Beverly (knee) made it clear yesterday that he would be good to go tonight, after missing the exhibition game.

Don’t be surprised to see the Wolfpack run an offense with 4 guards at times tonight. Keatts mentioned that Redshirt Senior C.J. Bryce could play the 4-Guard like Torin Dorn the past couple of years.