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NC State vs. Syracuse | ACCT | Gameday Preview and How to Watch

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NC State Wolfpack (#9) vs. Syracuse (#8)
Time: 12:00 PM  (Perfect for that longggg lunch)
Location: Greensboro Coliseum, NC
TV: ACCN
Line: Syracuse -2.5

Preview of Syracuse:

Syracuse is currently sitting squarely on the bubble at 15-8 and 9-7 in the ACC.  With a loss for either team, the chances for an at-large berth in the big dance are likely over. This means we are likely to see two very hungry teams clawing for additional basketball.  So far Syracuse has swept the season series with the Pack, winning a tight one at their place 76-73, and then winning again a few days later 77-68 at NC State. In both games, you saw the Orange dominate in the final 10 minutes using their sheer size advantage over the Pack.

Syracuse comes out with a balanced attack on the offensive end but is often led by the gunslinger Buddy Boeheim, who if hot, can cause huge problems for the defense (especially ones with smaller guards).  He will be a focus for the NC State defense as he has turned things up of late, shooting over 40% from three and averaging over 20 points over his last 5 games.  Against the Pack already this year, he is shooting over 50% from three.

After that, Syracuse runs out a long, tall team that causes teams fits with their zone defense.  Alan Griffin, their second leading scorer, has been a thorn in the side of NC State this season, averaging over 20 points a game against them.  He is a long, athletic foward that can knock down shots.  State will need to keep him in check as well if they want to take this one.

Syracuse will come out with their zone defense. which has them second in the league in turnovers forced.  Their length, speed, and understanding of spacing makes it hard for teams to get off good shots against them..  They force you to take tough, long shots, from spots on the floor you’re not used to shooting from, while at the same time forcing passes into tight lanes.  If Syracuse can get you to take quick contested 3s and turn the ball over, you likely lose.

For a more in-depth breakdown of the Syracuse zone and what NC State needs to do to come away with a. win, check out our scouting report from earlier this week.

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NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

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NC State has won 5 ACC Championships this year, which is the most of any athletic program in the conference this year.

The Wolfpack has won ACC Titles in Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics.

The last time NC State won 5 ACC Championships in one year was 1979-80.

As far as I can tell, here’s a look at the Wolfpack Conference Titles from 1979-80:

Football
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Tennis

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

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NC State is 1 of 4 schools to have their Men and Women’s Basketball teams BOTH advance to the Sweet 16, along with Duke, Gonzaga and UCONN.

NC State and Duke are the only two schools in the country to send both Basketball teams to the Sweet 16, and also send the Football team to a bowl game.

This marks only the third time in school history that BOTH teams made the Sweet 16.

Years NC State’s Men & Women’s Teams Made the Sweet 16

1985
1989
2024

Despite the fact that the Men’s team has made the Elite 8 six times (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986), and the Women have made it 2 times (1998 & 2022), in the three occasions they both went to the Sweet 16 in the same year, neither team advanced to the Elite 8.

In 2024, Why Not Us?

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NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

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#3 seed NC State held on last night, defeating #6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Reynolds Coliseum to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th time in the last 6 tournaments.

The Wolfpack led by only 1 after the 1st Quarter, but they looked like they had things under control at halftime, leading by 18 points.

At one point, NC State led by as much as 20 points in the 3rd Quarter, but the Lady Volunteers weren’t about to give up.

With 4:19 left in the 4th, Tennessee cut the lead to 2 points, but NC State might have bent, but they wouldn’t break.

Junior Guard Aziaha James led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, which were both team highs. She scored 7 points in the final 3.5 minutes, helping to squash tue Last Vols’ comeback attempt.

Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 20 points (6-14 FG) and 6 boards.

Freshman Zoe Brooks was clutch off the bench, chipping in 16 points and 6 boards.

This marks the 16th time the NC State Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack will play #2 seed Stanford on Friday night at 7:30pm on ESPN in Portland.

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NC State Basketball

A Historical Breakdown of the Series Between NC State & Marquette

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#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Friday night, which will mark the 6th time the two teams have played one another.

The first time the Wolfpack and the Golden Eagles played one another was also in the NCAA Tournament, and it just so happened to be the 1974 Championship game, with NC State winning the game 76-64, giving the Pack their first National Championship.

Wolfpack led the way with 21 points, and Tommy Burleson had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards, with 7 blocks, which is tied for the 8th most in school history in a single game.

NC State also had 12 steals in the game, which is the most by a Pack team in an NCAA Tournament game.

The next time the two teams would meet was on January 21st, in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack won 89-76, and it was a night for the history books for Point Guard Chris Corchiani. In that game, set ACC career records for assists with 861 and steals with 276.

The following year, the Golden Eagles picked up their first win against the Wolfpack, winning 66-42 in Milwaukee.

It would be over 15 years before NC State and Marquette would play one another again, and this time it would once again be a home-and-home series in back-to-back years.

On December 22nd, 2008, the Wolfpack lost a close one at home, falling 65-68. Wolfpack Forward Brandon Costner hit all five 3-Point attempts in that game, which still stands as the best 3-Point Percentage in a single game in school history.

The following year, on December 5th, 2009, the Wolfpack would claim the lead in the series again, defeating the Golden Eagles 77-73 on the road. NC State big man Tracy Smith had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Point Guard Javier Gonzalez had 15 points and 7 assists, and Wing Scott Wood knocked down 4 of his 6 three-point attempts.

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