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NC State vs. Davidson | NIT Gameday Preview and How to Watch

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3 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack (#3) vs. Davidson (#2)
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Denton, TX
TV: ESPN
Line: Davidson -1.5

Preview of Davidson:

Davidson finished the year 13-8 overall and 7-4 in a relatively tough A-10 conference. This was good enough to land them in 3rd place behind a very good St. Bonaventure team and another NCAA-bound team in VCU.

Though Davidson lacks any trademark wins (which is probably what kept them out of the NCAA Tournament) they have played teams like Texas and St Bonaventure close during the season, with their biggest win of the season coming at home versus VCU.

For the most part, Davidson has taken care of the teams they should have beat during the season and then struggled to pull off wins against stronger competition.  This, in no way, means Davidson will be an easy game for the Wolfpack.

Scouting Davidson

Davidson uses a rotation of 9 guys, with the starting 5 doing a majority of their offensive damage.

Leading the way for Davidson is Kellan Grady, a 6’5 senior guard who can attack the basket with his strength and size and can also step back and knock down a three (almost 40% from beyond the arc).  Grady is also one of Davidson’s leading rebounders, pulling down 4.7 boards a game.  Next, you have Hyunjung Lee at the foward position.  Lee is 6’7 and he’s no dominant force in the post, his strength is his length and ability to shoot, averaging 13 points a game and shooting over 40% from beyond the arc. The guy can fill it up in a hurry. Lee, however, isn’t great at creating his own shot from outside. He’s much better as a catch and shoot guy, so whoever is guarding him can’t sink off too much on the helpside.

Davidson isn’t going to throw out the longest or most athletic team, but they do really like to spread the court out and force you to defend. They like to use their guards to break you down, get in the paint, and kick it out. They rely on having 4 or 5 guys on the court that can shoot.  This is why they lead their conference in threes, averaging over 10 a game.

They are effective and efficient on offense (17th overall in Offensive efficiency), they don’t turn the ball over much, and will punish you for over helping and leaving shooters open.  This is why Grady is tough to guard. He can get to the basket and finish over most defenders, so you need your rim protector to help. However, show too much on the helpside and he has no problem kicking it out to the shooters

Fortunately, as good as they are on offense, they struggle to get stops against stronger opponents.  Like I stated earlier, Davidson is not the most athletic of teams and does not have any kind of true rim protector.  This allows quicker guards to attack their man, get to the basket and either score over their bigs or kick it out if they help down.

What the Pack Needs to Win:

NC State will need to play smart basketball, and Keatts switching all ball screens defensive style should help here as they don’t have too many advantages on most switches.  However, this may be a tough one though for Bates, who will have to pay a lot more perimeter D at times.

Guys like Funderburk and Seabron will be playing bigger minutes with their size and agility to guard both big and smaller opponents. Funderburk may also be able to have a big game in the post, scoring around and over the Davidson post defenders.

It will also be imperative for Hayes to come out hungry and willing to attack the basket for some easy buckets or opening up some open looks on the perimeter.  The same goes for Shakeel Moore and Hellems. NC State will be able to get in the paint vs the slower, bigger guards of Davidson. What they do with it then will decide the game.

Overall, I believe the Pack matchup pretty nicely against Davidson and if they can contain Grady, and limit looks for Lee, they should survive and advance.

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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7 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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Georgetown Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/212) has committed to NC State!

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #104 overall player in the Portal.

With his final year of eligibility, Styles’ made the right choice this time.

NC State now has 2 scholarships remaining after Styles’ commitment.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2024

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NC State Forward Katie Peneueta is entering the Transfer Portal.

Peneueta transferred to NC State last offseason from Sacramento State, where she averaged 8.4 points, shooting 45.5% from three.

In her one year at NC State, Peneueta only played 8 games for the Wolfpack, battling injuries throughout the year. Peneueta has 1 year of eligibility.

With Peneueta entering the Portal, NC State now has 3 scholarships available heading into the 2024-25 season.

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NC State Basketball

Boston Center Caitlin Weimar is on an Official Visit to NC State

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2024

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Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.

Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.

This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.

With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.

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NC State Basketball

What did an ACC Title & Final Four Mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren?

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2 days ago

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April 17, 2024

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What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.

What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?

I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.

What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?

I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.

As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?

As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.

What was the most memorable moment for you?

I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.

How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?

I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.

_______

Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.

TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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