NC State Basketball
The Who, What, Where and When of NC State’s TBT Team Wolf Blood
I don’t remember a State sports season that just never ended, but it feels SO good. This July, for the first time ever, NC State has a team heading to the TBT (The Basketball Tournament). Here is your complete breakdown of everything Team Wolf Blood.
Wolf Blood’s opening game is July 24th at 1pm on ESPN3. If they win, they’ll play the very next day at 2pm on ESPN.
WHAT
TBT is a yearly, single elimination basketball tournament, broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. The winner takes home a cool $1 million. All teams are predominately made up of former college stars, with a few ex-NBAers thrown in. Furthermore, no current NBA players are allowed to play (although I believe that’s more an unwritten, “don’t be that team” rule).
Rosters split up the cash how they please and we get to reminisce about the years we were actually playing in March. *Sad laugh
WHERE
Team Wolf Blood opens up TBT as a 7th seed in the Columbus region. In their opening game, they’ll play Category 5, a Miami alumni team with Davon Reed, Dejan Vasiljevic and Anthony Lawrence. If they win? Most likely to face long-time entrant and region favorite, Red Scare, a Dayton alumni team. Similar to State, lots of 2013 faces from the Flyers team that made it to the Elite Eight.
WHEN
Team Wolf Blood tips-off on July 24th, if they win, again on the 25th. The TBT Final Four and Championship are in Dayton July 31st – August 3rd. If you’re ready to head to Ohio, tickets are on sale now.
WHO
Here’s the fun part. Lots of familiar faces and fan favorites on this squad. Thus, I’m already emotionally attached to their success. Let’s run through the roster.
COACHES:
Jordan Collins: Played at State from 2001-05, but wasn’t until his senior season that he saw decent minutes. Highlight of that senior year was finishing 13th in the ACC in blocks at 33.
Ralston Turner: An LSU transfer, Turner played for State for two seasons, average 11 points and 3 boards a game. His second season saw him finish 2nd in ACC for 3-point FG percentage.
PLAYERS:
Trevor Lacey: Played one season for the Wolfpack, but damn was it fun. Averaged nearly 18 points, 5 boards and 4 assists in route to a 2nd-Team ACC honor
Scott Wood: Howell and Wood are in a battle for “WPN Favorite” on this roster. Scotty “Shooter” Wood was a three-point machine for State. State’s all-time leader in threes (7th most in ACC history) and top-15 in State for overall points, Wood will bring that beautiful shot to Ohio. Playing a 138 games for the Wolfpack, he was still able to average 13.4 points a game.
Richard Howell: If you didn’t have that beard shirt back in the day, you were a loser. In his senior season with State, he averaged a double-double (12.7 points and 10.9 boards) on his was to All-ACC first team honors. Lead the nation in rebounds his senior season and ranks fifth all-time in ACC history.
Terry Henderson: On campus for two seasons, played really just one in the 2016-2017 season. Averaged nearly 14 points per game that year, finishing top-20 in the ACC in Offensive Rating, Free Throw Percentage and 3-Point Field Goals.
Torin Dorn: Played one season at UNC-Charlotte before becoming a huge part of the State program his junior and senior seasons. Those last two seasons, he averaged 14 points and nearly 7 boards a game. Senior season saw him finish top-8 in the ACC in Rebounds, and Field Goals Made.
Abdul-Malik Abu: Strong sophomore and junior seasons, bookended by less than ideal years. Abu average 12.5 points and 8 rebounds those middle years. For his career, he ranks as the 15th most offensive rebounds in ACC history.
C.J.Williams: Williams had a steady career at State. Playing all four years, it culminated in a 11 point, 4 rebound 2 assist senior season. That year he finished top-15 in the ACC in Steals, 2-Point Field Goals and minutes played.
Wyatt Walker: Walker known more for his gorgeous flow, played one season with the Wolfpack. Played in every game of the 2018-19 season, averaging 5 points and 4.5 boards.
Dez Lee: Played two seasons in Raleigh, his first year being his best. Averaged 8.4 points and 3 boards before Lacey took most of his minutes the following season.
Pack Insider will send along good ol’ updates throughout TBT. Also, give them a follow on all social media platforms. #GoPack
NC State Basketball
WATCH: Tim McKay’s Postgame Press Conference After Loss to Wake Forest (with transcript)
NC State Basketball
NC State Guards Aziaha James & Saniya Rivers will Serve as the Alpha Wolf Starter vs. Wake Forest
NC State’s standout Senior Guard duo of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers will serve as the Alpha Wolf Starters at the Wolfpack’s football game tomorrow against Wake Forest.
If you’re not familiar with what the Alpha Wolf Starter does, they come out before the team takes the field with a microphone in hand, for the sole purpose of hyping up the crowd, and getting the Wolf—Pack cheer going.
Rivers earned 1st Team All-ACC honors last year, and was also named AP All-American Honorable Mention. James also earned 1st Team All-ACC honors last year.
Rivers averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and James averaged 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
NC State Basketball
NC State’s Wes Moore has the 4th Most Career Wins Out of All Active D1 Men’s & Women’s Coaches
In 2013, NC State made on the best coaching hires in the history of the school when they hired Wes Moore to be the Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
Heading into the 2024-25 College Basketball season, Moore ranks 4th out of all Active Division 1 Head Basketball Coaches. That includes Men’s and Women’s coaches.
Moore will never catch Geno Auriemma, but he could possibly catch Rick Pitino and John Calipari.
When you look at the most wins in Women’s College Basketball history, Moore ranks 18th all-time. With the roster the Wolfpack has this year, Moore should move into 13th place all-time with ease.
Here’s a breakdown of Coach Moore’s wins:
Maryville – 131 wins (6 seasons)
Francis Marion – 69 wins (3 seasons)
Chattanooga – 358 wins (15 seasons)
NC State – 273 wins (11 seasons)
