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OUR TAKE: On NC State’s weekend loss to Louisville

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2 years ago

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Terquavion Smith stepped up in a big way
With Morsell Out, we noted on Twitter that T. Smith was going to have to step up for this team to compete. And oh, did he ever. The freshman guard finished with 17 points on 7-11 shooting and 3-5 from long range. He also had 3 boards and 2 blocks. The more he plays, the more comfortable he’s going to feel out there, and the more the Pack will be able to rely on him as a scorer. He’s the best bucket-getter this team has, and it seems like he’s starting to come into his own.

Cam Hayes played great, but still struggling to create for others
Hayes can score it, but as we’ve mentioned, he’s being asked to run the point, where most of his shots are shots he has to create. It would be nice to move Cam off the ball for longer stretches. He finished with 15 points and 3 boards, but only 1 assist. Again, he didn’t turn it over, so he’s really protecting the ball, but that is coming at a cost. He’s playing conservatively as a PG and not pushing the issue on drives and dishes. We’ll continue to say it, but Cam Hayes is going to be a big-time player for this team, it’s just likely not going to be at the PG position.

Breon Pass will play a major role at PG for this team at some point this season
That brings us to our next point. Breon Pass didn’t have much of a stat line (0 points, 0 assists, 3 rebounds in 13 minutes), but watching the game we noticed something. Pass is playing with more confidence game by game. He had a spring in his step vs. Louisville and was looking a lot more confident than he has in previous outings. Once the shots start to fall (and they will, he was a high-end scorer in HS), you’re going to see a new player. Once Pass forces defenders to play up on him and defend the shot, he’s going to be able to get into the lane, find open men, and start to create the havoc that this Wolfpack offense has been missing.

Dereon Seabron continues to dominate all competition
Not much we need to say here. Seabron played great again, and most of his highlights came down the stretch when NC State needed him most. He only finished with 11 points, but he also added 9 rebounds (just missing ANOTHER double-double). You could see that it took him a while to get a feel for a stronger, more prepared defense. Louisville was keying on him every time down, but as the game wore one he started to see windows where he could attack, and that he did. This kid is going to continue to have a big season.

Dowuona’s progression continues
We can’t say enough about Dowuona. He is looking more and more comfortable out there. Sure, he only had 7 points, 3 boards, and 2 blocks, but he altered a ton of shots and even showed signs of some offense on the blocks. This was his first big test, having to guard a veteran big with talent and protect the rim from athletic ACC-level guards. If he can keep this improvement up then the Pack can compete night in and night out against most teams.

Long scoreless stretches plaguing the Pack
State is still going through these long stretches where they can’t score. That’s always going to happen when you have a team that is extremely reliant on jump shots. The problem isn’t the strategy, it’s the personnel. Without Bates, State doesn’t have a ton of confidence in clearing the lane and letting Dowuona work, but if they want to win, they need balance, and if they want balance they’re going to have to get SOMEONE who can at least try to score with their back to the basket. This will slow things down for them, and let them get to the line a little more when shots aren’t falling.

Only 6 turnovers. Amazing for a young team
This is an amazing number. Most of these were first-half turnovers. In fact, we believe only one of those turnovers happened in the second half. This isn’t just a low number for a team full of underclassmen, it’s a low number for any ACC team.

Killed on the boards
As much as we hyped Dowuona, he still only had 3 boards. Seabron again led the team with 9. But this team needs more. They were smoked on the boards 46-30. Without Bates, this is likely to continue to be a problem. Hellems did chip in with 5 which is good, but they need their center to gobble up at least 6 rebounds per game or this will be an outcome that we get used to seeing.

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Papajohn
Papajohn
2 years ago

Cam – I think he’s going to get better as a PG. Last season, with Bates and DJ to pass it to, he had 11 games with 4 or more assists, and 9 against Pitt. I think we’re going to see him get more comfortable with where to pass it, and his assist numbers go up. Breon – totally agree, he’s going to be good. I can’t wait. I worry that the PGs we are bringing in next season, and especially the year after, will push him to the transfer portal. But I hope not, he’s the kind of guy… Read more »

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NC State Basketball

Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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3 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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1 day 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.

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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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