Edey is a MONSTER. The sophomore is 7’4 and closing in on 300lbs and isn’t some ‘no-talent big with hands of stone.’ This kid is pretty physical and can finish around the basket. He’s currently averaging 15 points and 7 boards per game, all while shooting 74%.
So how is NC State going to guard this guy?
I mean, Dowuona is coming into his own and all, but he was getting pushed around pretty bad by Colgates Jeff Woodward, who is 6’11 and 270lbs. Woodward scored 14 points in that one. And then there was Kenny Lofton Jr, who at 6’7 and 275lbs looked like an all-star vs. State, dropping 36 (a season-high) points on Dowuona.
Ebe Dowuona is 6’11, but he’s only weighing in at 225lbs. He’s going to be giving up nearly 70lbs to Edey in this game. That’s almost an unprecedented difference between bigs, but we’re going to see how that plays out.
Keatts really has no one to throw out there to try to body Edey up, so the game plan is likely going to be, use your quickness to deny entry. That might work, but it will also allow them to go over the top (making it necessary that the Pack will have to have someone pinching down on helpside), which means if Edey can catch it and reverse the ball, the 3 will be wide open.
And let’s not forget that Zach Edey isn’t even Purdue’s only great big. They also have Trevion Williams, who is averaging 13 points and 9 boards per game. He’s more mobile and a more skilled player, but still checks in at 6’10, 255lbs ( a little more manageable for Dowuona).
This is really a pick your poison game for Keatts and NC State. They are going to be at a disadvantage somewhere. They can either pinch down and try to help in the paint, or they can let the bigs go one on one and clamp down on the shooters. Either way, State is going to have to score it like they haven’t scored it all year, all while, limiting Purdue in some way, shape or form.
NC State started their 2023-24 ACC slate with a 84-78 win over Boston College. Her’s a look at the victory BY THE NUMBERS.
Let’s start with team numbers.
NC State won in 3 of the 4 Factors, which is a good recipe for a victory. All 4 factors matter, but they are ranked in level of importance from left to right. Obviously, shooting the ball better than your team is of the utmost importance, which NC State did. In a category the Wolfpack normally excels in, they lost the turnover battle in Chestnut Hill. Turnover Percentage was the only Factor that NC State wasn’t superior in. They also grabbed a higher percentage of possible offensive rebounds, and clearly won at the charity stripe in Free Throw Rate.
D.J. Horne had a season high of 21 points, and he also led the team with 5 assists, turning the ball over only once. Horne also had 5 rebounds.
NC State was +13 when Horne was on the court, which was a team high.
Jayden Taylor had 18 points, shooting a clean 5 of 8 from the field, and was 2 of 3 from three. Taylor also had 7 rebounds and a team high 4 steals.
On the year, Taylor is blistering the net from beyond the arc, shooting 48.1%
D.J. Burns had 17 points, but shot under 50% from the field for the second straight game, making only 8 of his 19 shots. He also led the team with 5 turnovers. Despite that, the Wolfpack were +10 when Burns was on the court, which was the 2nd highest on the squad.
Burns did foul out of the game.
Casey Morsell had 12 points.
He shot poorly from the field (3-9), but great from three (3-6).
Mohamed Diarra had freaking 18 rebounds.
That’s the most since Dereon Seabron had 19 back on December 1, 2021.
Boston College shot 53.8% from the free throw line.
They also shot 28.6% from three.
Both of those numbers are the worst an opponent has shot against NC State so far.
NC State shot 44% from beyond the arc, which is a season high for the Pack.
They also shot 85.7% from the free throw line, which was also a season high.
NC State (4-2) will play their first ACC game of the 2023-24 season tomorrow on the road against Boston College (5-2), and they enter the game as slight underdogs. The Wolfpack are 1.5-point underdogs, and the Total is 150.5.
NC State is 0-2 Straight Up as underdogs
BC is 4-1 Straight Up as favorites.
NC State is 2-4 Against the Spread.
BC is 4-3 Against the Spread
The Total has gone Under in 2 games for NC State, Over in 3 and Pushed in 1.
The Total has gone Under in 3 games for Boston College and Over in 4.
NC State is 6-4 in their last 10 games against BC Straight Up.
NC State is 4–6 Against the Spread in their last 10 games against BC.
The Total has gone Under in 5 games, and Under in the other 5.
The 5th ranked NC State Women’s Basketball team improved to 8-0 tonight, defeating Vanderbilt 70-62 in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.
Notes
Saniya Rivers scored 20+ points for the 2nd time this season, scoring 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting. She also chipped in 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
River Baldwin posted her first double-double of the season. She scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards.
Aziaha James has now scored in double figures in 7 of 8 games, scoring 14 points tonight, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
Freshman Zoe Brooks led the Pack in steals (4) and assists (4).
NC State didn’t shoot well, making only 39% of their shots. Fortunately, they held Vandy to 34.3% shooting.
The Wolfpack will host Illinois State on Sunday at 2pm.