Wolferetti: BEWARE! Do not look ahead to ACC play! Richmond and Wright State may dictate State’s tourney chances

The Pack is coming off a heartbreaking OT loss to #1 Purdue.

The mood in the locker room is likely upbeat despite the loss. This group who everyone was picking to finish near the bottom of the ACC almost beat OK State and should have beaten both Louisville and #1 Purdue. Sure, there are things they need to clean up, but they have to be feeling pretty confident in their ability to win on any given night.

But here comes the Christmas break. And right after that starts conference play. Meanwhile, sandwiched between now and then are two games against two unranked teams, neither are sexy opponents, and neither are on the prime-time TV slate.

These are trap games. They are, in my opinion, the scariest part of the schedule and games that don’t look like much now, but could very well dictate this team’s fate in the NCAA Tournament come March.

Richmond comes in at 6-4, but they are a team of all upperclassmen, and they are good. They play a very disciplined brand of basketball and will require a ton of focus from Wolfpack defenders.

After that is Wright State. Now, Wright State is 2-7. They have some bad losses, but you know what, they are likely a tournament team. Look around, almost everyone has predicted the Raiders to either win the Horizon League or come damn close.

So I know everyone is decompressing and gathering themselves after the Purdue loss. I know everyone is traveling for Christmas, picking up presents, and trying to send out those last-minute Christmas cards, all while checking the State schedule and seeing they don’t play an opponent you care about until they face Miami at the end of December. But I’m warning you, both players and fans! These games right here are the games that make or break your season. They are quality opponents and the games are taking place at a time when this team may be a little vulnerable. It’s time to focus in and make sure you don’t regret taking these two more seriously.