NC State Wolfpack vs. Butler Bulldogs
Time: 10:00 PM
Location: Bahamas (Battle 4 Atlantis)
TV: ESPN2
NC State takes on a 4-2 Butler team that is picked to finish in the middle of the Big East.
The storyline here is that Manny Bates, NC State’s former center, will be facing off against his old team. Bates left the NC State front court with a bare cupboard when he transferred. However, it has since been filled by two guys that NC State fans are really excited about in Mahorcic and Burns. Will Bates get the upper hand, or will the new look NC State frontcourt prove they’re better off without Bates?
Bates is averaging 12 points, 7 boards, and 3 blocks. That’s a tick-up from what Pack fans were seeing during Bates’s sophomore campaign and kind of what they expected last season before his shoulder injury. So no surprises here. Bates is an elite shot blocker who is decent in the post but will be motivated to prove he’s better off at Butler.
Meanwhile, he needs to do that without getting into foul trouble, as Butler is down a few bigs and will likely be suiting up just 8 scholarship players. Last night against BYU their starting 5 played almost the whole game.
While we are focused on Bates, Butler is really a guard-oriented team, playing 3 guys under 6’4 and with their 4 man coming in at 6’6. This team could cause fits for bigger, slower teams, but NC State is kind of built this way too. The Pack runs out 3 guards under 6’4 and their 4 man is 6’8 but plays more like a wing (Clark is quicker than Lukosious, their 4 man).
The main matchup to watch will be Jayden Taylor vs. Terquavion Smith or Casey Morsell. Taylor is averaging 16 ppg. Taylor has been their go to guy, able to score at the rim or from beyond the arc.
The one area of true concern with Butler is their ability to shoot it. Their 3 guards are all shooting over 40% from long range. This is a team that is going to drive, draw and dish and NC State has struggled at keeping tabs on shooters. They tend to get sucked in and leave shooters open on the perimeter. They need to stay home, close out under control and not allow for Butler to pump fake, drive and start putting pressure on the NC State bigs to stop rim runs.
Butler is a winnable game for NC State, and while the story might be Bates vs the Pack, it’s going to be more about who wins the guard matchup.
OH yeah, I forgot about Manny being there. I wish him the best but not today.
Will be interesting to watch big body Burns batlle ball batting Bates.