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Lunardi has NC State down to a 10 seed. Is Wednesday night’s ACC Tourny game a must win?

Published

3 weeks ago

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NC State was an 8 seed, teetering on moving up to a 7th seed just a couple of weeks ago.

Now, after being blown out by Clemson and losing to Duke, the Pack finds themselves looking at a 10 seed according to Joe Lunardi. In fact, he has them as one of the final 8 teams in.

What NC State has going for them is that they really don’t have any bad losses, and neither Notre Dame or VT is going to crush them in the NET, but this is NC State we’re talking about. There are no guarantees. That’s why they really need to win on Wednesday night to lock themselves in.

On the same token, they could make a run in the tournament and get back near that 8-seed territory . That’s where this Pack team currently is. Some days you wonder who could even beat them, and others where you aren’t sure how this team got to 22 wins.

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Papajohn
Papajohn
22 days ago

We never do anything easy

0
Dof87
Dof87
22 days ago

The site I’m looking at (Playoffstatus) says the probability we make the tournament with a loss on Wed is still 70%. If that’s remotely accurate it demonstrates we are not a lock, but also means a lot of there stuff has to work against us in addition to a loss. Even if we get in at that point we could be looking at the dreaded play in 11 seed. That would really suck. I think with a win we lock up a 9 seed. But what can you trust.. that site has Pitt still out while it seems they are… Read more »

Last edited 22 days ago by Dof87
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Afterglow
Afterglow
22 days ago
Reply to  Dof87

I sure hope we’re hungry and want to eat.

1
Afterglow
Afterglow
22 days ago
Reply to  Afterglow

And that’s not to say we never play with energy. I haven’t seen a game where we’ve slept walk this year, because team seems to play both halves. From my perspective, we just need to play smart and take smart shots and also make shots that we should be making. Easy peasy!!! Our offense clicking may just be the catalyst for peaking.

Last edited 22 days ago by Afterglow
1
Dof87
Dof87
21 days ago
Reply to  Afterglow

T and JJ got snubbed off first team all ACC. Got something to prove!

1
Rev
Rev
21 days ago
Reply to  Dof87

and IMO Joiner is the biggest snub! I cannot imagine another player being more important to his team. But I will say, this team is a TEAM. Five players can be counted on to score. Ross, Gantt, Ebe, and even Pass have always played with passion if not always with consistent performance. As a team, we really have massively improved on both offense and defense. So, bring ‘em on. No way Keatts doesn’t get everyone fired up for this game after losing the last two. The only worry is they get too emotional. That’s the excuse I am using for… Read more »

2
Afterglow
Afterglow
21 days ago
Reply to  Rev

Records aside, I feel Notre Dame is the most dangerous of the two teams we could face in our first game.

1
Dof87
Dof87
21 days ago
Reply to  Afterglow

I feel similar but Vegas likes VT to beat ND, so maybe we won’t have to worry. Last game they played us close but had high 3pt shot percentage plus out-rebounded us. Fouls were not a problem in that game.

Clark didn’t play in that game, and that means better rebounding and defending the 4 3 pt shooters for us.

We beat VT handily at their place, but throw that out the window in a tourney game.

1
Papajohn
Papajohn
21 days ago
Reply to  Dof87

VT was missing a starter, Hunter Catoor, in our first game. He’s their best 3PT shooter, shooting 42%. He’s got the full stat line 10.8 ppg / 3.9 reb / 2.4 assists / 1 steal. Good player. He’ll make a difference.
They scare the pants off me.

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Afterglow
Afterglow
21 days ago
Reply to  Papajohn

I think the first game in general is making me worried. If we play ND and they have a career day against us, we lose to a Q4 team. With three losses in a row and a final loss to a Q 4 team, that would not bode well for us. On the other hand, a win against VT could do wonders for us and almost assure we make it into the tournament (although, I’d feel safe as a State fan if we just won the whole damn thing, right?). Losing to them would suck only a little less in… Read more »

Last edited 21 days ago by Afterglow
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SorryIamafan
SorryIamafan
21 days ago
Reply to  Afterglow

How many games will we win in the NIT?

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SorryIamafan
SorryIamafan
21 days ago
Reply to  Rev

Do you think we can beat Clemson if we beat VT? I don’t.

0

NC State Basketball

NC State’s Terquavion Smith Will Forgo His Remaining College Eligibility & Declare for NBA Draft

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10 hours ago

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March 28, 2023

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Well, it’s official. NC State Sophomore Terquavion Smith will forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and officially declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.

Here’s what Smith had to say to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony regarding his decision.

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

“I showed a lot of different things this year,” Smith said. “Teams wanted to see me be more of a point guard, making the right play, making the right decisions. They wanted to see me improve my finishing, and I increased that. I showed I can be a leader.”

“I improved my grades. I’m a year closer to getting my degree now. You only get one chance to be a college student and get that college vibe. There was no rush for me. I’m ready to contribute to an NBA team now.”

“I’m feeling good about everything now,” Smith said. “I came back to do what I needed to do. I feel like I did everything the right way. I know what’s coming now in the pre-draft process because I’ve been there already and know what to expect. I’ll be a lot more confident in myself now. It’s going to be a straight grind.” (ESPN)

Smith earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors this year, averaging 17.9 points and 4.1 assists per game.

He currently ranks 30th on ESPN’s Top-100 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings. In most NBA Mock Drafts, Smith is projected as a late first round pick.

Smith’s career scoring average of 17.1 ranks 8th in school history. He made 187 three point shots in two seasons, ranking 8th all-time in NC State history. His 96 made three-pointers last year are the most ever by a Freshman in school history, and his 91 made three-pointers made this year are the most ever by a Sophomore.

If Smith goes on to be taken in the 1st round of the 2023 NBA Draft, it will be the first person to do so from NC State since Dennis Smith Jr. was taken 9th overall in 2017. If Smith is taken in the first round, the would become the 17th player in school history to do so.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2022-23 Season: BY THE NUMBERS

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15 hours ago

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March 28, 2023

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2022-23 season has come and gone, and I thought we should take a moment to look back on this season BY THE NUMBERS.

  • NC State finished the season with a 23-11 overall record.
    • The 23 wins are the 2nd most of the Kevin Keatts era.
      • In 2018-19, the Wolfpack had 24 wins (2 in the NIT)
  • The Wolfpack had 22 regular season wins.
    • This was the most regular season wins since 2012-13.
  • NC State had 12 ACC regular season wins.
    • This is the most conference wins since they increased the slate of conference games to 20 in 2019-20.
    • It’s the most conference wins since 1973-74, when the Wolfpack was 12-0 in ACC play. Obviously this stat is not representative of the best conference performance by NC State since 1973-74, because they played significantly more conference games than years past.
  • The Wolfpack’s winning percentage in ACC play was 60%, which is the 2nd highest winning percentage in conference play under Kevin Keatts.
    • In his first season in 2017-18, the Wolfpack’s ACC winning percentage was 61.1%.
  • NC State shot 45% from the field this season;.
    • This is the 2nd to worst shooting season under Kevin Keatts, trailing only 41.3% last year.
  • The Wolfpack shot 34.7% from three-point range.
    • That number is the 4th best in 6 seasons under Kevin Keatts.
  • NC State shot 72.2% from the free-throw line.
    • This is the 2nd best number under Kevin Keatts (72.5% last year was the best year).
  • For the first time since 2018-19, NC State won the rebounding margin over their opponents on the year.
    • It was the 2nd highest rebounding margin under Kevin Keatts, with +1.7 margin. (In 2018-19, the margin was +4.3)
  • NC State averaged 77.7 points per game, which is the third highest number under Kevin Keatts, but the highest since 2018-19.
  • The Wolfpack forced 477 turnovers, which is the 3rd highest total under Kevin Keatts, and the most since 2018-19.
    • NC State only committed 320 turnovers, which is the lowest total under Keatts (328 in 2020-21, which was a shortened season, was the lowest before.)
  • NC State held opponents to a 44.5% field goal percentage, which is the lowest since 2019-20, and the third lowest under Keatts.
  • The Wolfpack held opponents to 31.6% from three, which is tied for the 2nd lowest percentage under Keatts.
  • NC State had 434 assists, which is tied for the 3rd most in a season under Keatts.
  • The Wolfpack had 152 blocks, which is the most in a single season under Keatts.
  • NC State finished ranked 51 in KenPom’s

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NC State Basketball

UNC Transfer Dontrez Styles Expected to Visit NC State Soon

Published

4 days ago

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March 24, 2023

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UNC Guard/Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/210) is expected to be visiting NC State soon. According to a source, he was expected to take an unofficial visit tomorrow, but it has been rescheduled to Monday.

Styles entered the Transfer Portal on March 17th.

Over the past two seasons, Styles has seen limited action for the Tar Heels, averaging 5.9 minutes in 45 total games (15 this season).

Styles is no stranger to NC State. He played high school for Kinston (Kinston, NC), and was offered by Kevin Keatts. Styles was a consensus 4-Star prospect coming out of High School. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally in the 2021 recruiting class, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #21 player currently in the Transfer Portal.

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NC State Basketball

All-AAC Temple Transfer Damian Dunn Visiting NC State this Weekend

Published

4 days ago

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March 24, 2023

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According to a source, Temple All-AAC Transfer Shooting Guard Damian Dunn (6’5″/195) was expected to be at NC State today on an unofficial visit.

Dunn entered the Transfer Portal on March 20th.

Dunn averaged 15.3 points per game this season, earning 3rd Team All-AAC honors. He shot 41.1% from the field this season, and 34.8% from three-point land.

In 2021-22, he led the Owls in scoring (14.9), and earned 2nd Team All-AAC honors.

Dunn originally is from Kinston, North Carolina, but played his Senior season of High School for Meadowcreek in Georgia, finishing his high school career as a 3-star prospect.

With the almost guaranteed loss of Terquavion Smith, NC State will be in need for a dynamic scorer, and Dunn has proven that he can do just that at the collegiate level.

Currently, Dunn is the 16th ranked player in the Transfer Portal according to ON3.

Dunn is a Redshirt Sophomore this season, with 2 years of eligibility remaining.

 

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