NC State Basketball
Lunardi has NC State down to a 10 seed. Is Wednesday night’s ACC Tourny game a must win?
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.
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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We never do anything easy
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 »
I sure hope we’re hungry and want to eat.
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.
T and JJ got snubbed off first team all ACC. Got something to prove!
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 »
Records aside, I feel Notre Dame is the most dangerous of the two teams we could face in our first game.
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.
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.
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 »
How many games will we win in the NIT?
Do you think we can beat Clemson if we beat VT? I don’t.