NC State Basketball

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

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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
1 year ago

We never do anything easy

Dof87
Dof87
1 year 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 1 year ago by Dof87
Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year ago
Reply to  Dof87

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

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year 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 1 year ago by Afterglow
Dof87
Dof87
1 year ago
Reply to  Afterglow

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

Rev
Rev
1 year 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 »

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year 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.

Dof87
Dof87
1 year 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.

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 year 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.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year 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 1 year ago by Afterglow
SorryIamafan
SorryIamafan
1 year ago
Reply to  Afterglow

How many games will we win in the NIT?

SorryIamafan
SorryIamafan
1 year ago
Reply to  Rev

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

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