NC State Nuggets Heading into Vegas Showdown

NC State will play their first game in the Vegas Showdown tonight against Vanderbilt at 10pm. Then tomorrow, they will play either Arizona State of BYU. Below are a few nuggets before the Wolfpack steps onto the hardwood tonight.

I know most teams have only played a handful of games, and NC State’s competition hasn’t been elite, but their defense has been superb.

• The Wolfpack currently rank 2nd in the ACC in scoring defense (58.7), 4th in field goal percentage defense (38.0), 1st in Turnover Margin (+8.0), and 3rd in turnovers forced per game (15.7).
  • Side note…NC State currently ranks 1st in turnovers committed per game (7.7)
• NC State has held their first three opponents to under 40% shooting from the field.
• Last year, the Wolfpack led the ACC in forcing turnovers (13.21).

The Wolfpack’s offense isn’t one-dimensional, with different players rising to the occasion to contribute each night.

• There has been a different leading scorer in each game.
  • D.J. Burns led the way in Game 1, with 16 points against The Citadel. Jayden Taylor had 22 points in Game 2 against Abilene Christian. Tonight, D.J. Horne led the Pack with 18 points.
• Seven different players have scored in double figures.
  • D.J. Burns – 3x
  • D.J. Horne and Casey Morsell – 2x
  • Jayden Taylor, Michael O’Connell, Dennis Parker Jr. and Mohamed Diarra – 1x

D.J. Burns is putting the ball through the net at a clip that is noteworthy.

• His field goal percentage of 74.1% ranks 2nd in the ACC.
• He ranked 4th in field goal percentage last year (56.1)
• Burns’ career field goal percentage at NC State is 57.3%, which ranks 3rd in school history behind D.J. Funderburk (57.7%) and Kevin Thompson 58.8%

Once again, NC State is taking care of the basketball under Kevin Keatts.

• NC State currently ranks 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.96)
  • Point Guard Mike O’Connell ranks 1st in the conference in Assist/Turnover Ratio (6.5:1)
• NC State currently ranks 1st in turnovers committed per game (7.7).
• Last season, the Wolfpack led the ACC in Turnover Margin (3.79)
  • They also ranked 7th in the nation in Turnovers Committed (9.4).