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Summer Session Questions: What will NC State’s front court look like without Diarra and Burns?

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1 month ago

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During the Final Four run, NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts admitted that DJ Burns changed how he viewed running an offense with a true post player.

You can’t blame him. Burns was a unique ‘big’ whose offensive skillset was almost unmatched in college basketball. But it showed Keatts that having a offensive minded back to the basket post player can move the defense just as much as a guard who can create off the dribble.

I think instead of an offense hell-bent on getting up shots in volume and allowing their guards to be ball-dominant creators, you’ll see more balance. I think that is clear from the roster build.

For one, Mike O’Connell is back, and if he’s playing anywhere near the level he played down the stretch, he’ll be NC State’s PG and floor leader out of the gate. Having him on the floor will also, by nature, slow things down and allow the offense to be slightly calmer and more calculated.

That was the difference, in my opinion, down the stretch. Way less forced or contested shots. Way less playing around at the top of the key with the dribble looking for gaps to force a drive into. And more patience, moving the basketball and probing the defense with feeds into the post.

Keatts lost Burns, who was really good at playing the point from the post. But the reason he was able to do that is because defenses could not bring doubles (he was a great passer), and at the same time, he was a real threat to score from the block (he was a great scorer).

You aren’t replacing that, but bringing in Huntley-Hatfield shows that there is going to be more offensive focus on the post. Huntley-Hatfield was underutilized at Louisville and I think Keatts is going to ask him to play the same role as Burns. Get it on the block, stay patient, look for cutters, read the defense and react. Huntley-Hatfield can score it down there and I think in this system he’ll really start to show his full skill set.

If Huntley-Hatfield can do about 75% of what Burns was doing offensively, he’ll likely be of the same overall value for the Pack. Brandon’s defense will be 10x better than DJs ever was, and that will take a lot of pressure off the rest of the guys when trying to defend the pick and roll.

Replacing Burns is one thing, but then you also have to replace Mohamed Diarra.

Diarra was a rebounding machine for NC State down the stretch and his ability to knock down the 3 or score off the miss, was vital in their run. So without him, what do you do?

Well, NC State was not a dominant rebounding team by any means, not during the season and not during their run. Diarra was a double digit rebounder almost nightly during that run, but Burns wasn’t getting many boards and neither were any of the guards. Diarra averaged almost 8 boards per game on the season and the next best was Middlebrooks at 4.4 per game.

Meanwhile, Huntley-Hatfield averaged 8 per game. After that you’ll have to rely on rebounding by committee. Mike James (transfer guard) is a massive body who is going to do well on the boards, he averaged 5 per game, and then Dontrez Styles (transfer forward) averaged 6 per game at Georgetown. There is also Dennis Parker Jr who is a decent rebounder for his size. The wildcard here is Ismael Diouf, the Canadian big man who has yet to enroll.

Diof is a 6’9” forward who will be given the chance to earn real minutes this season according to sources.

Diof was drafted #1 in the Canadian League, but decided to come to NC State to pursue his NBA dreams.

Diof is a more skilled and less physical version of Diarra, but if he pans out, he’ll allow the Pack to look a lot like they looked during their run, with a capable big, and a giant 4 man who can spread the floor, while helping on the boards.

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A pasta eatin', Wolfpack lovin' loudmouth from Raleigh by way of New Jersey. Jimmy V and Chuck Amato fanboy. All opinions are my own and you're gonna hear'em.

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Rev
Rev
1 month ago

Joey, we don’t hear enough from you. With freshmen reporting hopefully we will see more news and comments about Diof and our last minute commitment Bryce Heard. It seems unreasonable to expect Diof to have the same impact as Diarra but I expect Styles to be strong enough to play a lot of minutes at the four. Summer speculation is all we have right now. Can’t wait for more details.

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NC State Basketball

It’s Official. NC State Men’s Basketball will be Playing in the Lenovo Center

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1 day ago

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September 12, 2024

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On Monday, the “PNC Arena” sign came off the building where NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes play, with their naming rights contract ending on August 31st. Speculation swirled around the possibility of the building becoming the Lenovo Center, because a leaked image from NHL 25 had the Canes playing on the ice of the Lenovo Center.

There is no need for speculation any longer. It’s official. The Carolina Hurricanes announced this morning that the home of the Wolfpack and Canes is officially the Lenovo Center, beginning this month. Lenovo’s naming rights contract runs through the 2033-34 NHL season.

“Lenovo has been a valued partner of ours for many years,” said Fork. “We’re thrilled to elevate that partnership now by renaming the arena Lenovo Center. Lenovo has both strong local ties and a worldwide footprint, and we’re proud to have the Hurricanes’ name associated with a true leader in global technology. As we transition to this new era, we are grateful for our longtime naming rights collaborator, PNC, who will continue to be a major partner of our organization.”

“This is an exciting day for Raleigh, Wake County, and the whole state of North Carolina,” said Philip Isley, Chairman of the Centennial Authority. “This partnership is about more than just re-naming the arena. Lenovo will play a vital role integrating technology into our upcoming arena renovations and enhancements. Lenovo has deep roots in North Carolina, and we’re thrilled that they are strengthening those roots with this naming rights agreement.”

“Lenovo has called North Carolina our home for nearly two decades. Like the Hurricanes, we take great pride in being a part of the Triangle community and we’re excited to expand our partnership with a world-class sports organization,” said Ryan McCurdy, Senior Vice President and President, Lenovo North America. “The arena is one of the most recognizable venues in the state and the newly named Lenovo Center will continue to be the premier destination for people to enjoy sporting events, concerts, and more.”

Lenovo is a Fortune Global 500 technology company with deep ties to North Carolina since 2005. One of the company’s two global headquarters is located in Morrisville, North Carolina. Lenovo is one of the largest employers in the Triangle region, with an estimated $1.5 billion economic and fiscal impact in North Carolina each year. Lenovo also supports the local community through philanthropic giving, employee volunteering, and community engagement initiatives.

(Link)

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-2034 = Lenovo Center

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NC State Basketball

A “First Look” at the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District has been Unveiled

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2 days ago

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September 11, 2024

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Pacific Elm Properties and Gale Force Sports and Entertainment unveiled today a “first look” of the forthcoming Raleigh Sports & Sports Entertainment District that will neighbor Carter-Finley Stadium and the building formerly known as PNC Arena.

The redevelopment of the 80-acre site, located just off I-40 and adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, will provide new opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment throughout the year, and will feature a unique outdoor realm for sports tailgating and programming. Tenants and outdoor spaces will be curated to serve fans of the Hurricanes and NC State alike, offering new ways to gather before sporting events while honoring the classic tailgating experiences that people have grown to love.

Phase one of the development will include more than 200,000 square feet of entertainment and lifestyle retail, 150,000 square feet of office space, a 150-key hotel and more than 500 apartments. Additional phases will expand this variety of uses over the expected 15-year development timeline.

The first phase, which is slated to kick off in December 2025, will include an expanded plaza to complement the upcoming arena renovation and will feature a 600-foot promenade lined with tailgating suites, balconies and new open space for thousands of fans to gather, blending time-honored traditions with state-of-the-art innovation.

The new tailgating experience will be directly adjacent to a 4,300-seat music venue operated by Live Nation and part of a larger five-acre tailgating space, including the plaza between Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena, which will also receive improvements. Enhanced tailgating and pre- and post-game entertainment options range from well-appointed luxury suites to roomy balconies and community spaces, new food and beverage offerings, a promenade and stage for live entertainment, and elevated amenities like convenient restrooms and additional quick and easy parking. Construction of the first phase also includes two parking garages that line either side of the tailgating experience, which is projected to be completed in time for the 2027 Wolfpack football season.

(Link)

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NC State Basketball

Is the PNC Arena About to Become the Lenovo Center?

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4 days ago

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September 9, 2024

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Ever since 2012, PNC Arena has been the home of NC State Men’s Basketball and the Carolina Hurricanes. Today, the sign “PNC Arena” came off of the building.

PNC Bank’s naming rights contract ran out on August 31st.

The Hurricanes announced today that they had reached an agreement for PNC Bank to be the sponsor of the arena’s club and club-level seating.

Could the home of NC State Men’s Basketball be called the Lenovo Center Next?

In a leak from the video game NHL 25, the following image has Lenovo Center written on the ice of the Hurricane’s home arena.

Image

Obviously it hasn’t been confirmed that Lenovo will be the next official sponsor of the arena, but the leaked image from the game  does seem oddly coincidental.

1999-2002 = Entertainment & Sports Arena

2002-2012 = RBC Center

2012-2024 = PNC Arena

2024-TBD = Lenovo Center?

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball To Play in the Jimmy V Classic for the 5th Time

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3 weeks ago

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August 24, 2024

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NC State’s Women’s Basketball team will be playing in the 2024 Jimmy V Classic on December 15th at Louisville at 1pm on ABC.

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Because the game will be against the Cardinals, it will serve as the Wolfpack’s ACC opener.

Here’s a look at the other matchups in the Women’s Jimmy V Classic.

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This marks the 5th time that the NC State Women’s Basketball team has played in the Jimmy V Classic: UConn (2002), Texas (2003), Tennessee (2004), South Carolina (2020).

The Wolfpack are 8-8 all-time against Louisville, but are currently on a 5-game winnings streak against the Cardinals.

ESPN ranks NC State 8th in their Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25, and they rank Louisville 12th. The Wolfpack finished 4th in the AP Poll last season, and the Cardinals finished 30th.

 

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