GAMEDAY: NC State looks to build momentum vs Coppin State @ 7PM | Preview & How to Watch

NC State Wolfpack (6-3) vs. Coppin State (0-10)
Time: 7PM EST
TV: ACCN
Line : NCSU -32.5
Location: Raleigh, NC

Preview:
NC State is coming off their ACC opening OT win vs. Florida State and set to take on a Coppin State team that has yet to win a game.

We’re not going to dive too deep into the stats in this one, as NC State is better than Coppin State in almost every category, but we will point out that they’ll want to focus on Julius Ellerbe III and Derrius Ward (both guards).

The 6’7 senior guard Ellerbe III is averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 boards (leading the team). He’s shooting just 36% from the floor and a pretty sad 21% from 3 point range. Meanwhile, Ward is averaging a team high 12 points per game but still only shooting 30% from long range.  If NC State can bottle them up, and I think they can, they should really run away with this one.

This is the last tune-up before they head to Lawrence to face #10 Kansas, who dropped 9 spots from #1 this past week. They lost to both Creighton and Missouri and are likely looking to get back on track.

What we’d like to see
If you’re NC State, you don’t want to take this game lightly, but at the same time, I think this is really a chance for them to get some guys acclimated. I’d love to see some major minutes from Ismael Diouf, the 6’9 forward who could really give the Pack some size at the 4, while still stretching the defense with his ability to knock down jumpers. Diouf has been trying to play catchup after being suspended for the first two games of the regular season.

I’d also like to see Paul McNeil get some more run and start to feel a little more comfortable at this level. He was a big time recruit for NC State and is a bonafied scorer (dropped 71 points in a HS game last year). So far he’s look pretty overmatched, but allowing him some floor time against a team like Coppin State could help him get going.

Trey Parker and Bryce Heard should also see some extended minutes in this one.

Aside from getting some younger guys some minutes, this is also an opportunity to get Brandon Huntley-Hatfield back into the fold. He’s struggled as of late and has lost a lot of his minutes to Ben Middlebrooks, who has been playing some great basketball over the course of the season.

Styles and Hill should have a lot of opportunities tonight, and I expect them to continue building on the momentum from the past two games. Both of those guys are starting to emerge as big-time playmakers for this Wolfpack team.