NC State’s roster flexibility was key in win over VCU as Wade opts to ‘go big’ down the stretch

The one thing that jumps out at you about this roster is how flexible it is.

They have 2 PGs in Quadir Copeland and Tre Holloman.

They have two 2 Guards (McNeil & Able) at 6’6 who could slot at their the 2 or the 3.

They have Darrion Williams who can play the 3, 4 or 5.

They have 6’9 Jerry Deng who can play the 3, or 4.

They have Musa Sagnia who can play the 4 or the 5.

The options are endless, and honestly, it’s nice to see that flexibility being utilized. Last year, we called it out numerous times. NC State was being beat for playing so small and the staff seemed to have no interest in altering their small-ball philosophy. Heck, they even proved it themselves during the Final Four run, but failed to include it in the following year’s game plan.

Fast forward to this year, and we have a new coach with new players, and an entirely new openness to shifting strategy mid-game to find a way to win.

Last night, with VCU using NC State’s switching to create mismatches inside, Will Wade decided to try something we haven’t seen all season. With 9 minutes left in the game, he subbed Lubin in alongside Sagnia. Two centers, with the 6’6 Williams at the 3. Suddenly NC State went huge.

“Yeah, I just thought we needed to be a little bit bigger, particularly on rebounding.” said Wade. “I thought that those two gave us the best chance to rebound. We played with those lineups in practice. We just hadn’t played with them much in a game. Sometimes you need different things….Sometimes you need defense and rebounding. Musa and Ven give us a great chance. But I thought that Musa and Ven played well out there together. They did exactly what they’d done for us in practice, and I thought that that was important, and that shows some of the versatility of our team and our lineups.”

That lineup entered after VCU has clawed from down 7 to down just 2.

This bigger lineup made VCU change its approach, and while NC State never really pulled away, they did get the lead back up to 5 within 5 minutes of this group being on the court.

I think this bigger lineup is why you see NC State’s rebounding drastically improve in the 2nd half.

NC State had 21 rebounds in the first half. VCU had 20. (NC State +1)

NC State had 4 offensive rebounds in the first half. VCU had 9. (VCU +5)

Now, let’s put that up against their second-half totals…

NC State had 24 rebounds in the second half. VCU had 11. (NC State +13)

NC State had 10 offensive rebounds in the second half. VCU had 3. (NC State +7)

That right there is the difference in the game. NC State went big, and won the battle of the boards at the 3 and the 4 spot.

Lubin had 6 of his 9 rebounds in the second half, and Darrion Williams had 5 of his 7 boards in the second half after combining for just 5 total in the first half.

This is coaching, and this is why Will Wade makes the big bucks. Coming into this game, it’s unlikely the game plan was to go big and lumbering against VCU, but as the night played out, and VCU seemed to have a clear advantage on the glass with NC State’s usual starting 5, Wade decided to shake things up and adapt.

That move itself, in my opinion, is why NC State is now 4-0 instead of 3-1.