WOLFERETTI: 3 keys to the game vs. Seton Hall

NC State has spent the past couple of days touring Maui, doing sunset cruises and squaring off against one another in Hula competitions. But today, it’s business time.

The #25th ranked Wolfpack is set to take on Seton Hall in the first round of the Maui Invitational at 2:30 pm on ESPN2.

As far as how good Seton Hall is, they aren’t as good as VCU and better that UAB. If you’re trying to put into context what you can expect, that’s probably how it looks.

Now, if NC State wants to walk away with the win today, here are the 3 things I think they need to do.

1) Score over 75 points.
Sounds easy, right? I mean, the Pack has scored 85 or more in every game. However, Seton Hall is making their money on defense. This is a team that ranks in the Top-30 nationally defensively and they are going to try to cause havoc. Offensively, they aren’t all that great. They are shooting 42% from the floor and 33% from 3. Meanwhile, State is shooting 54% from the floor and 43% from long range. If NC State’s offense can score 75+ and Seton Hall has even an average game, the Pack walks away with a victory.

2) Take care of the basketball
Ok, this really should be number 1, because it’s the most important. Seton Hall wants to turn you over. In fact, they rank 4th nationally in ‘Turnover %’ according to Ken Pom. NC State hasn’t been awful in the turnover column, but honestly, they haven’t been great either. Quadir Copeland has been uneven with his turnovers. He had 3 vs. VCU and 5 vs. UAB, but had zero in the other two games. And that’s NC State’s best ballhandler. Tre Holloman stepped in after Q got in foul trouble vs. VCU, and he had 5 of his own. Who is going to step up and protect the basketball for NC State? If nobody does, then Seton Hall has a shot in this game. If State can play smart and limit giveaways, then they should take care of business.

3) Get Paul McNeil Jr (P2) going early
Obviously, they’ll need a big game from Darrion Williams, but that’s a given. A key today is going to be P2. The reason the VCU game was even close was that McNeil Jr didn’t score a point. That’s after 16, 18, and 27 in his first 3 games. If McNeil is hitting, and you also have to deal with Williams, Holloman, and Q, then most teams really won’t have a chance. State desperately needs McNeil to be that secondary option (or on some nights, primary option) if they are going to reach their potential.