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Syracuse heads to Raleigh to face NC State this Wednesday night at 7 o’clock with coverage on ESPN2. The Orange stand at 13-9 on the season as well as 5-4 in ACC play. Syracuse is perfect at home this season but has not gained a single road win thus far. What do you need to know about Syracuse before Wednesday night?

Tyler Lydon and Andrew White are dangerous especially from three.

Syracuse as a team shoots 38% from the three point line with White and Lydon leading the charge. White and Lydon have combined to shoot 42% from distance, giving the Orange two players capable of stretching defenses. Andrew White leads Syracuse in PPG at 16.7 while providing tons of experience as he is a graduate transfer from Nebraska. Andrew White is known as a great shooter; however, he gave his team even more aginst FSU by rebounding and getting steals. In his last two games, he is averaging 25.5 PPG.

Tyler Lydon is a unique player as he is a big that possesses a smooth shooting stroke. This season the sophomore is shooting 44% (37-84) from three. Lydon is more than just a spot up shooter as he is averaging 7.9 RPG and 1.5 BPG. Syracuse’s 2-3 defense benefits from Lydon’s length and mobility that he uses to cover lots of space to guard the block as well as contest threes.


Defense is starting to come together for the Orange.

It has taken some time for Syracuse to gel together in their signature 2-3 zone this season. Tyler Lydon and Andrew White are the only two players to start every game thus far. Coach Boeheim has had to work to find the right combinations to give them the best chance on both ends. Andrew White is starting to understand his role in the 2-3 zone which has helped Syracuse slow down both Wake Forest and FSU in their last two games. White had four steals in their win over Florida State. As a whole Syracuse boasts length and quickness throughout their starting lineup allowing them to extend the zone. Teams are forced to shoot over length making it difficult to get clean looks. Syracuse’s team defensive stats are solid as they are allowing 68.4 PPG, 41% FG, and 32% 3FG.

Syracuse needs a strong finish to the season if they want to make it to the NCAA Tournament. They have not won a single game outside of the Carrier Dome thus far. Jim Boeheim has had a difficult time finding which players to play together as they are short on two-way players this season. Another thorn in Syracuse’s side has been rebounding out of their 2-3 zone which has led to a negative .1 rebounding margin. Can Syracuse push their win streak to 3 games all while notching their first road win of the season this Wednesday night?  Game time is at 7 o’clock with coverage on ESPN2.

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NC State Basketball

WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

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2 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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NC State Basketball

Guard Mike O’Connell Announces He Will Play His Final Year of Eligibility at NC State

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15 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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Guard Michael O’Connell announced today that he will be playing his final year of eligibility at NC State next season.

 

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Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.

This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.

O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.

He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.

NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).

Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.

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NC State Basketball

ECU Transfer Forward Ezra Ausar to NC State is Trending Up

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.

Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.

Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.

Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.

Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)

At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.

Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Signee Zamareya Jones Showed Out in the McDonald’s & Jordan All-American Games

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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NC State 2024 signee Zamareya Jones has played in the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic over the past month.

In the McDonald’s game on April 2nd, Jones had 13 points, helping her East squad defeat the West.

 

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In the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21st, Jones had 15 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. She also hit the game winner for Team Flight.

Jones is a 5-star prospect in the Wolfpack’s 2024 recruiting class, ranked 21st overall nationally by ESPN.

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