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NC State will look to have more energy and focus as they square off aginst Syracuse tonight at 7 o’clock with coverage on ESPN2. The Orange have not won a single road game this season. NC State, on the other hand, has been solid at PNC Arena with an 11-2 record. What are the keys to the game for NC State to beat Syracuse?

NC State cannot be content to pass the ball around the perimeter aginst the 2-3 zone.

Syracuse uses a 2-3 matchup zone defense that leverages their length to force teams to beat them from the outside. NC State must be disciplined to penetrate the interior with the pass as well as the dribble. The Wolfpack will not be successful if they casually pass the ball around the perimeter settling for contested threes. Dennis Smith and company must be willing to attack the gaps to draw attention finding the open man. A lineup that has both Smith and Johnson could be helpful as that would give NC State two players capable of attacking the seams to draw extra defenders. Malik Abu must move constantly looking to find the soft spots underneath, also looking to attack the offensive glass.

Defensively NC State will need to stop Andrew White and Tyler Lydon.

At Lousiville NC State allowed Donovan Mitchell to have clean looks early, the result was devastating. Tonight they cannot allow White to get going early because he is capable of carrying the Orange. White is averaging 25.5 PPG over the last two games as Syracuse beat Wake and FSU. The scouting report on White is that he is a shooter the Pack must run him off the three-point line, leaving him open will be costly. Andrew White leads the ACC in made three-pointers per game at 3.2.

Tyler Lydon presents a different challenge with his ability to stretch the floor with his jump shot. NC State has struggled at defending stretch fours. Lydon is shooting 44% from the three-point line on the season and is playing with confidence. The strategy for the Pack has to be to sell out hard on Lydon, therefore, forcing him to dribble. If Lydon is allowed to catch and shoot NC State will be in for a long night.

Play with energy and emotion.

NC State can hang with any team if they play with fire and energy; however, too often they haven’t. It is frustrating that this is an issue especially at this point in the season. Syracuse will be desperate to notch their first road win of the season. NC State has got to come out with intensity to take the Orange out of their comfort zone. The Wolfpack need to be physical taking the fight to them. Attacking the rim on offense as well as extending pressure defensively. The Wolfpack must create some excitement early in order to get the crowd behind them Game time is at 7 o’clock with coverage on ESPN2.

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Wormncsu
Wormncsu
7 years ago

When he took Smith Jr out around that 8 min mark and put in Johnson momentum changed drastically and we never recovered.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

Fire Gott. Can’t get any worse can it?

1
mc991
mc991
7 years ago

16 point lead with 8 minutes to go… no excuse.

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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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3 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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15 hours 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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16 hours 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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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Kevin Keatts and DJ Burns Sounded the Siren at the Canes Game Tonight

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1 day ago

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April 30, 2024

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NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts and the beloved DJ Burns were both Siren Sounders for the Canes this evening, with Carolina defeating the Islanders 6-3, winning the Round 1 series 4-1.

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