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NC State Basketball

Gameday: NC State Looks To Regroup Against GT

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9 years ago

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NC State @ Georgia Tech
12 noon | ACCN | Atlanta, GA

NC State needs to get back on track and fast. The Pack has fallen to 13-9 and 4-5 in the ACC. While none of their losses have been bad (RPI wise) the guys need to start winning again if they want to be a lock in March. Today’s game will be the first step in that direction.

What’s the Lineup?
Since Cody Martin has entered the Wolfpack starting lineup, the team has gone 1-3. At the surface you’d think it’s obvious that you need to put Cat back into the starting PG role, but look a closer and that might not be the case. In 2 of those 3 losses NC State was up by 18 or more early in the first half. In both of those games NC State started off very strong, but then lost their way. I think keeping Cody in the starting lineup is something Gottfried should stick with, but I think it’s playing with the lead that this team needs to worry about.

Playing withe the Lead
GT is one of the worst teams in the league this season. They sit at 1-7 in the league and have just not been able to get anything going thus far. It’s likely that the Pack is going to get a decent lead at some point today (barring a repeat of that Clemson game last week). When they get that lead they need to learn how to play with it. In the recent games they’ve dominated early the equation has been obvious. They are working inside-out and focusing on getting Abu in the paint. In the two games they did this, Abu got in foul trouble on the other end and they were forced to go with a different line up. This is when things fell apart. They can not abandon that type of play. They need to feed their bigs and allow their guards to play off of that. Teams are keying on Lacey and Turner and it’s making it hard for them to get off. With Abu, Washington and Anya getting touches down low, all of the sudden the defense needs to react, collapse and that’s when you’ll see Lacey and Turner really able to do some damage.

Get to the Line
State has had a hard time getting to the line lately. A big reason is that they don’t have anyone attacking. Abu is doing it and he is getting to the line and the Martins have been on occassion doing it as well. Lacey has the ability to do it and so does Washington but those two lean on their jumpers a little too much. Of course, their jumpers are a big part of their games and should not be abandoned, but when you jump out to big leads you can’t just sit back and shoot it, you have to put the pressure on the defense, wear them down and get to the line for some free points.

Now or Never
State deserpeately needs these next two games. You have GT today and then Wake. Both very winnable games. After that however is #2 UVA and #10 Louisville. If State keeps slipping on winnable games they are going to be dug into a whole too deep to get out of. They need to win all of their remaining winnable games and then steal one from UVA, Louisville or UNC if they want to be a lock.

 

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

I don’t know what finally made it click for Cat Barber but he played like the ball was a hot potato. Instead of the usual dribbling the ball for 25 seconds each possession, he actually moved the ball. And he was actually contributing on offense. Still not a fan of his but he could use more games like this. With all the rebounds we were giving up Gott switched to zone. However, I thought that he should have gone to zone earlier and with a bigger lineup. That would have helped with Abu’s foul trouble as well. Not sure why… Read more »

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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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5 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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16 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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17 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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