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NC State Basketball

Selection Sunday

Published

9 years ago

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Teams are anxiously awaiting their fate as today is the day bubbles burst for many teams around the country. NC State and their fans have had the uneasy feelings associated with Selection Sunday for the past few years as the Pack has eeked their way into the dance. This season is different as the Wolfpack is seen as a lock to be in the NCAA, but there are still plenty of unknowns that create excitement. It’s not a question of are we in, but what seed will the Pack receive. As I have researched the “so called experts” (ESPN,CBS,USA Today, FOX, and Bracket Matrix) it is a safe bet that the Wolfpack will be as high as an 8 seed or as low as a 1o seed. The consensus seems to have the Pack playing the 8 vs 9 match-up as 3 of the 5 have State as an 8 or 9. Only two have the Pack as a 10 seed (CBS and USA Today).

Personally I hope that Shelby Mast of USA Today and Jerry Palm of CBS are correct in projecting the Wolfpack as a 10 seed, this would eliminate the possibility of playing a #1 seed in the second round. In my opinion I believe that the Wolfpack is as capable as any team to knock off a #1 as we have proven to beat elite teams this season; however, I would still prefer playing a #2 seed in the second round especially since Gonzaga and UVA are likely two seeds. Some of the things that the Pack have in their favor as they enter the NCAA is that they have played a difficult schedule and have seen different playing styles thus far. The ACC has provided State will a variety of philosophies that will help the Pack strategize against any team that they may be matched up against.

Here are some of the potential match-up’s as of Sunday Morning:

ESPN Joe Lunardi: (8) NC State vs (9) Dayton: Winner plays Villanova in 2nd round

CBS Jerry Palm:  (7) Utah vs (10) NC State: Winner plays Gonzaga in 2nd round

USA Today Shelby Mast: (7) Michigan State vs (10) NC State: Winner plays Kansas

FOX Stewart Mandel (8) ST. John’s vs (9) NC State: Mandel doesn’t have #2 seed locked down

Bracket Matrix: (9) NC State: Bracket Matrix uses statistics to determine seeding but does not show match-up’s

 

Tune into CBS at 6 PM to find out who the Pack will play this coming week. We will have plenty of breakdowns coming leading up to NC State’s game. Who would you like to see the Pack play?

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
9 years ago

Wolfer96 wormncsu Purvis is a chump.  His game was not near 5 star level.  He probably cost us Randle along the way.  He got what he deserved.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

wormncsu I don’t blame Purvis. I thought he made a bad decision coming to State in the first place. If his ultimate goal was to play in the NBA then he had to play PG. He was too short to play SG at the next level and he was a good shooter but not great. But then UConn was also a horrible choice because they had a PG in Boatright. So no understanding the school choices he made.

You’re right he should not have listened to the idiots around him.

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wormncsu
wormncsu
9 years ago

Purvis left with hopes of being groomed to be an NBA point guard. For most of the season he played lack luster at best. If he had stayed he could of played in the NCAA’s each year. Some of the kids need to learn to stop listening to outsiders on how good they think they are and just stick it out. If you look at our transfer history though the kids we have lost are nowhere near as good as the ones we have gained. As far as Gottfried goes maybe he is not an NCAA championship coach but you… Read more »

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

Everyone better have 2 brackets filled out. 1 where we get bounced in the 1st round and 1 where we go elite 8. I think all things considered we got lucky and placed in the best possible bracket. Villanova is the weakest 1 seed of the tournament.  It was nice to relax for a change on selection Sunday. As a State fan it feels odd not to have that sinking feeling leading up to the selection show. I thought it was rather sad that UConn did not make the tourney. Purvis has to sit out last season during UConn’s championship… Read more »

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
9 years ago

Who would I like to see the Pack play?  That’s a good question.  I have a better one.  Which Pack team will show up next week?  If the last one shows, it doesn’t matter whom we play.  On the other hand, if we are playing well, I would like a match up eventually with Gonzaga.

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NC State Basketball

The Roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball Team is all but Set Heading into 2024-25

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3 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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NC State does have 1 scholarship available, and could still add a player out of the Transfer Portal. With that being said, the roster for the Men’s Basketball team is pretty much set for the 2024-25 season.

Non-graduates had to enter the Transfer Portal by April 30th, and Graduates had to enter by May 1st. Jayden Taylor and Michael O’Connell both made public announcements that they were returning, but the closure of entrance to the Portal means that Breon Pass, Ben Middlebrooks, Dennis Parker Jr. and MJ Rice are all set to return next season.

In a world where the Transfer Portal has all but become free agency in College Basketball, with some players switching schools on an annual basis, it’s encouraging that Kevin Keatts not only recruited a Top-10 Transfer Class, but also recruited a majority of the eligible players to stay. Three players that could transfer entered the Portal (I’m not counting Mohamed Diarra in these numbers, who opted to go pro), while 6 opted to continue running with the Wolfpack.

As a result, below is a breakdown of the roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball team heading into 2024-25, realizing the Wolfpack could still add one player (this team is deep).

1 year of Eligibility 

Guard Michael O’Connell
Guard Marcus Hill
Guard Breon Pass
Guard/Forward Jayden Taylor
Forward/Guard Dontrez Styles
Forward Ben Middlebrooks
Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

2 Years of Eligibility

Guard/Forward MJ Rice
Guard Mike James
Guard Jordan Snell (Walk-On)
Guard KJ Keatts (Walk-On)

3 Years of Eligibility 

Guard/Forward Dennis Parker Jr.

4 Years of Eligibility 

Guard Paul McNeil
Guard Trey Parker

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2024 Transfer Class Ranks in the Top-10 Nationally

Published

3 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.

ON3

247Sports

NC State’s 2024 4-Man Transfer Class

Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)

Guard/Forward Dontez Styles (Georgetown)

Guard Mike James (Louisville)

Guard Marcus Hill (Bowling Green)

NC State still has a chance to move up in the rankings. East Carolina Power Forward Ezra Ausar just wrapped up an Official Visit to NC State, and things are looking good for the Wolfpack. ON3 ranks Ausar as the #67 overall player in the Portal, and the #15 Power Forward.

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NC State Basketball

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

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4 days 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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4 days 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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael O’Connell (@michaeloc_12)

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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