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NC State Basketball

For Gottfried It’s All About The Competition

Published

9 years ago

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Yesterday morning Coach Mark Gottfried was with Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio and he hit  on a couple of topics as to why his team has had such a strong finish to the season. His main supporting argument as to why they upset the #1 seeded Villanova Wildcats was the strength of schedule that the Pack played this season. Not only does NC State play in the best basketball conference in the nation (5 teams in the Sweet 16) but the Wolfpack didn’t rely solely on the class of the ACC, they went out and played a challenging non-conference schedule. Coach Gottfried spoke about how his guys saw Villanova as just another team in front of them and how they have great confidence each night because of the teams they have played thus far.

He then cited the facts that our players have proven capable of beating world class opponents as they have won on the road versus Louisville and UNC. He pointed out that his guys have kept their heads up through the low points and have never lost that sense of belief. A quote I love from former player Scott Wood is, “if you don’t play anyone, you don’t beat anyone.” How true is this statement? How often do we see top seeds coast through an easy non-conference schedule and a weaker conference only to find their way out of the tournament before the second weekend?

Not only has Coach Gottfried made it a point of emphasis to schedule a tough non-conference schedule that is usually comprised of teams that have a track record for making the NCAA Tournament but he has laid a blue print for getting into the dance as well. Many can argue that in the last few years and even this season a big reason why the committee overlooked the fact that our teams have lost more than 12 games  is because we have had such a high RPI and SOS. Gottfried recognizes this and this is the reason he will continue to schedule the best of the best.

Let’s take a look at how NC State moved past what looked like a classic example of a collapse within the last minute of the Villanova game. In the last minute or so the Wildcats chose to press the Pack which we handled with success, until Trevor Lacey was about to get trapped and the unthinkable happens…he over throws a wide-open Dez Lee at half court. At this juncture I know that Wolfpack fans across the country thought not again! With 36.8 seconds remaining the Wildcats were only down 2 points and it’s their ball. Our guys all look towards each other and make the choice to not allow Trevor to be the scape goat. In that next to final possession our guys defend like their lives depended on it and the Wildcats missed a three pointer to win it. Cat Barber collects the rebound and in the next 14 seconds State steps up and sinks free throws to win the game.

In my opinion the Wolfpack didn’t collapse because they have seen every possible situation this season and have learned how to handle adversity. By playing a rigorous schedule, the Pack has learned that you must never give up or let your guard down. If our guys would have lost focus and thought that the game was over once the Wildcats missed with 14 seconds remaining we could very well be talking about what could have been. Luckily for the Wolfpack,  they have learned their lessons and have begun to apply them at the right time. Let’s hope we can use all of our experiences this coming Friday and keep the momentum going as we look to take down the Cardinals of Louisville for a second time this season

 

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ThatWiggaJigga
ThatWiggaJigga
9 years ago

The NCAAA tourney is a different beast.  We had that game won and were handling the pressure while hitting our free throws.  In no way a collapse.  Nova took and hit 3 very tough 3’s at the very end of that game.  This is the tourney though, None of these guys want to go home and Nova is filled with some great offensive weapons.  Was not suprised they made it tight at the end.  Though the TO and then both players leaving the ball on the screen were bad plays, we still handled their hot shooting and full court pressure… Read more »

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
9 years ago

LupusBeowulf No doubt. We were extremely unlucky last season and extremely lucky this season. And luck is a huge factor in the tourney so I hope we continue that trend. Rather be lucky and winning vs being good and losing any day.  That was a busted defensive effort on that play but overall the team played decent defensive. If Nova doesn’t hit those last few 3 pointers we may win that game going away. There was also a sequence at the end of the NOVA game where we get called for that ridiculous foul behind the 3 point line, Turner… Read more »

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DanielHargreaves
DanielHargreaves
9 years ago

LupusBeowulf They had two unlikely 3 points falling in at the end of game. you can’t make every one of them. It’s not luck. it’s hard work paying off.

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wulfpacker
wulfpacker
9 years ago

LupusBeowulf I would say knocking down free throws is finishing well. Yes both Lacey and Lennard did back off but still it was solid defense on Hillard who was torching State that possesion.

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LupusBeowulf
LupusBeowulf
9 years ago

Great game, but let’s not act like we finished well.

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LupusBeowulf
LupusBeowulf
9 years ago

They had a wide open 3 at the end on blown defensive coverage where both players (Trevor and Lennard?) backed off the shooter…

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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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11 hours 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

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1 day 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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1 day 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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2 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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