Knew we were going to play against a very good team with a very good player on it, talking about Bryce Aiken. When I watched the Georgetown game, I knew those guys were really good.
The way they spread out, run a lot of ball screens, stay in motion, and have a legitimate post player that can score inside.
Went into game saying we were going to have a chance to win the game if we played well against Aiken, and that he would have to have a bad percentage to get his points.
He took 18 shots with 19 points.
We were able to force him into 6 turnovers.
So many guys played well. My veteran guys are starting to get it.
Basketball in March is about the players and not the coaches. We can give you a game plan, but you are going to have to go out there and execute and play.
I thought our guys made some tremendous strides, especially in the 2nd half.
Finished with 17 offensive rebounds and got to the free throw line.We didn’t make as many as I wanted to, but we were good and aggressive at the end.
There was one segment that we gave up three offensive rebounds on the other end.
Finally, we stopped trying to out-jump guys and started hitting people. We aren’t the biggest team, so we have to rebound as a team and hit people. We started hitting people on the defensive end.
Our guys were aggressive on the offensive glass, and the rebounding really fueled us.
Wyatt Walker had a great offensive rebound and a kick out. A little bit about
Devon Daniels played well today because he had 2 really great practices where he was as locked in as he has been since he’s been here.
We talk all the time about how great it is in Reynolds, but I don’t want to cheapen our fans. At PNC they do a great job too. It gets loud in there and is a great place to play.
We are excited to have a chance to play on campus right now, but we have a tremendous fan base.
I know a lot of people wanted us to be in the NCAA, but when we got chosen to go the NIT, everybody showed up for us, and we are happy about that.
The 2 teams we have played could easily win a game in the NCAA, and so could we.
Played two teams that were champions in their leagues. When you get to the NIT and guys that were conference champions, you are playing against great teams.
It worked out for us because in our bracket the #1 seed was UNCG and they ended up losing. It is fortunate for us because we have another chance to play at home.
BRYCE
It was a fun game. It’s just another game for us, and we’re glad to be able to move on and continue to play basketball.
I feel pretty good (about his offensive performance), but that’s not what it’s all about.
I feel like I’ve really picked it up on the defensive end and on rebounding to help contribute to my team out there.
They were 2 very competitive teams (Hofstra & Harvard). Everybody wants to win at this point. It’s still Division I basketball. I am just looking forward to the next game, and we know that Lipscomb is going to come out very competitive also.
DANIELS
I just tried to stick to my principles (guarding Bryce Aiken).
I didn’t try to get my hands in there.
He is very crafty with his off arm.
I felt like when I forced him to his left, his weak side, and stayed down, I thought I did a pretty good job.
He’s a great competitor though, so it was fun.
It’s March. Any of these games could be our last game, and I’m just trying to help the team win.
I focused on the scouting report, just trying to learn their team.
When it’s tournament time, it doesn’t really matter what conference the team comes from or what the name of the team is. Players are coming out there to compete; they’re artists. Every game we have to bring it.
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.
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.
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.