Ok, so first off, if you don’t listen to The OG (the daily radio sports talk show that airs from 3-7pm) on 99.9 The Fan, then you’re missing out. The show is hosted by Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio, two former NC State grads, and it’s actually pretty entertaining.
Giglio used to be State’s beat writer with the N&O back when NC State was in the midst of their coaching search. At the time it was thought that Archie Miller would be their #1 target, after his successful run at Dayton. Because of that, he wanted to get some quotes from Archie and do a little sit-down with him. Joe offered to drive out to Charlotte, where Archie’s Dayton Flyers were taking on Davidson. However, things took a weird and unexpected turn after that.
Listen…
Why didn’t things work out for Archie Miller at Indiana? Wins clearly matter, but @giglio_OG wondered if Miller ever really learned how to play “the game” off the court. Get the cull convo and more in the best of podcast. https://t.co/b2m2mOviDnpic.twitter.com/bVgzvcKF5I
Now, after we first listened to this, the first thought was that something must have been lost in translation, but here is Luke DeCock of the N&O corroborating it…
I’ve never told this story publicly, but now that it’s out there, Joe’s account is entirely accurate.
An outlier in my career to be sure. And I didn’t have any history with the guy at State. I was covering hockey then!
We know, we know. This is an NC State site, so why are we focusing on Archie Miller?
Well, for one, Archie is a former player here at NC State and two, there is a lesson to be learned here.
At the time it was Archie or bust, but looking back, it seems as if NC State (and Debbie Yow specifically) made the right call by jumping on Kevin Keatts when they had the chance. Oh you don’t agree? Read this and you’ll change your mind.
Anyways, I think the key takeaway here is the final phrase from Giglio…
“He thought he was better than NC State.”
If this story is true, then it’s likely that statement is true. And if that statement is true, then good riddance Archie Miller. Sorry not sorry about your firing.
A pasta eatin', Wolfpack lovin' loudmouth from Raleigh by way of New Jersey. Jimmy V and Chuck Amato fanboy. All opinions are my own and you're gonna hear'em.
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.
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.