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NC State gets first real test tonight vs. Oklahoma State | Game Preview & How to Watch

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2 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs Oklahoma State
Hall of Fame Showcase Tournament
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT
TV: CBS Sports Network
Line: OK State -3

This young NC State team will get it’s first real test of the season against a high major opponent when they take on OK State at 8pm tonight.

Preview of The OK State Cowboys
Oklahoma State comes into this game 3-1, with wins over UT Arlington, Praire-View, and UMass-Lowell. They did lose to Oakland by 1. They were picked by ESPN to finish 4th in the BIG-12.

The team is currently being led by sophomore guard Bryce Thompson, who is averaging just over 10ppg, but really isn’t shooting it all that great. He’s a 6’5 kid who is going to do his damage attacking the basket. So far this season, teams have found it hard to match up with him. But NC State certainly has the size to do just that.

They also have 6’10 sophomore Moussa Cissa, who is their 6’10 big. He’s going to be a big problem for NC State. He’s averaging 10 points and 7 boards per game this season. If State had Manny Bates, we wouldn’t be worried about Cissa, but with what we’ve seen from the young bigs manning State’s frontcourt, there is certainly reason to worry.

Oklahoma State is a lot like NC State. They are a team that is younger but full of talent. This is a winnable game for the Pack, but without Bates it’s going to be tough to win the battle inside (which is where OK State is going to want to take this one.)

Key Notes for NC State coming into this game

  1. Thomas Allen is back and got 22 minutes last night. He seems to have eaten into Cam Hayes’ minutes. Keatts said Hayes was cramping, but Breon Pass also had positive minutes. Hayes sat at the end of the Colgate game too. Keatts wants more from Hayes and needs more from him. He’s not turning the ball over which is great, but Keatts needs playmakers and floor leaders and right now he’s waiting on Cam to show he can be that. Otherwise, he might be looking at a minute share at the point.
  2. Gibson and Dowuona are now splitting minutes down the middle. Ernest Ross is getting some run. Keatts is looking for anyone who can provide anything in the post. Right now, no one is standing out.
  3. Speaking of Ross, he had 6 rebounds in 6 minutes of play. Those 6 minutes were not pretty and he missed 3 shots, looked a little lost on offense, and drifted to the corner when they need his size in the middle. Defensively he looked not a little unsure of himself and lost on certain possessions. He’s still a work in progress, but 6 boards in 6 minutes is a good start and Keatts has no option but to bring him along fast.
  4. NC State must shoot well in this game and must rebound with OK State. If NC State can keep the Cowboys off the offensive glass and they can shoot it well from outside, then this game can be won. If they allow Cissa to beast in the middle and get easy put-backs, it’s going to be a loss.

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Papajohn
Papajohn
2 years ago

Fouls – Watch the foul count in this one, I expect things are going to get bleak inside. We’ve got 10 fouls to give, and we’ll need them. Hope that outside shooting will continue from last night, we’ll need that too.
In our pre season convos I think we all thought Cole & Cam would be solid, we worried about the rest. They need to get it together quickly or things could get rough.

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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

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4 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.

 

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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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