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NC State heads back into conference play vs. Miami | Preview, Breakdown and How to Watch

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2 years ago

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NC State Wolfpack @ Miami Hurricanes
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Miami, FL
TV: ESPNU
Line: Miami -3
Ken Pom Prediction: Miami 75 – NC State 71

NC State is coming off a 2 game losing streak (one that we warned you about) and heading back into ACC play to take on Miami.

Miami is coming off a 5 game winning streak, with the only notable win was against Clemson. But don’t get it twisted, Miami is a good team. They are 9-3 so far this season. They do however have a 30 point loss to #10 Alabama, a 16 point loss to Dayton and 6 point loss to UCF.

The good news for NC State is that this is a team more their speed. Both Richmond and Wright State were very disciplined, fundamental teams, which sadly, NC State seems to have no chance against. Miami, on the other hand, is big, athletic and a bit out of control (the type of team State was built to beat).

Miami is almost fully relient on guard play. Kameron McGusty, their leading scorer, is a 6’5 Oklahoma transfer who is averaging 18+ points per game and shooting 43% from long range. McGusty can shoot, but he’s at his best in transition or driving to the hoop where he is able to finish at the rim, or with a floater.

Then there is the crazy quick and athletic Isaiah Wong. Wong is a 6’3 sophomore guard who is averaging over 15 points per game. He’s only shooting 32% from long range, so he’s not really someone that is going to light you up form deep, but it doesn’t matter. His extreme shiftiness is going to be a problem for the Pack.

Outside of those two, you have the 5’11 senior Charlie Moore who is averaging 10 and 6’10 senior Sam Waardenburg who is averaging 7, but can step out and knock down the 3.

Although State is favored to lose this game, we think this is a good matchup for them and we believe this is a very winnable road game.

For State, the keys are going to be getting a good game from Hellems (he’ll have a good matchup) and Terquavion Smith. The X-factor, however, will be the play of Casey Morsell who hasn’t been the same since going down with an ankle injury. With a week off, we think he should be back to full speed and ready to contribute. If the Pack can get good scoring production from those guys, they win.

Defensively, they match up pretty well. Miami doesn’t have a dominant post presence (which is another area State struggles), and they rely on their big athletic guards (something State has a plethora of).

Overall, like we said, this is a winnable game and one that can put the Wolfpack back on the right track as ACC plays begins to ramp up.

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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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2 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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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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3 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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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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