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NC State set to play Duke twice during regular season for only 3rd time in 10 years

Published

2 years ago

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Tobacco Road is the mecca of college basketball. I don’t even think anyone could argue that.

So why is it that NC State doesn’t play a rival school that’s just 20 minutes down the road, twice per season, every season?

Well, that was the dumb decision made in 2004 when the ACC added Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech.

NC State was paired as partners with UNC and Wake, meaning they’d play those school twice every season. However, they were not paired with Duke, meaning they would only play them twice per season every few years.

To me, this is awful for the game. And honestly, there are so many other ways to reconcile this. If NC State and Duke could play twice per year, every year. you’d be strengthening the brand of Tobacco Road, and thus strengthening the brand of the ACC.

But, we don’t get a say, so you’re stuck hoping that this year is the year we get to play Duke twice.

Let’s take a look at history…

2019-20: NC State last played UNC, Duke, and Wake twice in the same season during the 2019-20 season. NC State went 3-3 against their in-state rivals that season. Beating Duke once, and Wake twice.

2015-2016: Prior to the 2019 season, this was the last time the Pack played all three in-state rivals twice. In this season NC State went 3-3 again, beating UNC once and Wake twice.

2012-13: During this season, NC State also went 3-3 again their in-state rivals. They beat each team once, and lost to each team once.

The point is, you have NC State who is playing .500 ball against their in-state rivals over the past 10 years, two of which are usually ranked in the Top-25. This is what college basketball is all about. This is why people watch it. So why do we have to wait year on end to see NC State matchup with all 3 schools twice in the same season?

(Prior to the 2012-13 season NC State only played Duke twice in the 2010-11, 2007-08 and 2006-07 seasons, post 2004 expansion).

I could rant all day, but the good news is, NC State is playing Duke twice this season (along with UNC and Wake). Set your calendars.

Duke: January 4th (home) & February 28th
UNC: January 21st & February 19th (home)
Wake: January 28th & February 22nd (home)

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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.

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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

Published

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

Published

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

Published

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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NC State Basketball

Guard Mike O’Connell Announces He Will Play His Final Year of Eligibility at NC State

Published

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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