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Gameday: NC State ready for big challenge vs #12 Tennessee | Game Preview & How to Watch

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5 months ago

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NC State Wolfpack vs. #12 Tennessee
Time: 10:00 PM
Location: San Antonio, TX
TV: ESPN2

Tennessee by the Numbers:

  • 7-3 Record with losses to #2 Purdue, #1 Kansas, and #17 UNC (Wins over Syracuse and #20 Illinois)
  • #2 Strength of Schedule in the nation
  • 3rd in defensive adjusted efficiency
  • 4 starters averaging double figures scoring
  • 3 starters 6’6″ or taller
  • 44% FG from the floor
  • 32.5% from 3 point range

About the matchup…

Tennessee, as usual, is a big and physical team and usually, this is the type of team that gives NC State fits. They start a lightning quick 5’9″ PG (Zeigler), a 6’3″ SG who isn’t all that athletic and is having a down shooting year so far (Vescovi), an athletic 6’6″ guard who can shoot (James), a 6’6″ physical shooter, who isn’t super athletic (Knect) and a big, long, athletic 6’10” center (Aidoo).  They have a couple 6’8″ and 6’9″ guys that can come off the bench if they want to go big, but none of them are really dominant offensive presences. However, all of them can defend.

NC State is going to have to be ready for a physical battle. State definitely has the horses to match up with Tennessee, but this is going to be a test of their toughness. There aren’t going to be many straight line drives against a team like this, and usually that would kill the Pack, but this year NC State isn’t relying on those as much.

Instead, they are going to have to have a big game from DJ Burns and run the offense through him on the block. The problem there is that Burns has struggled against long, tall, athletic bigs in the past and that is what Aidoo is for the Volunteers.

I really expect this to be a chess match between Barnes and Keatts. Tennessee can go small or go really big, but so can NC State. We haven’t seen a Burns, Middlebrooks and Rice front court, but if they need that type of beef against Tennessee, they can bring it. And we’ve already seen State use Parker at the 4 to exploit slower, bigger teams.

Either way, tonight will tell us a lot about NC State. If they can hang against Tennessee, then it would put those BYU and Ole Miss games in a different light. But if they get blown out by the Volunteers, then maybe this is another Wolfpack team that’s going to try to squeak into the tournament come March.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
5 months ago

We beat the span. Great game, not. Can’t play Burns and press. KK is a loser. Fire him know for not having any plays except give it to Burns and back in.

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NC State Basketball

NC State is Adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach

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3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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According to reports, NC State is adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach.

Nelson was only at UMASS for 1 season under Frank Martin. Prior to that, Nelson was the Head Coach at Holy Cross for 4 seasons, posting a 27-84 record.

Prior to taking the Head Coaching mantle at Holy Cross, Nelson was at Marquette for 5 seasons, spending the first 3 as an Assistant Coach, and the final two as an Associate Head Coach. Prior to Marquette, Nelson also served as an Assistant Coach at Ball St., Drake, Arkansas and Marshall.

Before coaching basketball, Nelson played for the University of Florida from 1999-2003. He was All-SEC twice, and earned Third Team All-American honors. When he left Gainesville, he was the Gators’ all-time leader in three pointers made, and ranked 2nd in steals.

As a Senior in High School, Nelson was a McDonald’s All-American.

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NC State Basketball

Ernest Ross Announces He is Returning to NC State

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3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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Power Forward Ernest Ross announced this morning that he is returning to NC State for his final year of eligibility.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Eway♻️🏂 (@thebiggesteworld3)

Last Friday, Ross committed to UTSA after entering the Transfer Portal on April 17th, but it looks like he had a change of heart over the past couple of days.

NC State has been in desperate need to add a Big out of the Portal. They have hosted ECU’s Ezra Ausar and Georgia’s Frank Anselem-Ibe, but neither of them have found a home yet. With the addition of Ross, NC State has added depth in the Frontcourt, and unless something changes, their roster is full with 13 scholarship players.

Ross played in 14 games this past season, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.

Ross was a consensus 4-star player in NC State’s 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.

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NC State Basketball

A Matchup Between NC State & Marquette Next Season Might be in the Works

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3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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According to NCAA.com’s Andy Katz, a matchup between NC State and Marquette next season might be in the works.

This past year, the Wolfpack defeated the Golden Eagles 67-58 in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

NC State and Marquette have played one another 6 times overall, with the Wolfpack holding a 4-2 lead in the series, winning the past two matchups.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Men’s Basketball Will Play in the 2025 Maui Invitational

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4 days ago

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May 14, 2024

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The NC State Men’s Basketball Team will be playing in the 2025 Maui Invitational, on November 24-26 in Hawaii. This will mark the first time that NC State has ever played in the Maui Invitational.

NC State will be joined by Baylor, Oregon, Seton Hall, Texas, UNLV, USC and Chaminade.

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