Emergence of O’Connell and Parker Jr. are answering NC State’s biggest questions

When we started the season, Mike O’Connell and Dennis Parker Jr. weren’t the two names anyone was focused on.

But here we are in January and their emergence is starting to help NC State settle in as an ACC contender.

Obviously, DJ Burns, DJ Horne, Jayden Taylor, and Casey Mosell have been this year’s stars, but it’s the role players that make a good team great, and there were some questions about NC State’s role players.

The biggest questions coming into this season were “Does this team have a real PG?” and “Who will play the 4?”

These two guys have answered those 2 big questions.

DJ Horne starts at point for Kevin Keatts, and let’s be clear, he’s a huge reason for this team’s success. In fact, Horne might be the MVP up to this point. He’s a great scorer and has been surprisingly good at protecting the basketball. All that said, Horne still isn’t a guy who is setting pace and looking for open shooters and that’s ok, but that’s why the question was asked at the beginning of the season.

On any great team, that role is filled by somebody, and over the past few years, Keatts hasn’t had anything that resembled that.

That’s why the emergence of Mike O’Connell has been so important. The senior transfer from Stanford has settled in to his role and is now logging over 20 minutes per game. Over the past 4 games he has seen those minutes increase and has delivered on them. During that span, O’Connell has 17 assists and zero turnovers. He allows NC State to go from a fast-paced, high volume scoring team, to a slower-paced, controlled, half court team…and on some nights thats the difference between a win and a loss.

Up front, freshman Dennis Parker Jr. has begun carving out a role for himself too. The Richmond, VA native is now 5th on the team in scoring at 7.3ppg and 3rd on the team in rebounding at 4.4 rebounds per game. He’s also allowing Keatts to spread the floor when he’s in the game, thanks to his 35% 3pt average. Over the past 6 games, Parker is 7-16 from long range, good for 44%.

AND-1 🗣

Dennis Parker, Jr. finishes the dunk through contact 💪@PackMensBball | #ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/3wYytMU1Ic

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) January 6, 2024

Parker fills the 4 spot a lot like former Keatts 4-man, Jericole Hellems. They were both about 6’6, 205lbs, undersized for the 4 spot in the ACC. Hellems was a career 36% 3-point shooter, and Parker is right there as well. Both were fearless and played much bigger than their frame, thanks to their physical style of play. The difference really is that Parker is probably one of the most athletic guys on the NC State roster, while Hellems wasn’t very athletic at all. Parker can get out on the break, he can finish above the rim, he can block shots and he can rebound against much bigger opponents.

Here’s an example:

AND-1 🗣

Dennis Parker, Jr. finishes the dunk through contact 💪@PackMensBball | #ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/3wYytMU1Ic

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) January 6, 2024

If these two can keep expanding into these roles, NC State’s biggest questions will be answered, and the potential for this team will continue to rise.