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NC State Basketball

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

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4 months ago

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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%.

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:

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.

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NCSUMets
NCSUMets
4 months ago

SMDH over anyone who cant see the value of a PG with 17 assists and 0 turnovers.

My hope is that we’ll see lineups with a frontcourt of Burns, Diarra and Parker.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
4 months ago

O’Connell is not worth mentioning. He is a liability on defense and can’t shoot a lick. Please play Rice more or you might see him in the portal again.

-3

NC State Basketball

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

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4 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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4 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.

 

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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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4 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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5 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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