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NC State Advances to the Elite 8 for the First Time Since 1986 with a 67-58 Win Over Marquette

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2 months ago

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#11 seed NC State dominated #2 seed Marquette to the tune of 67-58 this evening in the Sweet 16, advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1986.

The Wolfpack have now won 8 games in a row, with that streak beginning on Tuesday, the first day of the ACC Tournament.

At the 15:51 mark in the 1st half, NC State took the lead, and they never let go of it.

The Wolfpack led by 13 at halftime, and led by as much as 16 in the 2nd half.

Senior DJ Horne was unflappable. Marquette’s defense was swarming him, but Horne’s pure determination led him to finish with 19 points, hitting 4 of his 7 three pointers.

Senior Casey Morsell put together one the best games of the season when it mattered most, scoring 15 points, shooting 7 of 12 from the field. The point total doesn’t tell it all. It was when he made the baskets as well. Morsell’s defense was once again integral to an NC State win.

Junior Mohamed Diarra posted a double-double for the 4th straight game, finishing with 11 points and 15 rebounds. He has now grabbed 10+ rebounds in 7 straight games.

Senior DJ Burns might have only had 4 points, but the Golden Eagles couldn’t stop him from impacting the game. Burns led NC State with 7 assists.

In the final 4 minutes of the game, with Marquette chipping away at the lead, Horne and Senior Michael O’Connell both hit three’s, and Morsell made a clutch acrobatic layup.

The Wolfpack Guards weren’t about to allow Marquette to take away what had been in their hands nearly all game long.

NC State’s defense was outstanding, holding the Golden Eagles to 33.3% shooting from the field, which was their 3rd worst shooting performance of the year. The Wolfpack’s physicality on defense was rattling, and they switched and communicated to perfection when the Golden Eagles brought screens.

NC State will play the winner of Houston (#1 seed) and Duke (#4 seed).

The Wolfpack doesn’t look like a Cinderella team. They are playing with as much poise and confidence as any team in this tournament.

NC State doesn’t look like they are trying to prove they belong. They are playing like they know they do.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Basketball

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

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1 day 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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2 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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2 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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3 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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