NC State went on the road to take on #20 Pitt and made a massive statement, crushing the Panthers 78-61.
The Pack came into this game 0-5 in the ACC and on the verge of total collapse. But an encouraging outing against #5 UNC led them coming out with total confidence against the Panthers and leaving with a very convincing victory.
A major difference has been the uptick in minutes for sophomore Cody Martin. The do it all wingman has been a revelation for Gottfried and company. Not only has he been the team’s lock down defender, but he’s given the them a guy who can create a little bit off the dribble, someone who is a pass first type player and a guy who is patient in the offense.
While Martin has really changed the way this team plays, he’s not the real reason for this victory. Cat Barber, who is honestly turning into one of the best scoring guards in the country, turned in another massive performance. The junior PG played magnificent. He finished with 31 points, 7 boards and 8 assists. Although he did turn the ball over 8 times, his scoring and ball handling really made a massive difference.
Inside it, once again, was the Abu show. The kid is becoming a man. As we stated from the beginning of the season: If NC state is going to become a great team, they are going to need Malik Abu to be a go-to scorer on the blocks. He has become just that. Nothing his 8th double-double in the past 10 games, the sophomore big went 7-13 shooting for 16 points and grabbed 10 boards.
Two other guys that had big games were Mav Rowan and Lennard Freeman. Rowan, who decommitted from Pitt to attend NC State, came out looking to show the Panthers what they missed out on. The freshman sharp shooter went 5-11 and 4-6 from beyond the arc for 14 points, while Freeman snatched up a game high 14 rebounds.
At the end of the day though, NC State won this game on the defensive end. With physical play, tough rebounding and great position defense, they were able to keep Pitt 37% shooting. They also kept them off balance when they took it to the hoop by taking 4 charges on the night.
This was a massive win and one that could turn the tide for this young team. Next up is Duke who has lost 3 straight and will be very hungry for a win at the PNC. The two storylines will collide on Saturday when something has to give. The game is at 2pm in Raleigh.
I can’t say I was surprised at how the season ended. I don’t care how much kool-aid you drink that Wisconsin game said it all. This team just was not ready for all the high expectations from themselves, the media and the fans. With some maturity, and some solid coaching I still feel like we have the right pieces in place to improve next season. This is what I would like to say to each player: Harrow – we want you back. And we want you back stronger and more confident. The game is 90% mental and you just need… Read more »
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)
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.
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.
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.
I can’t say I was surprised at how the season ended. I don’t care how much kool-aid you drink that Wisconsin game said it all. This team just was not ready for all the high expectations from themselves, the media and the fans. With some maturity, and some solid coaching I still feel like we have the right pieces in place to improve next season. This is what I would like to say to each player: Harrow – we want you back. And we want you back stronger and more confident. The game is 90% mental and you just need… Read more »
Nice improvement. Keep it up.