Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Texas

NC State (5-2) and Texas (6-1) will play tonight in the Lenovo Center tonight in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Before tipoff, let’s preview the Longhorns.

Texas started off the season ranked 19th in the AP Preseason Poll. After losing the season opener to Ohio St. in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, the Longhorns have won the last 6 games in a row.

Four of those wins were Quad 1 games (Houston Christian, Chicago St., Mississippi Val., Delaware St.) and two were Quad 2 games (Syracuse and St. Josephs).

The Longhorns are solid on the Defensive front, ranking 21st nationally in Defensive Adjusted Efficiency Rating according to KenPom. They rank 53rd in Offensive Adjusted Efficiency Rating.

Texas is one of the better teams in the country at shooting the ball, and they are elite at taking care of the rock. They rank 29th in Effective Field Goal Percentage, and 6th in Offensive Turnover Percentage. NC State does a good job of turning over their opponent, ranking 29th in Defensive Turnover Percentage, so it will be interesting to see if the Wolfpack can turnover the Longhorns.

The Longhorns rank 31st in 2-Point Offensive Field Goal Percentage, and they rank 1st in 2-Point Field Goal Percentage Defense.

NC State has been one of the worst 3-Point shooting teams in the country this year, ranking 284th in 3-Point Percentage. There was a little light at the end of the tunnel in the Wolfpack’s game against BYU, when they hit 9 three pointers, shooting 39.1%. With Texas ranking 200th in 3-Point Defense, maybe NC State will continue to turn the corner from beyond the arch.

Texas is led by Superstar Freshman Guard Tre Johnson (6’6″/190), who is averaging 21.1 points per game. He is shooting 47.7% from the field, and 42% from three. Johnson was a 5-Star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #5 overall prospect according to Rivals and ESPN.

Senior Forward Arthur Kaluma (6’7″/225) is averaging 14.4 points and 7 rebounds (team lead), shooting 59% from the field, and 41% from three. He transferred in from Kansas State this offseason.

Senior Forward Kadin Shedrick (6’11″/200) is coming back home. He played for Holly Springs High School right down the road. Shedrick is averaging 10.9 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 55.3% from the field. Shedrick spent his first 3 seasons at Virginia.