NC State men's basketball picked to finish 8th in ACC preseason poll
There’s just something about being the underdog that NC State seems to enjoy. The Wolfpack finished 10th in the ACC regular season last year before it ripped off five straight wins in as many days to claim its first conference tournament title in 37 years.
And even though NC State is the reigning ACC Champion, Kevin Keatts’ squad will have a chip to wear on its shoulder this season. The Pack was picked to finish eighth in the ACC preseason poll, the league released Tuesday afternoon.
NC State boasts five returning players and eight newcomers on the 2024-25 roster. Graduate guard Michael O’Connell is back to lead the Wolfpack offense, while senior guard Jayden Taylor is ready to build off last season. Senior guard Breon Pass is in his fourth year with the Pack, the longest-tenured player on the roster, as senior Ben Middlebrooks and sophomore guard Dennis Parker Jr. are back for their second seasons with the Pack.
The Wolfpack brought in the No. 18 transfer portal class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, this offseason. Bowling Green transfer Marcus Hill leads the group after averaging 20 points last season, while Louisville transfers Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Mike James stuck together in Raleigh. NC State also added Georgetown transfer Dontrez Styles and Canadian transfer Ismael Diouf to round out the transfer haul.
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NC State was also active in high school recruiting as it signed wing Paul McNeil (No. 53 recruit) and guards Bryce Heard (No. 122) and Trey Parker (No. 142).
Complete ACC Projected Order of Finish:
1. Duke (42), 956
2. North Carolina (11), 924
3. Wake Forest (1), 800
4. Clemson, 765
5. Virginia, 743
6. Miami, 659
7. Pitt, 636
8. NC State, 550
9. Louisville, 518
10. Notre Dame, 462
11. Syracuse, 454
12. Georgia Tech, 433
13. SMU, 344
14. Virginia Tech, 252
15. Florida State, 251
16. California, 206
17. Stanford, 165
18. Boston College, 116
