NC State’s 3-point defense excels through first 5 games

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Nov 18, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Colgate Raiders forward Sam Wright (33) dribbles with the ball guarded by North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Michael O'Connell (12) during the second half of the game at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Shortly after NC State’s first appearance in front of a live crowd with its new roster at Primetime with the Pack in late October, Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts knew the question was coming. There wasn’t much defense to be played during his team’s brief intersquad scrimmage in what looked like a group of friends just having fun on the Reynolds Coliseum court. Three-pointers flew wild, while dunks were aplenty for the Pack’s high-flying guards and big men. “Nobody direct message me and ask me about defense,” Keatts joked to reporters afterwards. “We’re going to work on it. We’re going to get better at that.” Fast forward a month, and it turns out, Keatts wasn’t lying. The Wolfpack, which tends to hang its hat on high defensive intensity in the eight years under the now ACC-title-winning coach, turned up the heat on that end of the floor once the regular season began. NC State has won five straight to open the 2024-25 season. The Pack has done so with a stout defense from beyond the 3-point arc.