The Wolfpacker Podcast: Big month for NC State basketball
This is a very busy and important month for NC State basketball. Starting Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Wolfpack enters a portion of the schedule were every game will be consequential to varying degrees as NC State seeks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
Initially up for NC State will be in-state rival Duke, coming to Raleigh under head coach Jon Scheyer for the first time since he replaced legendary Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. The Pack, 11-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC, will tip off at PNC Arena against the Blue Devils at 7 p.m., in a game that can also been seen on ACC Network.
The rest of the month of January could feature up to four Quad 1 games out of the seven on the slate before the calendar flips towards February, where the schedule softens up a bit.
Among the topics hosts Matt Carter and Matt Coe discussed in the episode:
• A reflection on the 78-74 loss at Clemson last Friday, during which NC State basketball went ice cold from the floor. Coe went back to review the contest multiple times and tracked the number of passes for each Wolfpack possession.
The revelation? That ball movement was not good, especially in the second half, for NC State at Clemson. That may have played a key role in how the offense grew stagnant.
• Also, an analysis of the schedule and how part of NC State’s 1-3 start in the ACC could be pointed to the early slate. All three losses for the Wolfpack also happen to be against the three teams in the league that remain undefeated in conference play — Miami and Clemson on the road and Pittsburgh at home.
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The two discuss why the Miami game in particular may have been a lost opportunity, with NC State blowing a double-digit lead.
• A look ahead to Wednesday’s rivalry showdown with Duke. Coe discusses why he believes the game could be a good matchup for NC State basketball. Carter adds that the young Duke team is deep, but lacks proven shooters and has not had a lot of experiences in a hostile environment.
• Coe shares what he believes are the keys for NC State to get their season turned around in a tough early ACC schedule.
• Both Coe and Carter go over what they believe is necessary for NC State to build a resume to make a case for the NCAA Tournament. Carter noted that calling the upcoming stretch a make-or-break scenario is probably premature, but the urgency definitely needs to be amped up if the Wolfpack wants to be part of the Big Dance.
And more!
