Just a little follow-up related to this entry yesterday previewing the 2015 ACC Tournament. Go forth and read if you haven’t done so yet!
The N&O has Tournament capsules for every ACC team linked here.
No. 7 N.C. State
Record: 19-12 overall, 10-8 ACCCoach: Mark Gottfried (6-3 ACC tournament)
Key player: Senior guard Ralston Turner (13.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Key question: Can N.C. State be consistent enough to win four straight games?
Plus: N.C. State’s trio of guards – Cat Barber, Trevor Lacey and Turner – are as good as any in the ACC. Barber really has come on the past nine games. He has found his shooting stroke and also been more aggressive with the ball, attacking the rim.
Few college players, if any, take or make as many contested shots as Lacey.
Minus: N.C. State is capable of beating any team in the field. The Wolfpack also is capable of losing to any team in the field. A rematch with Duke on Thursday looks juicy (N.C. State beat Duke 87-75 in Raleigh on Jan. 11), but it would be typical of N.C. State to stumble against Pitt on Wednesday.
Bottom line: The Wolfpack seems to have found its way, winning five of six and securing a spot in the NCAA tournament. There’s no question N.C. State has the ability to win this tournament and Gottfried has shown an aptitude in this format.
But, since a 6-0 start to the season, N.C. State hasn’t won four straight games. The final four of that opening stretch was Jacksonville, South Florida, Richmond and Boise State. The potential draw in Greensboro is Pitt, Duke, Notre Dame and Virginia. That’s not exactly apples to apples. Six of the Wolfpack’s ACC titles and the past two (1983, 1987) have been in odd-numbered years, and the Pack also made the title game in 1997 and 2007 – so this being an odd-numbered year can only be good.
It was ANOTHER year where NC State fans showed the extent of awesomeness within our community. It’s a nice touch that the Athletics Department took the time to recognize the support of the fans.
Thank you #WPN for your loyalty and passion. You are the best in the nation. Strong #STATEment of support all year pic.twitter.com/7GITrIesDt
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) March 7, 2015
