Does NC State have one more upset in them to set up a possible Wolfpack-Heels IV? (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)
Midwest: (2) Kansas vs. (11) NC State, 10:17 (ET) Fri., TBS, St. Louis, MO
Coaches Tourney Records: NC State – Mark Gottfried 7-7 (1-0 in the Sweet 16); Kansas – Bill Self – 28-12 (5-2 in the Sweet 16).
NC State Has to Stop: F Thomas Robinson (Junior, 6-10 237, 17.5 PPG/11.8 RPG) – Robinson is a part of a duo with senior guard Tyshawn Taylor averaging over 17 points per game, but Purdue was able to stay close in the second round with Robinson going 2-for-12 from the field with 7 of his 11 points coming from the free throw line.
Stat to Watch: Lorenzo Brown’s line – While C.J. Leslie has been outstanding down the stretch, Brown has really picked it up come the NCAA Tourney – averaging 14.5 PPG/7.5 APG/7.5 RPG. The Jayhawks are a 2-seed for a reason, as they do a lot of things right, but if Brown keeps up this production, the Wolfpack has a chance.
What I’m Thinking: Is this where NC State’s luck runs out? (Or more accurately, is there where the Wolfpack can’t perform to the level they have down the stretch?) Kansas has something to prove after a couple seasons in a row of underperforming as a 1-seed (second round and Elite 8 exits), and have dynamic scorers on the perimeter and in the paint with Taylor and Robinson. Bill Self’s Jayhawks are also one of the top defensive teams in the country (allowing 61.5 PPG) with perimeter defense their main weakness. Like I said above, Brown’s surge leading the Wolfpack attack has put them over the top against two higher seeded teams so far, and he’ll have to be on again to make it a third Friday.
UNC's size should affect Ohio, but the Bobcats' tough defense could make things interesting if Kendall Marshall is out (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com).
Midwest: (1) UNC vs. (13) Ohio, 7:47 (ET) Fri., TBS, St. Louis, MO
Coaches Tourney Records: UNC – Roy Williams 60-19 (10-4 in the Sweet 16); Ohio – John Groce – 3-1 (0-0 in the Sweet 16).
UNC Has to Stop: G D.J. Cooper (5-11 165, Junior, 14.9 PPG/5.7 APG) – This isn’t Cooper’s first Dance, posting 23 and 16 points in Ohio’s last Sweet 16 run as a freshman two years ago, and he’s only improved this time around – averaging 18.6 points and 6.4 assists per game in the Bobcats’ last nine.
Stat to Watch: Turnovers – Ohio is third nationally in turnovers forced per game (17.1), while UNC only commits 11.6 turnovers on average. And of course, with the possibility of no Kendall Marshall as the floor general…this becomes even more of an issue.
What I’m Thinking: If there’s a team in position to be the lowest seed to ever make the Final Four, it’s Ohio. They have the tournament experience, play defense like crazy and feature a fairly up-tempo style to run with UNC…and face a wounded Tar Heels team, a possibly out or definitely limited Kendall Marshall and now the forgotten injured-one John Henson, who’s not completely healthy either with a wrist injury of his own. It seems like UNC is backed into a corner here and already playing the ‘national media disrespect’ card – Tyler Zeller and co. should step up enough to make it through to the Elite 8 and we’ll see where it goes from there with the possibility of a fourth NC State-UNC game.
Following a 66-63 victory over third-seeded Georgetown in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, the Pack have been presented with the opportunity to take on second-seeded Kansas at the Edward Jones Dome in the Sweet 16.
A five year hiatus from the tournament made the two wins from last weekend even more special, but is NC State really relevant again?
Plenty of teams have made Sweet 16 runs over the years- teams that quickly disappeared the following season. For the Pack to be back- regardless of what happens Friday night in St. Louis against the Jayhawks, they must be ready to build on the success from this season.
With a top five recruiting class coming in, their depth should be improved. If everyone stays who can, the Pack will lose backup point guard Alex Johnson (a graduate transfer in his only season with the Pack) and their best perimeter defender, wing C.J. Williams.
The true questions lie in the decisions of sophomores C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown. Leslie, an athletic power forward is projected as a 20-40 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Brown, the starting point guard for the Pack, is seeing his draft stock improve with each stellar performance he puts on during this NCAA Tournament run.
If Leslie and Brown return for their junior seasons- and that’s a big if, the Pack would certainly have the talent to win the ACC next season. With incoming freshmen Tyler Lewis, Rodney Purvis, and T.J. Warren not having to carry the team, their contributions off the bench would be invaluable to the Pack.
The answer to the original question is still unknown, as it takes more than just one tournament run to be relevant again, but I’d say the Pack is in good shape with Coach Mark Gottfried at the helm.
For all intents and purposes, State is playing with house money right now. Bubble teams aren’t supposed to be confident heading into a match-up with the two seed in what will basically be a home game for Kansas- but State is. And they should be, because at this point in the tournament, anyone can win- and no one is playing with more confidence than NC State. So why can’t the Pack advance?
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