NC State Basketball Needs Blowout Win Over Low-NET Broncs
While many other teams across the country have been in action this past week, the eight-day break in the NC State basketball schedule since the 75-60 true road loss to the now-No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks has cost the Wolfpack (7-4, 1-0 ACC) several notches in the updated-daily NCAA NET Rankings, a primary metric to evaluate squads for March Madness invites and bracket seeding.
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Kevin Keatts and his resilient work-in-progress bunch dropped from No. 107 to No. 115 in the latest NET update, which includes all of Saturday's outcomes. And it doesn't help that the Pack's Sunday home game comes against a low-tier Quad 4 opponent in the Rider Broncs (4-8, 0-2 MAAC).
Attack the day 👊 pic.twitter.com/JhbChY4qS8
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) December 18, 2024
Rider checks in at No. 322 out of the 364 Division I programs, appearing above only the Canisius Golden Griffins among MAAC members.
In other words, the best that the NC State basketball players can hope to achieve in the eyes of the NET on Sunday is a slight bump to their efficiency ratings via a thoroughly dominant display from start to finish. The Wolfpack and Broncs tip off in the Lenovo Center at 4 p.m. ET (ACC Network).
Following that contest, the Pack's non-conference finale in the regular season, NC State will have over a week off before resuming its ACC slate on the road against the Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at noon ET (ESPN2).
As things stand, the ACC boasts only two representatives among the top 25 in the NCAA NET Rankings, albeit both in the top 10, as the Duke Blue Devils sit No. 3 while the Pitt Panthers rose two spots to No. 9 on Sunday morning.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.