NC State Basketball Needs Multiple Wins Just to Reach ACC Tournament
Only 15 of the 18 programs in the ACC basketball standings will qualify for the ACC Tournament in Charlotte's Spectrum Center, March 11-15. As things stand, NC State basketball checks in alone at No. 16 after snapping its nine-game losing skid via Saturday's 70-62 home win over Boston College.
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Speaking of Boston College (11-15, 3-12 ACC), currently No. 17 in the standings just above cellar dweller Miami (6-19, 2-12 ACC), the Eagles pulled into a tie with NC State (10-15, 3-11 ACC) in ACC wins by defeating Virginia Tech (11-15, No. 11 in ACC at 6-9) at home, 54-36, on Tuesday night.
So, three five-win teams with various loss counts sit above the Pack: Notre Dame (11-14, 5-9 ACC), California (12-14, 5-10 ACC), and Syracuse (11-16, 5-11 ACC). Only one is on NC State's remaining six-game slate, a Feb. 26 road bout versus Syracuse in their lone regular season meeting.
NC State enjoys potential head-to-head tiebreakers with 1-0 marks over Notre Dame and Boston College. However, the Wolfpack finished 0-2 in its clashes against California.
Of course, Kevin Keatts' eighth NC State basketball squad need all the wins it can manage to salvage any hope of even trying to recreate the 2023-24 Wolfpack's well-documented March Madness magic, which took shape with the automatic invite via an ACC Tournament title win over rival UNC.
Now, speaking of the rival Tar Heels, the Wolfpack battles Hubert Davis and his fourth UNC team (15-11, 8-6 ACC) in the Dean E. Smith Center at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN), a rematch from NC State's heartbreaking 63-61 home loss on Jan. 11.
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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.