Reeling NC State Basketball Squad Sorely Needs Boost, Maybe Mike James
NC State basketball has a consistency issue, which Kevin Keatts alluded to following his team's 77-59 road loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-4, 3-1 ACC) in LJVM Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. The Wolfpack (8-6, 1-2 ACC), suffering its second straight defeat in conference play, has now lost six of its past nine outings since beginning the season 5-0.
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Long story short, State needs more reliable bucket-getters at critical junctures in games. Against the Demon Deacons, Marcus Hill, Dontrez Styles, and Michael O'Connell were the Wolfpack's only double-digit scorers, combining for only 35 points.
Well, it couldn't hurt to have the services of a two-year double-digit Louisville scorer in NC State basketball junior guard Mike James. But the 22-year-old Orlando native underwent a minor knee surgery in the preseason and has yet to make his Wolfpack debut.
Back in mid-November, Keatts estimated that James could be in the lineup within a few weeks and noted the importance of getting him to full strength.
"He's a 6-5 strong wing that's played a lot of basketball," Keatts noted at the time. "And we're missing him."
Fast forward almost two months. The latest update from Keatts on Saturday doesn't sound all that encouraging.
"With Mike James, we were able to throw him in a couple of drills," Keatts said. "He's had some pretty bad luck. And then, the next day — now, I'm not talking about ready to get on the floor and play — he was sick. He came in with probably a 102 temperature. And so, we've had to kind of back off his recovery just to make sure he's OK."
The Wolfpack now prepares to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-7, 1-2 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPNU).
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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.