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University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Adam Creech
Know Your Opponent: North Carolina State
February 5, 2019 | Men's Basketball
By Bobby Hundley
North Carolina State (GoPack.com)
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Rankings: No. 42 KenPom, NR AP
NET/SOS: No. 34 NET, No. 261 SOS
Record: 16-6, 4-5 ACC
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 157-78 (UNC 90, NCSU 82, Jan. 8, 2019, PNC Arena)
KYO: NC State - Jan. 8
NC State had alternated wins and losses through its first eight ACC contests before having that trend disrupted in devastating fashion on Saturday. The Wolfpack scored just 24 points on 53 possessions for a somewhat unfathomable 0.45 PPP in a 47-24 loss to Virginia Tech. For comparison's sake, UNC scored 1.36 PPP in its home win over the Hokies, meaning that the Tar Heels needed just 18 possessions to reach the 24-point threshold.
To say it was an unexpected performance would be an understatement, as NCSU's previous worst offensive showing in terms of PPP (0.96) came in the 90-82 loss to Carolina. Entering that game, the Pack ranked 12th nationally in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency. As of Tuesday, that ranking had plummeted to 53rd. The result was also surprising in that each of State's previous eight league contests were decided by eight points or fewer.
So what does it all mean for NC State? At No. 34 in the NET rankings and with only one bad loss (at Wake Forest), the Wolfpack is still very much in control of its postseason destiny. Six of its final nine ACC games are on the road, and trips to Chapel Hill, Durham and Tallahassee present opportunities to add a signature win to the résumé. Getting Markell Johnson back to full speed after missing three games in January due to injury and putting Saturday's debacle behind them will go a long way toward a making a return trip to the NCAA tournament.
North Carolina State (GoPack.com)
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Rankings: No. 42 KenPom, NR AP
NET/SOS: No. 34 NET, No. 261 SOS
Record: 16-6, 4-5 ACC
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 157-78 (UNC 90, NCSU 82, Jan. 8, 2019, PNC Arena)
KYO: NC State - Jan. 8
NC State had alternated wins and losses through its first eight ACC contests before having that trend disrupted in devastating fashion on Saturday. The Wolfpack scored just 24 points on 53 possessions for a somewhat unfathomable 0.45 PPP in a 47-24 loss to Virginia Tech. For comparison's sake, UNC scored 1.36 PPP in its home win over the Hokies, meaning that the Tar Heels needed just 18 possessions to reach the 24-point threshold.
To say it was an unexpected performance would be an understatement, as NCSU's previous worst offensive showing in terms of PPP (0.96) came in the 90-82 loss to Carolina. Entering that game, the Pack ranked 12th nationally in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency. As of Tuesday, that ranking had plummeted to 53rd. The result was also surprising in that each of State's previous eight league contests were decided by eight points or fewer.
So what does it all mean for NC State? At No. 34 in the NET rankings and with only one bad loss (at Wake Forest), the Wolfpack is still very much in control of its postseason destiny. Six of its final nine ACC games are on the road, and trips to Chapel Hill, Durham and Tallahassee present opportunities to add a signature win to the résumé. Getting Markell Johnson back to full speed after missing three games in January due to injury and putting Saturday's debacle behind them will go a long way toward a making a return trip to the NCAA tournament.
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