When: Wednesday November 26 – 9:30 PM ET
Where: Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii
TV: ESPN2
Opponent: Texas Longhorns (SEC Conference)
Prediction – KenPom (KP) / Bart Torvik (BT): NC State 80-78 / NC State 81-80
Wolfpack Snapshot:
- Record: 5-1
- Rankings: KP #26, BT #33
Wolfpack Season So Far:
NC State played Boise State with energy and intensity, and the result showed it. As Coach Wade pointed out in the post-game press conference, there is still a lot to improve before this team plays to its potential.
*** Starting lineup changes coming? *** – Unlikely to happen before Auburn, but Matt Able is getting better at all phases of the game every night. And Terrance Arceneaux, after having played only 25 minutes all season, played 23 against Boise St and filled the stat sheet. Both are strong defenders, the area where the Pack is the weakest. Expect their minutes to trend upward.
Wolfpack Player Notes:
- Terrance Arceneaux played 23 high quality minutes Tuesday. Assuming he plays Wednesday, I think we can be reassured that his Achilles soreness is behind him. If not, darkness lies ahead.
- Ven Lubin has a bandage to support that thumb. He’s played 30+ minutes in the last two games; it does not seem to be a problem. (unless it bothers his FT shooting- 56.2% since the injury – he’s a career 71.4% FT shooter)
- Musa Sagnia bumped knees with a player in the Seton Hall game. Not expected to be a lingering problem.
Opponent Overview:
It’s a new era in Texas as Sean Miller (former NC State assistant and Archie’s big brother) is taking over the program after his most recent stint at Xavier. The Longhorns are — ironically — coming off a loss to Sean Miller’s Xavier in the NCAAT First Four after a 19-16 / 6-12 season.
The Longhorns return three solid guards, two of which were starters.
- Jordan Pope
- Tramon Mark
- Chendall Weaver
Key Transfers
- Matas Vokietaitis – 7-footer from FAU who was AAC ROY
- Cam Heide – from Purdue
- Dailyn Swain – came with Miller from Xavier
- Lassina Traore – from Long Beach State, two time All Big West selection
- Simeon Wilcher – from St John’s
Opponent Snapshot:
- Record: 5-2
- Rankings: KP #43, BT #36
Team Statistical Comparison (pre Chaminade game)
Their Season So Far:
- Game 1 – Duke 60-75 (KP # 1) -Texas was up 33-32 at the half, but Duke took over in the second and won by 15. Texas out rebounded Duke (+4) but committed 16 TO and shot poorly from the field, 32.2% / 29.4%.
- Game 2 – Lafayette 97-60 (KP #337) – No contest
- Game 3 – Fairleigh Dickinson 93-58 (KP #358) – No contest
- Game 4 – Kansas City 71-55 (KP #343) – No contest
- Game 5 – Rider 99-65 (KP # 339) – No contest
- Game 6 – Az State 86-87 (KP #80) – Tight game, AZ ST led by five at the half. It was close in the second, with multiple lead changes. It was tied at 59 seconds, Texas went up 2 at 34 seconds, and AZ ST hit a 3PT at the 10 second mark for the final margin. Texas had the final possession but turned it over.
- Game 7 – Chaminade 119-78 (D2) – No contest.
Probable Starters (stats pre Chaminade game)
Thing To Watch For:
- Rebounding – Coach Miller always has solid rebounding teams. On average, Texas is outrebounding their opponents by 12. Coming into the Maui tournament, KenPom ranked them 38th in Offensive rebounding percentage.
- Experienced, will not lose composure – The Longhorns rank 8th in experience in the country
- Fouls – The Wolfpack had 3 starters foul out versus Boise St. Holloman and Copeland were being much more aggressive defensively and will need to continue, but avoid frivolous fouls.
Prediction:
The Wolfpack saves their best for last. NC State wins a tough one, 80-69. Go Pack!
