To see the previous teams ranked in the 82 in 72 series, please see below:

70. Butler Bulldogs

71. Princeton Tigers

72. Virginia Cavaliers

73. Saint Joseph’s Hawks

74. Oklahoma Sooners

75. West Virginia Mountaineers

76. Georgia Bulldogs

77. UAB Blazers

78: Wisconsin Badgers

79. San Diego State Aztecs

80. Missouri Tigers

81. Northwestern Wildcats

82. Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Additionally, here is where each of our college basketball analysts had NC State ranked:

Steven	Maxwell	Kam	Cody
65	75	Unranked	58

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NC State Basketball: A Program on the Rise

NC State has consistently found itself in the middle of the pack within the highly competitive ACC, often making late-season pushes that position them for potential NCAA tournament runs. Under the leadership of Kevin Keatts, the Wolfpack has experienced a significant turnaround. After a disappointing 2021-22 season where they finished below .500, Keatts guided the team to a much-improved 23-11 record in the 2022-23 season. The Wolfpack’s efforts earned them a spot in the NCAA tournament, although their journey was cut short by a first-round exit at the hands of the #6 seed Creighton.

The Wolfpack’s offensive strategy has been characterized by a high-tempo style, focusing on maximizing the volume of shots. In the 2022-23 season, they averaged 77.7 points per game (PS/G), ranked 41st in the nation, and attempted 64.1 field goals per game, placing them 4th nationally. Despite this aggressive approach, their field goal percentage was mediocre, ranked 159th with a 45% conversion rate. Defensively, the Wolfpack allowed 70.8 points per game (PA/G), ranked 203rd, highlighting their reliance on overwhelming opponents through sheer offensive volume rather than defensive prowess.

Key to NC State’s success was the stellar backcourt duo of Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner. Smith led the team with 17.9 points per game (PPG) and 4.1 assists per game (APG), while Joiner, who, despite being often overlooked due to his size, contributed 17.0 PPG and 4.8 rebounds per game (RPG). The departure of these two players, who combined for nearly 45% of the team’s offense, left a significant void that the Wolfpack needed to address in the following season.

2023-2024 Season: A New Look for the Wolfpack

For the 2023-2024 season, NC State aimed to build on their strong finish from the previous year despite significant changes in the roster. The team restructured its offense to promote a more balanced scoring approach. Their rankings reflected this shift, with the team placing 109th in PS/G and 79th in field goal attempts (FGA) per game. However, their field goal percentage remained relatively unchanged, ranking 156th at 45%. On the defensive end, the Wolfpack ranked 171st, allowing 71.8 PA/G, which, while an improvement, still suggested potential vulnerabilities.

Despite these concerns, the Wolfpack caught fire in March, going undefeated from March 12th through April 6th—a critical period in college basketball. Their strong finish in the ACC Tournament saw them defeat heavyweights like Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina on consecutive days, solidifying their place as a 10th seed. This momentum carried them into the NCAA tournament, where they upset Texas Tech, Marquette, and Duke, making a historic run to the Final Four as an 11th seed. Unfortunately, their journey ended there, as they fell to Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers, a formidable opponent.

This remarkable run was a genuine team effort, with significant contributions from the entire roster. DJ Burns, a player relatively unknown before the tournament, emerged as a star with his exceptional play. DJ Horne, who averaged 16.9 PPG, and Mohamed Diarra, who anchored the interior with 7.8 RPG, were also pivotal to the team’s success. However, the Wolfpack will face another rebuilding challenge as they look to replace key players like Horne, Burns, Casey Morsell, and Diarra after the 23-24 season.

Looking Ahead: The 2024-2025 Season

As the Wolfpack prepare for the upcoming season, they will return seven players, including their third-leading scorer, Jayden Taylor, and big man Ben Middlebrooks. They have also bolstered their roster with a talented recruiting class, highlighted by 4-star versatile scoring threat Paul McNeil and 3-star explosive athlete Trey Parker from Overtime Elite (OTE). In addition, they acquired several experienced and somewhat overlooked players, including guard Marcus Hill from Bowling Green, who averaged an impressive 20.5 PPG, forward Mike James from Louisville, small-ball big Dontrez Styles from Georgetown, and big man Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, also from Louisville.

This year’s roster is filled with high-production players, creating optimism for another successful season. However, with only 39.5% of their minutes and scoring returning from last season, there will be ample opportunity for the recruits and transfers to step up and make their mark. The Wolfpack will likely continue to push the pace offensively, hoping to make another deep tournament run.

Keep an eye on Paul McNeil, who could emerge as one of the top-scoring threats among the incoming freshman class, potentially positioning NC State as a dark horse in the ACC and beyond.