Report: NC State, South Carolina finalizing agreement to play exhibition basketball game

One year removed from a 26-win season and a second-place finish in the SEC, South Carolina is looking to right the ship under fourth-year coach Lamont Paris. NC State is breaking in a new coach in Will Wade.

And the two schools will reportedly meet in a preseason exhibition game in Greensboro, N.C., according to CBS Sports Jon Rothstein. Rothstein reported the two programs are finalizing an agreement to meet.

The showdown will include two of the more intriguing teams on the east coast. South Carolina, as noted, is looking to rediscover its form after falling off hard in 2024-25.

The Gamecocks went just 12-20 overall and featured a 2-16 record in conference play. They were nowhere close to the NCAA Tournament.

NC State, on the other hand, parted ways with Kevin Keatts after missing the NCAA Tournament last year. But the program is only two years removed from a Final Four appearance.

Enter Will Wade, who will be counted on to revitalize the program. And he’s already making headlines across the country as he takes over.

Will Wade takes a shot at UNC

On June 1, former North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin shocked Tar Heels fans when he committed to one of the team’s in-state rivals, NC State. New NC State head coach Will Wade only added fuel to the fire when he poked fun at UNC while discussing Lubin in a video that recently surfaced online.

“The other school was too dumb to play him,” Wade said. “When [Lubin] plays 28-plus minutes — he’s done that in 23 games — he averages 15 [points] and eight [rebounds]. I don’t know why the hell they didn’t play him but we’re gonna play him, so he’s gonna average 15 and eight.”

North Carolina only played Lubin 28 or more minutes in five games at UNC last season. It was the 6-foot-8 forward’s first and only season with the Tar Heels.

Lubin averaged 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 68.4% from the field. Lubin’s numbers increased when he saw more time on the floor, thus Wade’s shot across the bow.

In any case, a preseason matchup between South Carolina and NC State should provide a good early measuring stick for how far both programs still need to go. And it’ll be a good heat check on Lamont Paris.

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this report.