Roster reset: Projecting NC State’s starting lineup, rotation and more

When Will Wade arrived at NC State, he knew he would have to create a brand-new team. It’s the name of the game in the transfer portal era. But despite that being a reality, the 42-year-old viewed this year as an opportunity to compete right away. “I want to be very clear. This is not a rebuild,” Wade said at his introductory press conference. “We’re going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we’re going to the NCAA tournament. This is going to be done the right way, and it’s going to be done quickly. We are here to win.” Well, Wade, who has never had a losing season in his 11 years as a head coach, seemed to accomplish that goal this offseason. He and his staff built an entire roster from scratch, using a data-based approach to find the best combination of players to make the postseason as soon as possible.  Here’s a look at how NC State’s roster has come together, what a possible starting lineup could be along with its rotation for the 2025-26 season. The Wolfpack still has one scholarship available.