The Wolfpacker Podcast: NC State basketball update
This is a very busy and important week for NC State basketball. Starting Wednesday at noon, the Wolfpack will have three games in three days as part of the annual Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas.
First up for NC State will be the defending national champions. The Pack, off to a 4-0 start, will tip off against No. 3 Kansas at noon Wednesday in a game that can be seen nationally on ESPN.
This will be by far the stiffest challenge that NC State basketball has faced on the season. In preparations for the big week ahead, which could feature three opponents all ranked in the top 100 of the various computer rankings, Matt Coe joins Matt Carter for a hoops-focused podcast.
Among the topics that Carter and Coe discussed in the episode:
• What are the good and what are the bad from the opening four games of the season, which featured blowout wins over Austin Peay and Florida International but sluggish-looking victories over Campbell and Elon. All four contests were played at home in PNC Arena.
Specifically, what the emergence of senior guard Casey Morsell on the three-point line could mean based on the early returns of how well super senior Jarkel Joiner and sophomore Terquavion Smith play in the backcourt.
• Previewing the matchup against Kansas in game one in the Bahamas, and why the Jayhawks present a challenge for the Wolfpack beyond the fact that KU is one of the best teams in the country.
In particular, how Kansas may be well-equipped to defend the NC State starting backcourt duo of Joiner and Smith, which is the heart of the Wolfpack hoops roster.
• What the perception of a win would do for NC State basketball, both for the fanbase but more importantly for any hopes of being evaluated by the NCAA Tournament Selection committee in March.
Also, what a victory could do considering how the ACC has underperformed thus far in the first month of the season, with Matt Carter going over the long list of disappointing outcomes that will affect NC State’s ability to add quality wins during the conference portion of the Wolfpack’s schedule.
• Matt Coe details who he would like to play in the second matchup, which will be either Dayton or Wisconsin on Thanksgiving afternoon depending on the outcomes of the games on Wednesday.
• Both Matt Coe and Matt Carter offer up their predictions for what the outcome of the game against Kansas will be Wednesday afternoon.
And more!
