The 45-day transfer portal period for college basketball closed officially at midnight last night, and while there could be some late announcements from players who submitted paperwork at the last minute, NC State doesn’t have to worry about that.
The Wolfpack retained the core players it was expected to keep from last year’s team, with both Jayden Taylor and Michael O’Connell confirming earlier in the week that they’d be back. Hey, speaking of Michael O’Connell, do you guys remember when he hit that bank shot at the buzzer against UVA to force overtime and then NC State won that game and then won the ACC tournament and then made a run to the Final Four? That was awesome.
Anyway, with Mo Diarra’s exit for the pros the only significant roster setback, State’s had a pretty uneventful offseason—in a good way, I mean. And the additions to the roster, with one still pending, have positioned the Pack well for next year. Tough not to feel good about where this team is at, especially after you have a look at the offseasons some other ACC teams have had. (UVA and Wake, oof.)