RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Tonight, the North Carolina State Wolfpack will be hanging up some banners at the newly-rechristened Lenovo Center before the start of the 2024-25 men’s basketball season.
NC State (0-0) will host USC Upstate (0-0) to start the year. Tip off in Raleigh is set for 7 p.m.
Before the first whistle, though, Wolfpack Nation will get a chance to celebrate the program’s magical run through last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and NCAA Tournament all the way to the Final Four. Banners commemorating the ACC Tournament win as well as the Final Four appearance will be hung in the rafters prior to the start of the game.
Only five players from that squad — starters Michael O’Connell and Jayden Taylor as well as Ben Middlebrooks, Dennis Parker Jr. and Breon Pass — are still in uniform for the Wolfpack. But even with eight new players to integrate into the system, NC State is heavily favored to win, as the team has won 29 of its last 30 home openers against a non-conference opponent.
The Spartans, who play in the Big South Conference are playing the Wolfpack for the third time in program history. NC State leads the all-time series 2-0.
Including Monday night, the Wolfpack starts the season with five home games. Next is a matchup against Presbyterian on Friday night.