Worst loss of the season. Back to the drawing board.
Game Summary:
2025 is starting poorly. Worst loss of the season. The team needs to keep in mind that the bottom three teams will not participate in the ACC tournament this season. Can’t win it again if we don’t get invited.
Another terrible start for NC State. 4 turnovers in the first few minutes, we either had a foul called or turned it over nearly every possession in the first five minutes. At one point Wake had made more shots than we had attempted. At the 13:20 mark we were down 15, 19-4. After a timeout, the Pack tightened up the defense and clawed their way back to close the half 38-32 Wake. Marcus Hill and Huntley-Hatfield carried the weight with 15 (8 & 7 points respectively) of our 32 points. Another poor rebounding showing, Wake leading 15-11.
In the second half, we played even for about five minutes, then at 14:12 Reid hit a layup and was fouled, putting the Deacons up 50-41. We never got closer. At the 12:11 point, trailing by 12, Coach Keatts got a technical protesting the lack of fouls being called on Reid. After Wake made the two technicals, the score was 57-43 and the game was over. We shot 9-23 / 1-6 in the second half. Wake outscores the Pack 39-27 in the second half. Final score 77-59.
Overall Takeaways:
- Offense – 59 points is tied with the Texas game for NC State’s lowest scoring output of the season
- Defense – Wake is the worst shooting team in the ACC. They shot 54.9% from the field.
- Defense – NC State’s last three quality opponents have shot better than 54% from the field
- 3PT Shooting Defense – Wake is the worst 3PT shooting team in the ACC. They shot 37.5% from 3PT.
- Rebounding – WF out rebounded the Pack 31-25. The only bright spot is NC State had only 1 offensive rebound in the first half, and won the offensive boards overall by picking up 8 in the second.
- Turnovers – 13 total
Keatts Comments
Individual Highlights
- Dontrez Styles got his first double-double in a Wolfpack uniform
- Rebounding problems persist – Our two centers totaled 4 rebounds. Michael O’Connell also had 4 rebounds.
- Based on Coach Keatts’ comments in the post game press conference, it sounds like they are still expecting Mike James to play this season