Strong play down the stretch is paying off big.
NC State entered the final weekend of the regular season in the discussion for a regional—the top 16 teams in the NCAA tourney field get to spend the first weekend playing at home—and has done nothing but help itself over the last two days.
The Wolfpack’s collection of series wins in league play is impressive: UNC, Clemson (road), Wake, Duke, and UVA (road). State also split two games at FSU, but was deprived of the opportunity of winning that series by the weather. Five of those six are projected regional hosts. so State has shown its bona-fides and then some.
The Pack may well be in the top 16 as of right now, though it’s always difficult to guess how the selection committee will end up viewing the total picture. NC State is No. 16 in the RPI with a top-five strength of schedule. State is also 7-3 against ACC teams in the RPI top-10.
It wouldn’t hurt to keep the wins coming, but it could be the resume is already compelling enough regardless of how things go at the ACC tournament next week.