North Carolina State Wolfpack
ACC (24-10, 11-7)
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Compared to the preseason expectations for North Carolina State, the 2012-2013 campaign has been a disappointment. There have not been many baffling loses, but this is not a top ten team either. With that said, the Wolfpack do boast one of the most potent six man rotations around. They can be extremely difficult to defend since any player can go off on any given day.
Big Wins: 12/4 vs Connecticut (69-65), 1/12 Duke (84-76), 1/26 North Carolina (91-83)
Bad Losses: 1/16 at Maryland (50-51), 1/22 at Wake Forest (84-86), 3/9 at Florida State (67-71)
Coach: Mark Gottfried (2 seasons at North Carolina State)
Why They Can Surprise:
The trio of C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell and Lorenzo Brown form a great nucleus for NC State. Leslie is the superstar athlete who can fly through the lane and finish with ease. The 6-9 junior has the skills to be a great player in the NBA, but he is stuck in between positions. He lacks the strength to be a power forward and the shooting touch to be a small forward. That does not matter at all in college ball and the result is a dominating player. Richard Howell is the traditional big man who is averaging a double-double during his senior season. Brown is the point guard who makes everything tick. He is a decent enough shooter to at least keep the opposition honest, but Brown does his best work attacking the basket and finishing himself or finding one of his teammates. Having a slasher like Leslie, an interior scorer like Howell and a point guard like Brown to keep things rolling means this is a team that very rarely struggles offensively. Add the shooting ability of Scott Wood, the toughness of T.J. Warren and the emerging potential of Rodney Purvis and the Wolfpack will score in bunches.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The main thing that prevents Coach Mark Gottfried’s team from reaching their full potential is turnovers. Brown and company do a fine job of keeping the turnovers down on their end, but this is a group that will usually lose the turnover battle. The Wolfpack just do not create many turnovers and they do not make up for it on the glass either. Leslie and Howell are great rebounders, but they do not get much help. Part of that is due to a lack of depth. Warren helps out in the frontcourt, but that is about it. Coach Gottfried has to rely quite heavily on Warren, who is just a freshman, to step in for Howell. If foul trouble becomes an issue, the Wolfpack will struggle even more on the glass and they will need every extra possession they can muster if North Carolina State is going to live up to their preseason expectations in the postseason.
Probable Starters:
Lorenzo Brown, Junior, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 7.2 apg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 spg
Rodney Purvis, Freshman, Guard, 8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Scott Wood, Senior, Forward, 12.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
C.J. Leslie, Junior, Forward, 14.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Richard Howell, Senior, Forward, 12.7 ppg, 1.8 apg, 10.7 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Tyler Lewis, Freshman, Guard, 3.6 ppg, 1.5 apg
T.J. Warren, Freshman, Forward, 12.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.7 (13th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.4 (268, 11)
Field-Goal Percentage: 49.4 (5, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.7 (125, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.2 (279, 11)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.0 (15, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.2 (211, 7)
Rebound Margin: 2.7 (98, 3)
Assists Per Game: 14.5 (69, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (98, 7)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over San Diego State
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over Georgetown
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kansas
2010 NIT First Round win over South Florida
2010 NIT Second Round loss to UAB
2007 NIT First Round win over Drexel
2007 NIT Second Round win over Marist
2007 NIT Quarterfinal Loss to West Virginia
2006 NCAA Round of 64 win over California
2006 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Texas
2005 NCAA Round of 64 win over Charlotte
2005 NCAA Round of 32 win over Connecticut
2005 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Wisconsin
2004 NCAA Round of 64 win over Louisiana
2004 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Vanderbilt
*all team stats through 3/10
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
