NC State hadn’t reached a Final Four since 1983, and the odds seemed against them changing that this year as the regular season wrapped up. The Wolfpack had stumbled, losing their last four games before entering the ACC tournament, far from the bubble. Then, a stunning turnaround: the Wolfpack triumphed in five games over five days, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They conquered Duke and North Carolina in the ACC tournament, continuing their miraculous journey to the Final Four as an 11th seed.
Photo Cred: ESPN
This included a decisive 76-64 victory against their rival 4th seed, Duke, in the Elite Eight at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, this past Sunday. Once again, the Wolfpack were led by the March Madness sensation, power forward DJ Burns Jr., who amassed 29 points, shooting an impressive 13-19 from the field, alongside four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Another standout contributor to the Wolfpack’s success, guard DJ Horne, added 20 points, shooting 7-16 overall, with four rebounds and three assists. Burns Jr. was rightly named the South Region’s most outstanding player, consistently scoring in double figures throughout NC State’s NCAA tournament run.
This included a notable 24-point performance, shooting 9-12 overall, in the 79-73 overtime triumph over the 14th seed, Oakland, in the round of 32. The matchup marked the 257th meeting between the two schools, their first-ever encounter in the NCAA tournament, and a historic first between an 11th seed and a 4th seed. NC State has now clinched nine consecutive elimination games, while the university’s women’s program has advanced to the Elite Eight as a 3rd seed, defeating 1st seed Texas 76-66 last Sunday.
Head Coach Kevin Keatts expressed his admiration for the team’s incredible journey, stating, “These guys are truly special, facing nine elimination games where it’s win or go home.”
Duke’s standout freshman guard, Jared McCain, notched his second 30-point game of this year’s NCAA tournament, scoring 32 points on 8-20 shooting overall, including 5-11 from beyond the arc, alongside six rebounds and one assist. McCain had previously achieved 30 points in 31 minutes, shooting 10-15 overall and 8-11 from three, during the 93-55 victory over James Madison in the round of 32. However, the Blue Devils’ sophomore center Kyle Filipowski, averaging 16.6 points per game this season, struggled, only managing 11 points on 3-12 shooting overall, and going 0-3 from three against the relentless Wolfpack.
Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports
Both teams endured a challenging first half with poor shooting performances. Duke managed a slim 27-21 lead, shooting 8-26 overall and 2-7 from three, while NC State wasn’t much better at 9-34 overall and 1-7 from three. However, the Wolfpack rallied in the second half, narrowing Duke’s lead to 35-34 after a crucial three-pointer by Horne with 13:24 remaining. The game remained closely contested until consecutive jumpers by Horne and Burns Jr. propelled the Wolfpack to a 42-38 lead with 10:44 left.
From there, NC State never looked back, embarking on an 11-4 run to establish a commanding 53-42 lead with 6:56 on the clock. Duke failed to mount a serious comeback, as NC State maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. Duke struggled offensively, aside from McCain, finishing at 32.2% overall and a mere 5-20 from three, all five three-pointers coming from McCain. NC State fared slightly better from beyond the arc, finishing 3-13, and showcased a solid 46.7% shooting overall.
The Wolfpack dominated the paint, scoring 38 points led by Burns Jr., compared to Duke’s 26. Both teams took care of possession, with NC State committing only five turnovers compared to Duke’s nine. NC State capitalized on turnovers, scoring 13 points off Duke’s mistakes, in contrast to Duke’s mere two points off turnovers. This marked the second consecutive game where NC State controlled proceedings against a higher seed.
In the Sweet Sixteen clash against the 2nd seed Marquette Golden Eagles, NC State emerged victorious with a 67-58 win. They seized the lead early at 9-7 with 15:51 remaining in the first half and held a commanding 37-24 lead at halftime. While Burns Jr. contributed only four points in this game, Horne shone with 19 points, supported by guard Casey Morsell’s 15 points on 7-12 shooting overall.
Photo Cred: FOX
The Wolfpack’s defense was outstanding, limiting Marquette to 33.3% shooting overall and a dismal 4-31 from three. Looking ahead, the Wolfpack now face their toughest challenge yet, the 1st seed Purdue Boilermakers (33-4), in the Final Four in Phoenix next Saturday on TBS. Although Duke’s season has come to a close with a successful run to the Elite Eight, where they defeated the 1st seed Houston 54-51 in the Sweet Sixteen, head coach Jon Scheyer’s second season has shown promise for the Blue Devils (27-9).
