The Wolfpack will head to an SEC host for postseason play
The Pack9 certainly didn’t end the season the way one had hoped, going 3-7 down the stretch, evading an ACC title and making a quick exit from the ACC Tournament in the process. But a new season of sorts awaits the Wolfpack as NC State was placed as the 2-seed in the Auburn Regional. They’ll open play on Friday (time TBD) against 3-seed Stetson.
Regional host Auburn is the #4 national seed. The Tigers finished the regular season #3 nationally in RPI with a 38-18 overall record and 17-13 mark in the SEC, while also sporting the #1 ranked Strength of Schedule.
Auburn will open against 4-seed Central Connecticut State, the Northeast Conference champion. The Blue Devils went 31-15 overall and 23-7 in conference play, with the #182 RPI in the country.
State’s opening opponent, Stetson, went 40-20 overall on the year while winning the ASUN Graphite division (yes, that’s the name) with a 24-6 mark, tied with Austin Peay (champions of the Gold Division) for the best mark in the conference. The Hatters were awarded the ASUN Tournament title after the deciding game was cancelled due to weather.
Adding a level of intrigue to the Pack’s opening matchup, Stetson is led offensively by NC State transfer 3B Isaiah Barkett, the son of former Pack9 player Andy Barkett.