NC State Welcomes Wake Forest

An opportunity for payback

When: Saturday February 22 – 2:00 PM

Where: Lenovo Center

TV: ESPN2

Opponent: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Prediction – KenPom (KP) / Bart Torvik (BT): Wake Forest 67-65 / Wake Forest 66-65

Wolfpack Snapshot:

• Record: 10-16, 3-12
• Rankings: KP #113, BT #110, WAB -7.2 ranked 186th
• NET Ranking: NET 134, 14th in ACC Conf NET rankings
• NET performance: Q1 (0-8), Q2 (0-6), Q3 (2-2), Q4 (8-0)

Wolfpack Season So Far:

Realistically, two sad goals remain this season:

1. STRETCH GOAL – Make the ACC tournament – The bottom 3 teams aren’t invited. Currently the Wolfpack is out, ranked 17^th and 2 games behind the team(s) in front of them with five games left to play.
2. WIN AT LEAST TWO MORE – Avoid tying or exceeding the most losses in Wolfpack history – 2021-2022: 11-21 / 4-16

*** 30 Days Till the Fun Resumes! Transfer Season 2025 Begins March 24. Players have the March 24–April 22 window to submit their names and be eligible to play in the fall. Time to start shopping!

Wolfpack Player Notes:

• Mike James – In the Monday 2/17 press conference, Coach Keatts’ confirmed season long expectations that James is “unlikely to play this season”.

Opponent Overview:

Wake Forest’s record is solid, Lunardi has them in the ‘last four in’. Apart from a home loss to FSU, every loss was a Q1 opponent. Wake Forest is coming to Raleigh following a perfectly timed week off. They have five remaining games, 4 against the bottom half of the ACC, and Duke. They should head into the ACCT solidly in the NCAAT.

Opponent Snapshot:

• Record: 19-7, 11-4
• Rankings: KP #61, BT #69, WAB +2.4 ranked 31^st
• NET Ranking: NET 60, 7th in ACC Conf NET rankings
• NET performance: Q1 (2-6), Q2 (5-0), Q3 (6-1), Q4 (6-0)

Their ACC Rankings of Note – Conference Play: (Source: theacc.com)

• Opponent FG% 1^st
• Opponent 3PT FG% 1^st
• Team FG% 2^nd
• Turnover margin 3^rd
• Offense 4^th
• Defense 4^th
• Steals 4^th
• Assists 16^th
• 3PT FG Made 18^th

Player Notes

• Hunter Sallis 4^th in ACC in scoring
• Ty-Laur Johnson 2^nd in ACC in steals

Previous game results

In a familiar story, NC State took a 3-2 lead, and then Wake Forest went on a 17-1 run to go up 19-4. The Wolfpack played catchup the remainder of the game and got as close as two points early in the second half. But again, the Pack went cold and the Deacs went on a 12-2 run. The Wolfpack got no closer than 12 for the remainder of the game.

Keys To The Game

Protect the rim – Wake is not a strong 3PT shooting team, Hildreth (37.5%) (who didn’t start last game, but may start) is the only player shooting often and well. They are going to attack the basket. Spillers (54.7 FG%) and Reid (56.5 FG%) are deadly once the ball gets inside.

Control Hunter Sallis – Sallis is a high usage shooter. He has taken 45% more field goals and 57% more 3PT shots than the next closest player on their team. He shoots 50.5 FG% in ACC play and plays 35.7 mins per game. I look forward to the huge hole he’ll leave in their team next season, but for one last time, the Pack has to slow him down.