On paper, the fast-approaching men’s basketball season for NC State should give fans plenty to be excited about. Although X’s and O’s do not always translate to on-the-court success, this Wolfpack team shows convincing promise. Highlighted by a mix of the return of key contributors from last year and the addition of acclaimed new prospects, this season makes for one of the most intriguing blends of talent in recent NC State basketball memory.
However, fans, analysts and college basketball pundits are quick to pump the brakes on expectations for the Wolfpack given some of the team’s past struggles when it comes to living up to the hype. For example, NC State was ranked No. 6 in the 2013 AP Top-25 preseason poll, but finished the season with a mediocre record of 24-10 (11-7 ACC). The team was also sent home in just the first weekend of NCAA tournament play. However, there is something different about this year’s team.
When asked about the expectations for this upcoming season, highly touted freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr. says his ultimate goal is to win a national championship. While to many, a national championship might sound a little far-fetched for a team that failed to make the NCAA tournament just a year ago, Smith feels that this may not be such an unrealistic goal after all. That is exactly the mindset that has taken over the locker room, and given a much-needed swagger back to this program.
After the departure of first team all-ACC point guard and conference leading scorer Cat Barber to the NBA draft last year, the Pack welcomes Smith to fill his vacated position. The gifted freshman comes in as the No. 1 overall ranked point guard in the class of 2016 according to ESPN, and he brings a level of skill and confidence that is paralleled by few of his age.
Before even lacing up his shoes to play a single college game, Smith has been appointed to the preseason all-ACC first team, the all-American second team and was also voted to be the preseason ACC rookie of the year.
When forward Abdul-Malik Abu announced that he would return to campus for his junior year at the end of last season, the outlook for 2016-17 changed. Abu was arguably one of the most vital components of last season’s offense, averaging 12.9 PPG and 8.8 RPG while starting every contest for the Wolfpack.
Along with Abu, the Pack gets to incorporate UNC-Charlotte transfer Torin Dorn into the lineup after he sat out last year due to transfer regulations. The guard was named the Conference USA freshman of the year at UNCC two seasons ago, which is no run-of-the-mill accolade.
Furthermore, the welcoming of West Virginia transfer redshirt senior Terry Henderson to the lineup will add depth and experience. After two straight seasons of sitting on the sideline, one because of transfer protocol and the other because of ankle surgery, the guard could easily be a key aspect of NC State’s offense and defense this upcoming season.
Finally, Turkish freshman big-man Omer Yurtseven has the potential to dominate the paint this season for the Wolfpack. The 7-footer also has the ability to shoot outside the arc and is an efficient passer, making him a match-up nightmare for most teams. While he has been suspended for the first nine games of the season by the NCAA for earning money while playing overseas in Turkey, Yurtseven will hit the floor for his first collegiate matchup at home against Appalachian State on Dec. 15 before the more meaningful ACC games begin.
With many new faces added to the Wolfpack’s roster, there comes a probable starting lineup that is completely unidentical to the one of last season. The 2015-16 campaign featured a starting five composed of Barber, sophomore Maverick Rowan, junior Cody Martin, Abu and senior BeeJay Anya.
The 2016-17 roster returns three of those five starters; however, only two of the three expect to retain their starting roles. With the addition of talented international big-man Yurtseven, the Pack will look to insert him into the starting center role once his nine-game suspension has been served.
Head coach Mark Gottfried has expressed that while Yurtseven sits, the team will have the chance to go small to start the season. This means that the floor could possibly feature a three-guard lineup of Smith, Henderson and Dorn. Rowan and Abu would likely start in the front court along with this trifecta of guards. Although much smaller, this NC State starting five is quicker and more athletic than last year’s unit.
With the plethora of options at Gottfried’s disposal that includes astounding talent on all ends of the court, the Wolfpack has the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament in March. It will not come easy, however, especially playing in the ACC, which has the ability to send an absurd 11 schools into the NCAA tourney this year. Nonetheless, NC State basketball fans should look ahead to the 2016-17 season as one to remember, not to forget.
Then-sophomore forward Abdul-Malik Abu tries to throw the ball off of a Clemson player out of bounds to maintain possession of the ball. Abu had a monster game with 17 points, 16 rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 33 minutes. The NC State Wolfpack beat the Clemson Tigers in a close one, 77-74, at PNC Arena on Feb. 20.
