The ‘Red Reckoning’ took another blow as NC State men’s basketball began 2026 with a dud, falling 76-61 to No. 21 Virginia.
With its lowest point total of the year, headlined by just 20 points in the first half, NC State (10-5, 1-1 ACC) let Virginia (12-2, 1-1 ACC) pull ahead and couldn’t manage to climb back into the game. The Pack started the second half with a tighter defense, allowing for a glimpse of hope by cutting the deficit down to eight points. But right when it seemed to possess the momentum, it slipped away and never returned.
“We’re not playing to our capabilities and that’s my fault as the coach,” said head coach Will Wade. “We’ve got better players than how we’re playing and we haven’t been able to put it together.”
Leading the charge for the Cavaliers, Virginia guard Sam Lewis punished the Pack from deep, shooting 5-for-9 from 3-point range and tying his collegiate career-high with 23 points.
Once again, an opposing player went nuclear against the Wolfpack, way outperforming their expected point total. In the Pack’s most recent major test against No. 19 Kansas in mid-December, Jayhawk guard Melvin Council Jr. moved similarly through the Pack’s defense, dropping 36 points and carrying Kansas to victory.
Unable to match the firepower coming from the opposition, the Pack is a tick behind where it needs to be. NC State’s highest touted transfer and ACC Preseason Player of the Year, senior forward Darrion Williams, has not been performing as advertised for the Wolfpack. Versus Virginia, he scored just seven points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field in 31 minutes of playing time.
Last week, Wade defended him fervently when questioned about his recent performances.
“He’s f****** playing well,” Wade said.
After the loss to Virginia, Wade was forced to change his tune. Less fiery than last week, Wade took accountability for the mediocre performance from the Pack today.
“A lot of guys struggled on our team today. I don’t want to pin it on any one person,” Wade said. “… if you pin it on one person, it’s on me.”
Holding everything together, senior guard Quadir Copeland’s persistent efforts to close the gap were noticeable throughout the game accounting for 15 points, while the rest of the team struggled.
By the third media timeout, NC State was shooting 5-for-17 from the field. Offensive shortcomings rippled into the Pack’s defensive play as Virginia rained buckets, taking advantage of the Pack’s inconsistency.
“We let our frustrations on offense carry over to the defense,” Wade said. “They didn’t blister the nets to start, really, but we let our frustrations offensively hurt us defensively.”
Also detrimental to the Pack’s performance against Virginia was the loss of a key player. Early on in the game, NC State senior guard Tre Holloman hobbled back to the bench after only nine minutes of playing time.
When questioned about Holloman’s condition, Wade gave an optimistic response.
“The X-ray at halftime was negative … but it’s something with his ankle or foot,” Wade said. “…It seems like it’ll be okay.”
Turning attention away from today’s mishaps onto the upcoming games on the road, playing six of its next eight games away from Raleigh and the Lenovo Center.
“We’ll get a sense over the next couple weeks of how we are away from home,” Wade said.
To begin this stretch, NC State will face the ACC’s weakest team by the NET Rankings, No. 179 Boston College. Tip off on Jan. 6 is set for 9 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
