ANALYSIS: How NC State men’s basketball is elevating its game in March

PITTSBURGH — In its last game of the regular season, NC State men’s basketball suffered its fourth straight loss. Only one player scored in double figures that night — junior guard Jayden Taylor, who scored 28 of the team’s 73.

This kind of basketball became a common theme during NC State’s stretch of losing seven of 11 games to end the season. The ball would stick with one player, and no one else got involved on the offensive end of the floor. There seemed to be no connectedness between the players on the court, and the season was spiraling downward.

Then, something changed going into the ACC Tournament. 

The Wolfpack received contributions from everyone, whether it was junior forward Mohamed Diarra dominating the glass or graduate guard Michael O’Connell turning into a scorer while still being the main facilitator. Graduate guard DJ Horne and graduate forward DJ Burns had offensive pressure taken off of them but they even elevated their games offensively during the postseason.

“All the credit has to go to the hard work that they’ve put in, and obviously they’re receiving the fruits of their labor because of that,” said head coach Kevin Keatts. “We’re going to the Sweet 16, guys. And this was a team that most people didn’t think we could even make it out of D.C. last weekend.”

During its run to the ACC Championship, seven different members of the Wolfpack scored in double figures. So what changed?

“I would say sticking together honestly throughout all the tough times,” O’Connell said. “Things aren’t always going to be pretty and go your way. But if we can stick together with the guys you’re out there competing with, I think that’s going to go a long way.” 

The consistency throughout the lineup has continued into the NCAA Tournament, with six players scoring over 10 points over two games. In the red-and-white’s second-round win over Oakland, all five starters scored in double figures. And the ball isn’t sticking with one player; the Wolfpack has racked up 34 assists in its two games in the Big Dance. 

NC State’s guards’ unselfish play has allowed the offense to flourish. 

O’Connell has dished out 14 assists, and Horne has eight in the games against Texas Tech and Oakland. Then there’s Burns, who’s always trying to find the open man, and his four assists against the Golden Grizzlies were crucial in getting the overtime win. The big man was triple-teamed late in the extra period and found Taylor for the dagger corner 3.

Extra ball movement can sometimes lead to more turnovers, but Keatts is willing to live with some mistakes if his team is moving the ball the way it has over the last two weeks.

“We’re going to make some mistakes, yes, but we’re going to limit our mistakes, and one of them is the ball sticking,” Keatts said. “We gotta move the ball. We talk about a lot of player and ball movement.”

The Wolfpack hasn’t just stepped up offensively — it’s also ramped up its defensive play. Several players are stepping up to hold opposing stars in check. 

The latest victim to the Pack’s stingy defense was Oakland star Jack Gohlke. The Golden Grizzly put the college basketball world on notice with his 32-point explosion against Kentucky, draining 10-20 3s. Against NC State, his production and efficiency dropped significantly, with the red-and-white’s guards, especially graduate guard Casey Morsell, hounding him all game. 

“One thing that Jack does, he tests your awareness because he’s always moving, and in order to kind of slow him down, you just gotta be in shape and you just kind of, like I said, you just gotta be aware where he is at all times,” Morsell said. “He tested that. But it wasn’t just me. It was a team effort.”

This defensive improvement is the biggest key to the Pack’s sudden emergence as a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s getting off of screens or having a better understanding of scouting reports, NC State has elevated nearly every aspect of its defense, unlocking a new ceiling for the team. 

“We have cut down on our mistakes, and most of them are on the defensive end,” Keatts said. “This team can score the basketball, but defensively we were a mess at times. … And I think one of the biggest things is, we believe and trust in one another.”

With a potent offense and defense now, the Wolfpack is running through its competition. Heading into the Sweet 16, NC State’s stock is as high as its been in decades. Despite the low points and the doubters, the Pack is still dancing in March. 

“I’m just saying, ‘Welcome back,’” Burns said. “They didn’t really believe in us. They probably still don’t, but that doesn’t matter to us. We’re just going to stay together. If you’re supporting us, thank you. If not, that’s what it is.”