Jesse Childs
Graduate forward Wyatt Walker wins the tip-off against Virginia center Jay Huff at PNC Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 29. The Wolfpack suffered a close overtime loss to UVA 66-65. Walker recorded 11 points, 3 blocks and got 7 rebounds against the Cavaliers*.
*Editor's note: the caption has been updated to correct Virginia's nickname.
CHARLOTTE — In a rematch of the NC State men’s basketball team’s heartbreaking 66-65 overtime home loss to Virginia in late January, the eighth-seeded Wolfpack (21-10, 9-9 ACC) will get a chance at revenge.
The first-seeded Cavaliers (28-2, 16-2 ACC) enter Thursday’s game winners of eight in a row and 12 of their last 13, and have hit their offensive groove as of late. Like normal, Virginia is a dangerous team with a stellar defense that gives up only 54.6 points per game, best in the NCAA, but they also score 72.1 on average.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” said sophomore guard Braxton Beverly after the Clemson win. “They’re a really good team and have really poised players.”
In January’s game, a furious 14-point comeback and a pair of free throws by junior guard Markell Johnson with 28 seconds remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime. After battling the Cavaliers in overtime, Johnson had a chance to send the game into double overtime in the same scenario after getting fouled on a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds remaining. Staring down a three-point deficit, Johnson hit two of three free throws, and the Pack missed a chance at a huge NCAA Tournament resume win.
That loss kickstarted a three-game losing streak for NC State, but the Wolfpack has since rebounded to win six of its last nine games and is fresh off a thrilling 59-58 win over Clemson in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Graduate forward Wyatt Walker had one of his best games of the season in the first Virginia game, scoring 11 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots, earning high praise from Virginia head coach Tony Bennett.
“Virginia is a heck of a team,” Walker said. “We played them close last time, and [we’re] just excited to have the opportunity to play them.”
Johnson and graduate forward Torin Dorn led the Pack in scoring in the game with 14 and 13 points, respectively. The two shot a combined 9 for 27 from the field and just 3 for 12 from beyond the arc in what was a poor offensive game for NC State.
If it wants to pull off the upset, the Wolfpack is going to need to slow down Virginia’s dynamic backcourt duo of Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome. Guy, an All-ACC First Team selection, is scoring 15.3 points per game and knocking down 45.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. Jerome, an All-ACC Second Team selection, is averaging 13.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, and is no slouch from beyond the arc either, canning his 3-pointers at a 42.6 percent clip.
Forward De’Andre Hunter, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team selection, hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points with five rebounds and four assists in the two teams’ first matchup. NC State will have the tough task of trying to limit Hunter on the defensive end while simultaneously trying to avoid him while on offense.
The Pack has a short turnaround, having to play Virginia at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, less than 24 hours after its game against Clemson concluded.
“It’s super quick, it’s a one-day turnaround,” Dorn said. “So we’ve got to do everything that we need to do to get our bodies [and] minds right.”
If the Wolfpack wins, it will face the winner of fourth-seeded Florida State and fifth-seeded Virginia Tech on Friday at 7 p.m.