Welcome to the Hoos Place 2019 Summer Hoops Refresh, where we review last season and this summer’s personnel moves for all 15 ACC programs in alphabetical order. To read program capsules already complete, you can click here. Today we look at the…

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Year 2 of the Keatts era in Raleigh was marked by inconsistency. They returned only three players from the ’17-18 squad, partnered them with six transfers and a freshman, and managed their way to a .500 ACC record and an NIT berth. This year they bring back 7 rotation players, however, 4 of which were starters, so expectations are high. Will the Pack meet those expectations?

Coach: Kevin Keatts; 117-52 in 5 seasons overall, 45-24 (20-16) in 2 seasons at NC State.

2018-19 Record: Last season: 24-12 (9-9); ACCT Quarterfinals (8 seed); NIT Quarterfinals (2 seed)

2018-19 Efficiency:

Roster Roundup:

*Projected starters in bold

2019/20 ACC Opponents:

Outlook:

Looking at this roster you can understand why pundits are pegging the Wolfpack as a tournament team. They’re one of the most veteran teams in the league, right up there Louisville, with seven rotation players returning and being joined by two additional senior grad transfers. All told they’ll have four seniors and three juniors in their rotation this year. That means, for this roster, the time is now. Markell Johnson is a dangerous point guard who can both score and facilitate (an absurd 8 apg in ACC play as a sophomore) and Beverly is a solid running mate for him. Daniels and Bryce are well balanced wing scorers who will let Keatts play his desired 4-out lineup. Funderburk returns to anchor the middle after a good debut season, and two grad transfer big men will provide him reliable depth.

So, on paper, this lineup looks really good. The depth at guard is an issue (is freshman Dereon Seabron ready to provide quality minutes at the 2/3?), especially given star-recruit Jalen Lecque’s late decision to go to the NBA and Blake Harris’ last-minute transfer, but the starters should be able to cover. Just means they’ll go small less frequently, with Taylor and Hellems seeing extra time at the 3/4. But has this team learned consistency? This is the team who, last year, scored a paltry 24 points one night against a short-handed VT and then 3 days later gave up 113 to UNC; State was at full strength for both games. Putting it bluntly, this team needs to turn the corner and learn how to win. The ACC was too good, too deep last year for State to win consistently. But we’re looking at a relatively down year for the league; if State has somehow had the light come on, then the Pack very well may be able to crash the party of the league’s top half, maybe even get into double-bye territory. An NCAA Tournament bid is absolutely this team’s realistic goal, and I think they pull it off, finishing probably no worse than 7th in the conference.