Who and when will NC State play in NCAA Tournament? ACC champion Pack learns its fate
A week ago, many probably believed N.C. State’s Wolfpack might avoid the NCAA Selection Sunday show.
But five days in Washington, D.C., changed the Pack’s plans dramatically.
Instead of scattering on St. Patrick’s Day, maybe checking in Sunday on the NCAA Tournament selections on social media, the Wolfpack players, coaches and staff — the 2024 ACC champions — were gathered at the Sports & Social Cary restaurant for the show and cheered on by an overflow crowd of Pack fans.
The Pack’s NCAA opponent and destination: Texas Tech (23-11) on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Pack was made the No. 11 seed and Texas Tech No. 6 in the South Region.
“We’re ready to keep this Cinderella story running and keep on winning,” Pack guard D.J. Horne said Sunday.
While the Pack (22-14) was stacking wins in Washington at the ACC Tournament, No. 25 Texas Tech topped BYU in its first game in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, then lost to No. 1 Houston. The Red Raiders, one of eight Big 12 teams in the tournament, have been made 5.5-point favorites over the Pack in some of early Vegas odds.
“It’s all about preparation and we’ll be ready for it,” Pack guard Michael O’Connell said.
Added forward Casey Morsell: “The grind starts today.”
Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said he was bit anxious before the selections were announced, but more from the excitement of being in the field as the ACC champion, allowing his team another opportunity to play.
A year ago, the Wolfpack was an at-large selection and its NCAA appearance proved to be one-and-done. The Pack’s draw was a very experienced Creighton team in the first round in Denver.
Despite one of the 2023 NCAA Tournament’s signature plays — Terquavion Smith’s drive and megaton left-handed jam over Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner — N.C. State bowed out with a 72-63 loss.
But that was last year, and with a different cast that included Smith and Jarkel Joiner in the Pack backcourt.
Of note: Horne also was in Denver — with Arizona State. The Sun Devils won against Nevada in an NCAA “First Four” matchup in Dayton, then made the hop to Denver’s Ball Arena to play TCU, losing 72-70.
Horne, who led ASU with 17 points, tied the score 70-70 with a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation, but TCU won on a JaKobe Coles runner in the lane with 1.5 seconds left.
ASU’s season completed, Horne transferred to N.C. State. Now he’s going back to the NCAAs with the Pack.
“This is why I came home,” Horne said Sunday.
Before heading to Washington for the ACC Tournament, Keatts said he told his guys to bring “something lucky, something special.”
But it took more than luck to beat Louisville, Syracuse, Duke, Virginia and North Carolina to win the school’s first men’s basketball championship since 1987. Five wins in five days takes a lot of fortitude and endurance, and contributions from many.
“We thought of each game as its own championship and we’re going to keep that same mindset heading into March,” Morsell said Sunday. “Just keep doing what got us here and stay together. We’re battled tested. We’ve faced a lot of adversity and seen everything. We’re ready for whatever challenges a team can throw at us.”
The ‘87 team also beat North Carolina to win the title. But the Pack’s NCAA Tournament ended quickly that year in the first round against Florida, coached by former Wolfpack coach Norm Sloan.
This year’s Pack, like the ‘87 team, took some collective body blows down the stretch of the regular season, getting off to a 5-1 ACC start but finishing 9-11 after four straight losses. That made the Wolfpack the No. 10 seed in the ACC Tournament at Capital One Arena, which made for a Tuesday start.
The Pack was realistic about the situation. There would be no return to the NCAAs, possibly no NIT invite, if the Wolfpack fell short in the ACC Tournament. Win or else.
“We didn’t get the results we wanted in the regular season, but nobody remembers the regular season anymore,” Morsell said after Saturday’s championship game. “We’re going to celebrate it, but the story is not done. It’s not done yet.”
Something to remember: UConn won five games in five days to win the 2011 Big East Tournament. That UConn team ended the season as the national champion.
