The NC State Wolfpack and The Citadel Bulldogs are set to clash on the hardwood this Monday. Fresh off a challenging season, The Citadel aims to rebound from a 10-22 record, seeking an upset against an NC State squad that finished a solid 23-11 last year. As both teams hit the reset button at PNC Arena, the Wolfpack will look to assert their dominance early, defending their den against a Bulldogs team hungry for a turnaround

Bulldogs Under Reconstruction: The Citadel’s Quest to Fortify and Rise in SoCon

The Citadel Bulldogs’ previous campaign was a grind, with the team putting up a 10-22 overall record and a 5-13 tally in Southern Conference play, landing them in 9th place. Ed Conroy, steering the ship, faces a challenging course ahead, especially as the Bulldogs face the departure of center Stephen Clark, who’s moved on to South Carolina, and Austin Ash, whose eligibility has run dry.

Clark’s exit strips The Citadel of a heavyweight who led the squad in points (16.3 PPG), rebounds (6.5 RPG), and assists (2.8 APG). Losing a player who’s your top contributor across the board isn’t just a gap; it’s a crater.

With these departures, the spotlight turns to AJ Smith and Madison Durr. Smith, with a 6.1 PPG and 2.8 RPG, and Durr, clocking in at 7.7 PPG and 3.3 RPG, are the backcourt duo expected to step up their game. Their development is critical for the Bulldogs to bark louder this season.

The Bulldogs’ stats tell a tale of a team that needs to tighten up on both ends of the court. They averaged 67.4 points while allowing 71.7 points per game, which illustrates the offensive struggles without neglecting their defensive lapses. Field goal execution was decent at a 43.2% clip, but the defense allowed opponents to hit at nearly the same rate, signaling a need for a defensive clamp-down.

N.C. State’s Hunt for ACC Dominance Amidst Roster Revamp

As the college basketball season looms, the North Carolina State Wolfpack gears up for a campaign that could make or break their reputation. Ranked 50th overall and 6th in the ACC, the Wolfpack has some ground to cover to regain its former glory. Coach Kevin Keatts, with a career record of 185-107, faces the task of steering a revamped roster to success.

Last season, the Wolfpack posted a respectable 23-11 record, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. But the departures of key contributors like Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner, who averaged 17.9 and 17.0 points per game respectively, leave big shoes to fill. The backcourt also loses Jack Clark, while the frontcourt waves goodbye to Dusan Mahorcic and Greg Gantt.

Returning to the team are D.J. Burns Jr. and Casey Morsell, both seniors ready to lead the squad. Burns Jr. provided solid numbers last season, averaging 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Morsell wasn’t far behind, posting 11.8 points and 4.4 rebounds. Ernest Ross, Breon Pass, and LJ Thomas also return, albeit with less eye-popping stats. Ross, a junior forward, will need to elevate his game beyond the 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds he contributed last season.

The Wolfpack has loaded up on talent via the transfer portal. Mohamed Diarra from Missouri and DJ Horne from Arizona State are two standouts who could make an immediate impact. Ben Middlebrooks, Michael O’Connell, MJ Rice, Jayden Taylor, and Kam Woods round out the new faces, each bringing their own skills to a diverse roster.

On paper, the Wolfpack can score, averaging 77.7 points per game last season—41st in the nation and 2nd in the conference. However, defense was a weak link with 70.8 points allowed per game and a field-goal defense of 44.5%. These numbers will have to improve to make a deep postseason run.

Field-goal shooting was decent last year at 45.0%, but the team will need to tighten up defensively, given that opponents shot 44.5% against them. The Wolfpack also managed to stay relatively mistake-free with just 9.4 turnovers per game, ranking 7th nationally.

David´s Pick – North Carolina State Wolfpack (-20)

Amidst a landscape of reconstruction and roster revamps, the North Carolina State Wolfpack outshine The Citadel Bulldogs in the upcoming season’s forecast. Despite The Citadel’s tenacious rebuild, the loss of Stephen Clark’s all-around dominance casts a long shadow. The Wolfpack, on the other hand, has managed to bolster their lineup through transfers, positioning them as the team to watch in the ACC. Expect the Wolfpack to not only dominate the SoCon contenders but also to make significant strides in the ACC. The smart money’s on North Carolina State to win.