The NC State men’s basketball team (14-7, 5-5 ACC) has now lost back-to-back games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Even though the Pack wasn’t at its best for these games, here are some of the biggest takeaways from these losses.
Daniels and Funderburk continue to be strong forces for the Pack
Redshirt junior guard Devon Daniels continues to put up strong performances for the Pack. In the Pack’s loss to Georgia Tech, he put up 12 points and shot 5 for 10 from the field while also adding eight rebounds. He had an even better performance against North Carolina, scoring 17 points and shooting 8 for 17 from the field with six rebounds and three assists. The one area of the game Daniels needs to improve moving forward is his 3-point shooting. Daniels finished a combined 1 for 6 from behind the arc in the games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Redshirt junior D.J. Funderburk, like Daniels, has consistently turned in strong performances for the Pack. Funderburk continues to show consistency in not only scoring, but also on the glass. Funderburk grabbed five boards in the game against Georgia Tech and added another eight against North Carolina. He also scored 18 points against North Carolina on a night he shot 7 for 9 from the field.
Johnson’s inconsistency continues
Senior guard Markell Johnson has been one of NC State’s best players this season when he finds his shooting rhythm. The problem for the Wolfpack is that this does not happen often enough. This two-game stretch against Georgia Tech and North Carolina was a perfect example of this. Against Georgia Tech, Johnson put up one of his strongest performances of the season, scoring 21 points while shooting 8 for 16 from the field. The performance against North Carolina on Monday was the complete opposite, with Johnson shooting only 6 for 19 from the field. Johnson’s shooting has been just like this all season; one game he is nearly unstoppable and the next he can’t find the basket.
C.J. Bryce continues to struggle
Redshirt senior C.J. Bryce did not score a single point against Georgia Tech or North Carolina in what was the worst two-game stretch of his collegiate career. Bryce also only added five assists and turned the ball over three times during this two-game stretch. Over the last 80 minutes of game play, the Pack’s leading scorer for most of the season is 0 for 11 and is missing from all over the place – layups, mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers.
