The job’s not finished.
NC State men’s basketball is in the midst of one of the most surprising postseason runs in the history of college basketball. The team that lost nine of its last 13 games in the regular season won seven games in 12 days to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2015.
After upsetting No. 6 seed Texas Tech and knocking out a feisty Oakland squad, the Wolfpack will travel to Dallas to face off against No. 2 seed Marquette.
The Golden Eagles have one of the best guard tandems in the nation with Kam Jones and Tyler Kolek.
Jones is an elite scorer and the leader of Marquette’s offense. He’s scored 18 or more in eight of his last 10 games, including three games of 30 or more. He’s also been efficient, shooting 50.3% from the field and 41.4% from beyond the arc. Jones can score from anywhere on the court and has proven to be a clutch shooter in the postseason.
Kolek is a consistent shooter and elite passer, making him the perfect complement to Jones’ scoring mentality. He leads the NCAA with 7.9 assists per game and has elevated his play even more toward the end of the season, recording double-digit assists in four of his last five games, including a career-high 18 assists against DePaul.
The high-powered offensive duo will be the toughest challenge yet and will likely draw the attention of graduate guard Casey Morsell and junior guard Jayden Taylor, with the two being the best defensive guards on the team. The challenge isn’t new for either player, who have both guarded offensive talents like RJ Davis and Jack Gohlke over their last three matchups.
The biggest advantage for the Wolfpack is its big men, led by graduate forward DJ Burns. Burns has scored in double digits each of the past seven games, including a 24-point performance in the Pack’s overtime victory against Oakland. He has turned into one of the best post-scorers in the tournament and has captured the attention of fans across the nation with his post moves and iconic personality.
Another key reason behind the Wolfpack’s postseason success has been the improvement of junior forward Mohamed Diarra, who’s emerged as one of the best rebounders in the tournament.
After averaging 7.7 rebounds per game during the regular season, Diarra has nearly doubled that number, posting 12.5 rebounds per game in the postseason and breaking the record for most rebounds in the ACC Tournament. Diarra has also been a defensive force, recording 16 blocks across seven games including a career-high four blocks against Duke in the ACC Tournament.
Throughout the entire postseason, Diarra has been fasting for Ramadan, meaning he goes without food and water from sunrise to sunset. Up until now, the lack of food and water hasn’t affected Diarra much with the late game times on the East Coast.
The one exception was the Wolfpack’s matchup against Louisville in the first round of the ACC Tournament, which started at 4:30 p.m. The game was Diarra’s shortest of the postseason, playing just 18 minutes while recording four points and four rebounds.
Friday’s matchup against Marquette is set to tip off at 6:09 p.m. CST, and the sunset will be around 7:45 p.m., meaning Diarra will play nearly the entire matchup with zero sustenance.
Look for junior forward Ben Middlebrooks to see an increased role if Diarra is on a minutes restriction. Middlebrooks scored a career-high 21 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and has proven he can be a reliable post scorer. The Wolfpack has been reliant on its big men as of recently, and the Sweet Sixteen should be no different.
