Why not us?
The mantra was simple at first, but has since helped define an entire movement. NC State men’s basketball has become the hottest name in college basketball and for good reason. After losing nine of its last 13 games, the Pack has won nine straight since March 12, made the Final Four for the first time since 1983 and is now a single game away from the national championship.
The win streak is unprecedented, but the Wolfpack keeps rolling despite having the odds stacked against it. The red-and-white tied the record for the lowest seed to ever make the Final Four but has the opportunity to stand apart from its predecessors. No No. 11 seed has ever made it to the national championship, but the Pack has proven it doesn’t care about what is seemingly impossible — it simply cares about winning.
After defeating No. 6 seed Texas Tech, No. 14 seed Oakland, No. 2 seed Marquette and No. 4 seed Duke, the Wolfpack is set to face No. 1 seed Purdue on Saturday, April 6, in Phoenix, Arizona. Purdue was ranked top three in the AP Poll for nearly the entire season and has just four losses entering the Final Four.
The Boilermakers are led by 2023 Wooden Award winner Zach Edey. The 7-foot-4 center has been one of the most dominant players in college basketball, leading the country with 25 points per game and has the second most rebounds in the nation. His lanky frame allows him to tower over defenders and thrive in the paint. This also allows Edey to draw an extraordinary amount of fouls — which is why he leads the nation in free throws.
Edey is coming off a career-high 40-point performance in the Elite Eight against Tennessee, a game in which he also recorded 16 rebounds. Edey shot 22 free throws while making 14, scoring over half of his team’s points.
Junior forward Mohamed Diarra will most likely be the primary defender against Edey. The Frenchman is the Pack’s best defensive big man and has the best chance to consistently defend Edey’s layups. Diarra has been the most improved player for the Wolfpack, averaging 10.5 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game during the NCAA Tournament.
Diarra has been fasting for Ramadan during the postseason, and it will play a role in Saturday’s matchup. Tip-off is set for 3:09 p.m. local time, meaning Diarra will play the entire game with no sustenance, and with Edey being the most difficult matchup the team has faced, he’ll need to draw on as much strength as possible.
Because Edey draws so many fouls, look for junior forward Ben Middlebrooks to have an increased role in case Diarra finds himself in foul trouble. Middlebrooks has been playing the best basketball of his career during the postseason, recording a career-high 21 points against Texas Tech and swatting three shots against Duke.
While Diarra and Middlebrooks will be working on Edey defensively, graduate forward DJ Burns Jr. will most likely draw Edey’s attention. Burns has put the nation on notice during the postseason, scoring 20 or more points in two of his last three matchups, including a 29-point performance against Duke in the Elite Eight. His sheer size, impeccable footwork and bubbly personality have made Burns the star of the tournament, quickly becoming a fan favorite across the country.
Fans have clamored for this matchup. Each player differently defines the word size, but make no mistake: they are two of the most offensively talented players in the nation. Burns should give Edey one of the toughest matchups of the season. Burns’ footwork is second to none, and he has shown he can make difficult shots from nearly anywhere inside the 3-point line. Look for Burns to try to draw fouls against Edey. If the Pack can get him in foul trouble, Purdue will have a tough time on both sides without its star big man.
