NC State men’s basketball enters 2023 carrying lots of momentum from a successful 2022 campaign. Returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five seasons, the team posted a 23-11 record which included a solid 12-8 ACC mark. This season, head coach Kevin Keatts looks to lead NC State men’s basketball in a schedule with several opportunities.
Nonconference
To begin the season, the Pack will face 11 nonconference opponents. For the most part, these games should not pose issues. However, there are some teams from within power-six conferences in which NC State will need to keep an eye out for.
The first of NC State’s challenges comes Nov. 23, when it travels to Las Vegas to compete in the Vegas Showdown. The first matchup will come against the Vanderbilt Commodores, a team the Pack squeaked past last season. The Commodores turned in a solid 2022 season in which they secured multiple solid wins in a loaded SEC conference. Based on tournament results, the Pack will either face Arizona State or BYU after.
Following its trip out west, the Pack will make a stop in Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge. Despite a tough 2022 season for the Rebels, an SEC road environment should not be underestimated.
An underrated matchup for the Wolfpack comes against Maryland Eastern Shore in the annual heritage game at Reynolds Coliseum. While Pack fans will be given the opportunity to watch the team play in its hallowed ground, they will also get the chance to watch as Wolfpack legend David Thompson is honored with a statue outside of the stadium.
The final and most crucial part of NC State’s nonconference slate is a showdown with Tennessee in the Basketball Hall of Fame Series. The Volunteers churned out an impressive season, making a postseason run to the Sweet Sixteen. Tennessee clocked in the first AP Top 25 of the season at No. 9.
Tough ACC matchups
NC State will take the court in 20 conference games, several of which should prove to be tough matchups. The Pack will start the new year with a huge game against Virginia. The Cavaliers were among the best in the ACC last year and look to continue their success as one of the nation’s premier defensive-minded teams. The Wolfpack struggled last season in the lone meeting between the two teams. It will get another crack at UVA as it travels to Charlottesville on Jan. 24.
The end of January will provide another big opportunity for the Wolfpack as it hosts No.13 Miami. The Hurricanes surprised many in 2022 — not only did they win a share of the ACC regular season title, but they also made a trip to the Final Four. The Pack and the Canes met twice last season and the teams split.
A critical series for the Pack will be against Pittsburgh, who visits Raleigh on Feb. 7. The Panthers were one of the biggest surprises in the country last season as the team made a complete turnaround and its first tournament appearance since 2016. The Pack will later travel to Pittsburgh on March 9 for its regular season finale.
On Feb. 17, the Pack will hit the road to take on Clemson. Last season, the Tigers had NC State’s number. In three games against this squad, NC State was outscored 189-254 in a trio of frustrating losses. It is also worth noting that junior forward Ben Middlebrooks, who transferred from the Tigers in the offseason, will get a chance to face off against his former team. On the other side of the court, former NC State guard Jack Clark will take the court with the Tigers.
In-state rivals
The 2022 season was a breath of fresh air for the red-and-white in terms of how the squad competed with its in-state foes. With a record of 4-2 against its chief rivals, there is room for optimism as NC State will play in five in-state rivalry games this season.
First, the Pack will take on No. 19 UNC-Chapel Hill on Jan. 10 in PNC Arena. The Tar Heels had a very frustrating 2022 season as they failed to make the NCAA Tournament after entering the season ranked No. 1. The Pack scored its first home win against its archrival since 2020 in front of a raucous crowd in PNC Arena last season. It will then travel to Chapel Hill to take on UNC on March 2.
NC State will also face Wake Forest in a home game on Jan. 16. The Pack found success last season as it swept the Demon Deacons. These proved to be marquee wins; head coach Steve Forbes has had his team on the doorsteps of a tournament bid the past two seasons.
Finally, NC State will welcome Duke to Raleigh on senior night March 4. The two programs each won on their respective homecourts last year, including an 84-60 drubbing of the Blue Devils where everything seemed to go right for the Pack. Clocking in at No. 2, they could possibly prove to be NC State’s largest test of the season.
