The NC State men’s basketball team’s season ended March 7, when the Pack was ousted in the first round of the ACC tournament by the Clemson Tigers. 

The Wolfpack’s (15-17, 4-14 ACC) demise in the first round was not a surprise to most followers of this season; in fact, the loss could be considered a microcosm of the 2016-17 season.

NC State’s nonconference performances were less than stellar with close victories over Georgia Southern, Loyola, Boston University and Tennessee State; however, freshman Dennis Smith Jr. highlighted a high-octane group that had plenty of potential. While the Pack suffered discouraging losses to Illinois and a high-scoring Creighton squad, aspirations remained high entering ACC play.

Smith and redshirt senior Terry Henderson averaged 18.9 and 16.4 points per game, respectively, in non-conference play and Henderson emerged as a sharpshooter for the Pack after missing nearly all of last season with an ankle injury. But he, like the rest of the team, struggled with consistency.

After dropping its first conference matchup to Miami, NC State ignited optimism in the fan base with a jaw-dropping performance against then-No. 21 Virginia Tech. Smith recorded a triple-double, only the second in program history, with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. The Pack thrashed the Hokies in PNC Arena, 104-78.

Following the thumping of Virginia Tech, the Wolfpack faithful were finally convinced that this season was going to be different, that this team had what it took to compete with the blue bloods of college basketball: UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke.

This belief was promptly debunked in an embarrassing performance against the No. 14 Tar Heels. Despite the enormous hype entering the contest, this game was seemingly over before the tip. NC State shot a pitiful 30 percent from the field in the first half, resulting in a 33-point deficit going into the break. The Pack looked lost without Smith as the point guard, who was forced to sit the majority of the first half after committing three early fouls. NC State never bounced back, falling to the Tar Heels, 107-56, the second-worst loss in program history.

NC State witnessed its ceiling on Jan. 4 against the Hokies, then the Pack experienced its worst defeat in recent memory on Jan. 8. UNC showed the nation that NC State cannot rely on one player for success.

Freshman Markell Johnson showed flashes in relief of Smith, but it is difficult to compare him with the highly touted NBA prospect. In Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels keyed in on Smith and it worked to perfection. UNC senior bigs Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks dominated down low, closing lanes to the basket and locking down the post.

Recruiting rankings vary widely amongst the media, but 247sports.com had NC State as the fourth-best recruiting class before this season. In retrospect, that was not such a ridiculous mark. With returning experienced big men in junior Abdul-Malik Abu and senior BeeJay Anya and a capable scorer in sophomore Maverick Rowan, all the tools were there for this Wolfpack squad.

In spite of the obvious talent and potential this team possessed, this season will always remind Wolfpack fans that all that glitters isn’t gold.

Smith and fellow freshman Omer Yurtseven were considered to be the saviors of NC State basketball; in fact, both were rated five-star recruits coming out of high school, according to ESPN.com and 247sports.com.

Fans tend to disagree, but Smith was just as advertised during the 2016-17 season. A second triple-double against the Syracuse Orange more than solidified Smith’s freshman year as a young guard who can virtually do it all.

On the other hand, Yurtseven floundered in his freshman campaign. Though he missed nine games due to suspension, the Turkish center often looked bewildered on the court. Poor rebounding at 7-feet tall and almost nonexistent defensive awareness plagued Yurtseven throughout the season.

Entering the 2016-17 season, all eyes were on Smith and Yurtseven. Smith more than panned out and even though Yurtseven faltered, freshmen Ted Kapita, Darius Hicks and Johnson continue to provide a light of hope for the Pack. However, these raw talents will not be under the tutelage of former head coach Mark Gottfried.

This year, Gottfried’s team was notorious for its lack of defensive awareness. Uncontested 3-pointers, unchallenged drives to the basket and virtually no paint presence were the norm this season. NC State allowed its opponents to score a forgettable 79.6 PPG and 37 percent from long range.

The offense was also more of the same from Gottfried. The game plan seemed to consist of a 10-second standstill followed by either Smith driving to the rim or Rowan running the baseline, trying to create separation for an open three.

It’s no secret Gottfried’s teams have never been stellar at defense, but the ACC this year was not kind to him. A staggering nine schools, a conference record, from the ACC received bids for the NCAA tournament, but this still does not excuse the Wolfpack’s play.

Though he recruited well, Gottfried had difficulties establishing chemistry among the new talent. Before the ACC tourney, players who were new to the lineup played 4,232 minutes while the returning players were in for just 2,086. Inexperience was definitely a factor for this team’s success.

Gottfried brought many memories to Wolfpack fans, but he leaves as the coach who couldn’t deliver on high expectations. This season will be remembered for the first win in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1995, but also for the unmotivated atmosphere in the waning minutes of the first round tournament loss to Clemson.

As a new era begins in Raleigh, it is pertinent that NC State gets the next hire correct. The talent in this Pack squad is evident, but it will be back to square one for Gottfried’s successor. The new head coach for the Wolfpack will be given time to adjust, but it won’t be long before graduating, transferring and draft-declaring players become a concern.