The NC State men’s basketball team is set to face the Virginia Cavaliers Saturday at noon in PNC Arena after defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, 71-69.
The Wolfpack (15-14, 4-12 ACC) snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Yellow Jackets. NC State dominated two surprising categories in the matchup: rebounds and second-chance points. The Pack won the glass battle 40-28 and second chances 14-5.
State led for the majority of the game, as the Jackets only lead was by two just 30 seconds in. The Pack had some shaky moments but controlled the game until the last couple of minutes. NC State’s largest lead was 14 with 3:09 left in the game, then Tech cooked a furious comeback that fell just short with a 3-pointer bouncing off the rim as the clock expired, yielding a Pack victory.
NC State mustered its second road victory of the season and its first win since Jan. 23.
Furthermore, the Cavaliers (18-9, 8-7 ACC) are searching for their first win in quite some time. Virginia is currently on a four-game losing streak, dropping games to Virginia Tech, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and Miami.
The Cavs have struggled over the past four games, as well as the entire season with offense. Over the past four games, Virginia has scored a combined 222 points, an average of 55.5 per game. In UVa’s loss to Miami, the Cavaliers managed just 48 points, and that’s including a five-minute overtime period.
The Cavaliers are ranked 301st nationally in scoring offense. To put that mark into perspective, schools like Prairie View A&M University, California Polytechnic State University and Morgan State University rank higher in scoring offense.
For what the Cavaliers lack in offense, they make up for in lockdown defense. Virginia is ranked No. 1 and No. 20 nationally in scoring defense and opponent field-goal percentage, respectively. Head coach Tony Bennett’s team, while not flashy or high-scoring, gets the job done, year in, year out.
Senior guard London Perrantes is, without a doubt, the true leader for the Cavaliers.
For three seasons Perrantes and former guard Malcolm Brogdon formed one of the best backcourts in the nation. Now with Brogdon making waves in the NBA, Perrantes is shouldering the load as the only senior on the roster. Perrantes is leading the squad in scoring, assists, 3-pointers made and free throws made.
Moreover, Perrantes is as important to UVa as freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr. is to the Wolfpack. As mentioned before, NC State lives and dies by the play of Smith, and the same goes for Perrantes.
In the past four losses, Perrantes has shot a below average 27.9 percent from the floor, and the Cavs as a team have converted on just 34.6 percent of their shots.
However, if the Cavs can shake themselves of this shooting slump, Virginia could tear apart the Pack from deep due to the volume of uncontested shots NC State allows. The Cavaliers shoot a solid 37.3 percent from beyond the arc, led by junior Isaiah Wilkins and freshman Kyle Guy who are a red-hot 57.1 and 46.6 percent from long range this season, respectively.
In spite of its sharpshooting, Virginia is weak down low. Despite boasting two bigs standing at 6 feet 11 inches tall, UVa only grabs 33 rebounds per game.
Replicating the glass dominance from Georgia Tech would benefit this Wolfpack squad facing a team that isn’t known for its rebounding. Junior forward Abdul-Malik Abu and freshman forward Ted Kapita must swarm the paint on both ends of the floor.
In terms of matchup, NC State and Virginia are almost complete opposites on paper. The Wolfpack boast a high-flying offense that averages 74.9 possessions per game, while the Cavaliers are more methodical in their approach at just 62.9 per game.
The Pack is known for its inability to defend the basketball, allowing countless uncontested perimeter shots. Also, according to KenPom.com, the Cavs are top in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency.
NC State needs to maintain a high-tempo atmosphere for the entirety of the contest. Having speedsters Smith and freshman guard Markell Johnson run the floor is crucial to the Pack’s success. The Virginia defense can be intimidating; however, NC State can keep the ball moving to combat the suffocating UVa press.
The Cavaliers like to hold the ball and make smart decisions on offense. The Pack needs to press the UVa ball handlers on the perimeter, preventing Wilkins and Guy from 3-point attempts. Increased pressure on the Virginia guards could lead to turnovers and more opportunities for the Wolfpack.
However, if NC State plays lackluster defense, as it’s known for, against a struggling Cavalier offense, Virginia could simply out-shoot its way out of this four-game slump.
