The NC State men’s basketball team will stay home in PNC Arena for the third straight game when it takes on Florida International on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Fresh off its first win of the season, an 84-65 thumping of Detroit Mercy, the Wolfpack (1-1) will have its hands full against the fast-paced Panthers (1-1).
FIU’s one loss came at the hands of Mississippi State 77-69 in a true road game in Starkville, Mississippi, while its one win was a 42-point beatdown of Ave Maria. Six Panthers players scored in double figures against Ave Maria, and four nabbed multiple steals.
Forward Devon Andrews is the Panthers’ leading scorer with 15.5 points per game, but the 6-foot-6 redshirt senior hasn’t done much in the way of peripheral stats, with just five rebounds and three assists in two games.
Guard Trejon Jacob is a nightmare for opposing ball handlers and will be pressuring the Pack’s guards all game long. Jacob racked up three steals against Mississippi State and five against Ave Maria, but he isn’t just a defensive pest. The Raleigh native is averaging 10 points and four rebounds per game in addition to his four steals per game.
Height is a serious problem for FIU, as it doesn’t have a single rotation player 6-foot-10 or taller. 6-foot-9 forward Osasumwen Osaghae is the Panthers’ leading rebounder with just 5.5 rebounds per game, and their second-leading rebounder is a 5-foot-8 guard, Tevin Brewer, who is corralling 4.5 rebounds per game.
The length down low of redshirt freshman forward Manny Bates should give FIU fits all night long. Bates rejected seven shots in just 21 minutes in the Pack’s win over Detroit Mercy, and in its season opener against Georgia Tech, Bates sent back five shots. If the Panthers try to attack the rim, Bates will be there waiting to make them regret it.
Florida International plays an effective fast-paced brand of basketball, but that speed can lead to recklessness at times, something NC State should be primed to take advantage of. NC State head coach Kevin Keatts’ teams are known for their ability to force turnovers, and FIU is averaging 16.5 turnovers per game.
If senior guard Markell Johnson, redshirt senior guard C.J. Bryce, redshirt junior guard Devon Daniels and the rest of the Wolfpack’s perimeter defenders can jump the Panthers’ passing lanes or hound their ball handlers, NC State will be able to create an abundance of the fast-break scoring opportunities it loves.
Johnson facilitated the offense well against Detroit Mercy, his first game back from injury, dishing out 10 assists with just three turnovers. But the 6-foot-1 guard didn’t shoot well from the field, knocking down just 1 of 8 shots, including a 1-for-6 clip from the 3-point line. If FIU chooses to match the undersized Brewer up against Johnson throughout the game, the Pack’s star guard could have a nice bounce-back game from the floor.
The game will tip off Wednesday at 9 p.m. inside PNC Arena and will be broadcast live on TV on Fox Sports South and on the radio through Wolfpack Sports Network.
