NC State men’s basketball is set to take on Boston College in a crucial road matchup on Sunday, Feb. 16. at 6 p.m.

NC State (16-8, 7-6 ACC) is coming off two consecutive road wins against Miami and a very solid Syracuse team, and needs to get its third straight Sunday. This game is a must-win if the Wolfpack hopes to make the NCAA tournament. The Pack is currently on the bubble, and any more poor-quality losses will most likely take the team out of postseason hopes. 

Boston College (12-13, 6-8 ACC), on the other hand, is not making the NCAA tournament unless it miraculously wins the ACC Tournament. It also doesn’t help that the team just got blown out 85-58 to a .500 Miami team, so a loss Sunday for the Wolfpack would look terrible on its resume for the postseason. NC State also has a tough stretch ahead, having to play Duke and Florida State in PNC Arena back to back. This game would provide much-needed momentum for the Pack. 

In the past two games, the Wolfpack has shot over 40% from 3-point range, which is huge for NC State’s fast-moving, guard-dominated offense. The Pack hasn’t shot over 40% in five games, with the last time coming mid-January against Miami at home. Creating space from knocking down the 3-ball is essential for NC State’s offensive efficiency.

In those five consecutive games shooting terribly from deep, NC State has averaged 58.6 points per game. In the past two games shooting great from 3, the Wolfpack has scored 83 against Miami and 79 against Syracuse. If the Wolfpack can continue to at least knock down three or four out of 10 of its 3-pointers, its offense would be a force to be reckoned with and difficult to keep up with. 

Boston College plays a pretty airtight man defense, which makes it more difficult to shoot from deep compared to a zone like Syracuse’s. In the last four games, Boston College has held opponents to under 25% from 3. Although the Eagles just allowed Miami to shoot 40% from deep, the average of the past four games is not promising. The Eagles also average an astounding 8.1 steals per game, with four players averaging at least one steal per game, while the Wolfpack average 7.5 steals per game and has three players averaging at least one steal per game. 

Another key emphasis for the Wolfpack is limiting turnovers. NC State only averages 11.8 turnovers per game despite playing with a quick tempo, while Boston College averages 13.8 turnovers per game and plays at a more average tempo. If the Wolfpack can limit its turnovers and take advantage of Boston College’s higher tendency to turn the ball over, the Pack should be in good shape with dominating possession. 

Boston College’s poor offensive efficiency is what has been holding it back all season though. The Eagles recently only scored 58 points against a weak Miami defense that allows 74.6 points per game, while NC State scored 80 points on in the first game and 83 the second game. There are several players on NC State’s team that can score more than 20 points, which would make it hard for Boston College to keep up. 

As seen in the last game, redshirt junior guard Devon Daniels scored 23 points when senior guard Markell Johnson and redshirt junior forward D.J. Funderburk failed to get in the double digits. For the Wolfpack, when one player is having a bad scoring game, another steps up, most of the time. Through some spurts in conference play, NC State struggled to find its offensive groove. However, the past two games are a good sign for the team’s offense for games to come.

If NC State can continue to shoot the 3-ball somewhat efficiently, limit turnovers and force a lot of turnovers, the Wolfpack should come out on top. 

The game will tip off against Boston College Sunday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Conte Forum and will be televised on the ACC Network.