The 2015-16 NC State men’s basketball team was borderline embarrassing. It finished 16-17 overall and 5-13 in conference play. With just five ACC wins, finishing in third-to-last place, ahead of just Wake Forest and Boston College. How can a team who went 22-14 and made the Sweet 16 just a year before completely fall off the map and finish with a sub-.500 record in 2015-16?

There are a few answers as to why this was the case, the first being the exit of Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner. Both made a significant impact on the team, as they could score in needed possessions and Lacey played hard-nosed defense, but losing these two players shouldn’t have resulted in this poor of a season.

Another potential answer is that the players simply didn’t mesh together. You could say the talent wasn’t as great, yet it appeared to be there with Cat Barber running the show, Abdul-Malik Abu down low and the Martin twins showcasing their versatility.

The final possibility is a lack of leadership, whether from within the actual roster or from head coach Mark Gottfried, who begins his sixth season with the Wolfpack and has yet to finish higher than fourth in the ACC standings.

Gottfried has gone through some ups and downs with NC State, leading two teams to the Sweet 16 but enduring early exits with two others, and of course, failing to make the tournament at all last season.

So what’s next for the Wolfpack?

There is an opportunity for resurgence. Gottfried has arguably put together his best recruiting class ever. The signing of five-star point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is incredible, most fans won’t even realize Barber is missing with Smith’s super-quick handles and ability to get in the lane at will.

Five-star center Omer Yurtseven also signed with the team, taking pressure off Abu in the paint. Yurtseven, the Turkish big man, once scored 91 points in a U18 game. Nobody scores 91 points and isn’t considered a threat every time they step on the court. With Yurtseven and Smith, the ability to play inside-out just got a lot more likely.

Additionally, the Wolfpack signed four-star point guard Markell Johnson, who will serve as a backup for Smith. Last season, Barber didn’t even have a backup due to the small depth the roster had.

The icing on the cake was big man Ted Kapita. The roster is set, and how can you not be excited for the upcoming season?

For once, the roster has one of the top point guards in the nation, and not only that but a solid backup point guard so the starter isn’t run into the ground. Behind the point guard position is a solid rotation with the shooting guard and small forward.

Maverick Rowan, Terry Henderson and Torin Dorn could prove to be one of the best wing trios in college basketball this year. Rowan has a lot of untapped potential when it comes to shooting, as he didn’t fare well last year. But if he can get hot and shoot the way he is capable of, the opportunity for this team jumps out the roof. Henderson and Dorn’s ability to score and be a defensive presence will be crucial.

The frontcourt will be one of the best the Wolfpack has seen in years. Kapita, Yurtseven, Abu and Anya all have the opportunity to be special. This Wolfpack team has all the pieces to be an Elite Eight team, any other result will be considered a failure.

This season has the chance for the Wolfpack to become one of the top teams in America. With the talent on this roster, there is no reason the players can’t achieve a high goal. They need to do it for their students, their longtime fans and for their coaches. It is time for the Wolfpack to rise up and be great.

In the unlikely event that they fail and expectations are not met, look for some changes. It may be time to move on and search for new things in the world of NC State. 

But this team is going to be special, Wolfpack nation can feel it.