As the final days of 2013 wind down, students at N.C. State are working hard to finish the year off strong. The Wolfpack basketball team is no exception. After early conference tilts against major conference teams from the Big Ten and American Athletic Conference, the Wolfpack will hope to continue building momentum as it enters ACC conference play in January. Head coach Mark Gottfried has made it a priority to test his young players early, and the final days of December will be filled with new challenges for his team.
Dec. 7- Long Beach State
Fresh from competition in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Pack will concentrate on the 49ers of Long Beach State. With their schedule laden with NCAA Tournament teams, the 49ers have endured a difficult 1-8 start to their season. The 49ers are led by junior guard Mike Caffey, who currently averages 16.1 points per game.
Dec. 14-Detroit
After taking on the 49ers, the Wolfpack will welcome Detroit into Reynolds Coliseum for the annual Reynolds Heritage Game. The game will celebrate the rich history of Reynolds and offers students a break from their finals. Detroit, who last made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011, will look to steal the show. Led by redshirt junior Juwan Howard Jr., son of former NBA star Juwan Howard Sr., the Titans are coming off a mixed performance at the 2K Sports Classic and a win over the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Dec. 18- Tennessee
N.C. State will hit the road for just the second time this season as it squares off with SEC powerhouse Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. Picked to finish third in the SEC this season, the Volunteers have not disappointed, defeating Xavier and Wake Forest while taking third in the Battle for Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. The Wolfpack will surely be tested in Knoxville and Gottfried will hope his team has improved since its 68-57 loss to Cincinnati on Nov. 12.
Dec. 21- East Carolina
The first rivalry game of the 2013-2014 campaign will pit the East Carolina Pirates versus the Wolfpack in a non-conference tilt at PNC Arena. ECU senior guard Akeem Richard and N.C. State sophomore forward T.J. Warren will matchup against each other in a battle of two of the most talented players North Carolina has to offer.
Dec. 28-Missouri
Though the Wolfpack’s trip to Knoxville will bring a host of intriguing challenges, the toughest SEC team on the Wolfpack’s schedule will travel to PNC Arena on Dec. 28th. Former University of Miami coach Frank Haith will bring the Missouri Tigers to Raleigh in hopes of continuing their dominant early season campaign. Entering the Big 12/SEC Challenge, Tigers hold a perfect 7-0 record and winning the tournament will virtually guarantee that the Tigers will come to Raleigh ranked in the Top 25. The Tigers have two electric guards in redshirt juniors Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson, both averaging more than 19 points per game. N.C. State will need strong performances from Warren and freshman guard Anthony “Cat” Barber to send Haith back to Columbia with a loss.
Dec. 30-UNC-Greensboro
Before plunging into the thick of ACC competition, the Wolfpack are given the late Christmas present of a game with in-state foe UNC-Greensboro. The Spartans have struggled to find consistently and should present a nice tune-up game for State entering the games that will determine whether the Pack can achieve an NCAA Tournament or NIT berth this season.
Entering the 2013-2014 season, it was easy to be skeptical of the team’s chances. Warren’s strong play, coupled with the emergence of young stars such as Barber and freshman forward Lennard Freeman, give the Wolfpack a solid foundation to build upon this season.
