The NC State men’s basketball team finds itself in an awkward spot going into the final game of the ACC regular season. With Selection Sunday just 10 days away, the Wolfpack needs to notch a few more wins into its belt if it is to secure a spot in the tournament.
Following the Wolfpack’s (20-10, 8-9 ACC) surprising loss to Georgia Tech on Wednesday night, the team has just one last opportunity to finish ACC play with an even record. That opportunity comes in the shape of a streaky Boston College (14-15, 5-12 ACC) team which has lost its previous two games to UNC-Chapel Hill and the aforementioned Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack and the Eagles already met inside of PNC this season which saw the Wolfpack come out 89-80 winners after overtime. The Wolfpack was led on the night by redshirt sophomore guard Devon Daniels who scored 19 points and registered four assists, both team-highs. Four other players joined Daniels on the night in double-digits for scoring including, redshirt junior guard C.J. Bryce, redshirt senior guard Torin Dorn, sophomore guard Braxton Beverly and redshirt sophomore center DJ Funderburk.
In the previous meeting with Boston College, the Wolfpack struggled to contain the Eagles’ free-shooting trio of Nik Popovic, Ky Bowman and Jordan Chatman who scored a combined 46 points and went a combined 10 for 19 from beyond the arch. Another struggle for the Wolfpack was keeping Steffon Mitchell off the boards; he grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds on the night and finished just three points short of a double-double.
If the Wolfpack is able to stifle the Eagle’s shooters and do a better job of keeping Mitchell of the boards the Wolfpack have a good opportunity to finish the season with an even record in ACC play.
The result of Saturday’s game will have no impact on the seeding for the ACC tournament as win or lose the Wolfpack will face Clemson in the eight seed vs. nine seed game. Despite this, the result of the game could have huge ramifications on the Wolfpack’s NCAA tournament hopes.
A few weeks ago, many would have considered the Pack a lock for the tournament but with a poor end to its ACC schedule and a noticeable lack of good wins the Wolfpack could find itself on the outside looking in come Selection Sunday.
Rounding out the regular season with a win and winning at least one game in the ACC tournament however might just be enough to get the Wolfpack a ticket to the dance.
The game is set to tip at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts on RSN.
