NC State Wolfpack Basketball 2024-25 Preview
The Wolfpack are coming off a Final Four run! After that magical March, expectations are sky-high in Raleigh. Here’s everything you need to know.
Roster Breakdown
Returning Stars
| Player | Pos | Year | 2023-24 Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ Burns Jr. | F | Sr. | 12.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG | The engine |
| DJ Horne | G | Sr. | 16.5 PPG, 3.6 APG | Closer |
| Michael O’Connell | G | Sr. | 6.2 PPG, 3.8 APG | Floor general |
| Mohamed Diarra | F | Jr. | 5.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG | Energy |
Key Additions
| Player | Pos | Year | From | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Hill | G | Fr. | HS (Texas) | Instant offense |
| Ben Middlebrooks | F | Sr. | Clemson | Rim protection |
| Dennis Parker Jr. | G | Jr. | JUCO | Athletic wing |
Schedule Highlights
| Date | Opponent | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 | USC Upstate | PNC Arena | Opener |
| Nov 14 | UNC Asheville | PNC Arena | Tune-up |
| Nov 24 | Texas Tech | Bahamas | Battle 4 Atlantis |
| Dec 7 | BYU | PNC Arena | Non-con test |
| Jan 4 | Duke | Cameron | The rivalry |
| Jan 13 | UNC | PNC Arena | The rivalry II |
| Feb 1 | Duke | PNC Arena | Revenge game |
| Mar 8 | UNC | Dean Dome | Regular season finale |
What’s Changed
Kevin Keatts enters Year 8 — Longest-tenured ACC coach not named K or Coach K. He’s built a program that peaks in March.
Portal Mastery — Keatts has become elite at portal recruiting. Burns, Horne, Middlebrooks all transfers who produced immediately.
Style Evolution — More pace, more 3s, more positionless basketball. The Final Four run proved the system works.
Predictions
| Metric | Projection |
|---|---|
| Overall Record | 24-7 |
| ACC Record | 13-7 |
| ACC Finish | 3rd |
| NCAA Seed | 4-5 |
| Ceiling | Sweet 16 |
| Floor | Round of 32 |
Key Questions
- Can Burns stay healthy? — He’s the offensive hub
- Perimeter defense? — Lost key defenders, need freshmen to step up
- Bench depth? — Only 8-9 man rotation, injuries could derail
March Madness Outlook
Region of Death potential — With Duke, UNC, and Clemson all strong, the ACC could get 6-7 bids. NC State as a 4-5 seed is dangerous — they proved last year they can beat anyone in a tournament setting.
Ceiling: Elite Eight (if Burns dominates + perimeter gets hot) Floor: Round of 32 (if injuries hit or shooting slumps)
Survive and Advance. That’s the Wolfpack way. 🐺
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