After referees played massive roles in deciding late-season games at Syracuse (75-72) and Duke (71-67), apparently NC State has played its way onto the bubble. The Pack can change that perception starting tonight, when it matches up with Virginia Tech at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.
In the first matchup, the Wolfpack beat the Hokies by four (73-69) on the road on January 7. State outrebounded (38-29) VT, but shot just 41.4% (24-58) from the field and 23.8% (5-21) on three-pointers, while dishing out just seven assists as a team.
Slumping Terquavion Smith was off in that game as well, missing 13 of 19 field goals and 7 of 9 threes against the Hokies. Foul trouble limited D.J. Burns to just 16 minutes, and he had four turnovers to go with his four fouls and 10 points. However, Casey Morsell was a plus player in the game, scoring 15 on 5 of 8 shooting.
A major storyline in the first matchup centered around who wasn't playing: The Hokies were without one of their best players in physical guard Hunter Cattoor, and State did not have difference-making forward Jack Clark. With both players ready to go this time around, the dynamic will have a different feel.
What else can we expect to be different? Virginia Tech has won three straight, while the Wolfpack has struggled to find consistent production from anyone outside of Jarkel Joiner and Burns. The pressure will be on Smith and Morsell to find their stride in helping Joiner offset the Hokies' three-guard lineup of Cattoor, Sean Pedulla, and Michael Collins Jr.
Look, the Wolfpack got flat-out embarrassed on Senior Night, getting pummeled by Clemson by 25 points. Even though that feels like an aberration, they have put themselves in this position with inconsistent play down the stretch -- and if we're being honest, it's probably important to acknowledge that if the NCAA can find a way to screw State, it absolutely will.
A victory over Virginia Tech (a Quad 2 opponent, whatever the hell that means) would go a long way toward cementing the Pack's resume, but the Hokies are also more than capable of contributing to another potential Wolfpack heartbreak on Sunday evening.
Welcome to March.
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