NC State Looks To Improve To 3-0 On The Season As They Host Bryant

NC State is off to a good start under new head coach Kevin Keatts as  they're  2-0 heading in to their third game of the regular against Bryant.

The NC State men's basketball team plays its third game in five days Tuesday evening as Bryant visits PNC Arena for a matchup with the Pack. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

The game is scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m. and will be shown on ACC Network Extra with Andrew Sanders and former Pack All-American Chris Corchiani on the call. Gary Hahn and Tony Haynes will call the action on the Wolfpack Sports Network. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

 NC State improved to 2-0 on the season with a 78-56 win over Charleston Southern on Sunday afternoon. For the second consecutive game, Allerik Freeman led the Pack in scoring with 18 points, while Markell Johnson added 12 points, nine assists and four steals. Also finishing in double figures scoring for the Pack, was Torin Dorn (14), Sam Hunt (11) and Omer Yurtseven (11).
- The Wolfpack has opened the season with a 35-point victory over VMI on Friday and a 22-point win over Charleston Southern on Sunday. It marks the first time since the 2005-06 season that NC State has opened the year with consecutive 20+-point wins. 
- In the first two games of the season, NC State has forced more turnovers than the opponent has made field goals. VMI had 21 turnovers while connecting on 18 field goals, while Charleston Southern committed 24 turnovers and made 21 field goals.
- Prior to the two games this season, the Pack hadn't forced an opponent into more turnovers than it had made field goals since Jan. 14, 2012 when Wake Forest had 16 field goals and 17 turnovers in a 76-40 NC State win. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

NC State is seeking a 3-0 start for the third time in the last four seasons.
-  If the Pack wins the game by more than 20 points it would mark the first time since the 2004-05 season that NC State won its first three games of the season by 20+ points each time.
-  With two players sitting out as transfers, freshman guard Braxton Beverly not cleared and senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu and redshirt freshmen Spencer Newman out with injury, NC State will only dress nine players for the third consecutive game.
-  Forcing Opponent turnovers. With its constant defensive pressure, the Pack has forced 45 opponent turnovers this season. That is the most in two consecutive games dating back to at least the 2012-13 season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

Tuesday's meeting will mark the first meeting ever between the two programs.
-  NC State has an all-time record of 9-1 against teams from the Northeast Conference.
-  The Pack will face another NEC foe later in the season when Robert Morris visits PNC Arena on Dec. 19. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

Senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu is NC State's leading returning scorer (11.8 ppg.) and rebounder (7.0 rpg.). The Boston, Mass., native has led NC State in rebounding the last two seasons and is aiming to be the first NC State player to lead the Pack in rebounding in three consecutive seasons since Todd Fuller did it from 1993-96. Abu suffered a Grade 2 MCL Sprain in October and did not play in last week's exhibition game against Mars Hill.
- Torin Dorn (18 starts) and Omer Yurtseven (14 starts) also return for the Pack. Dorn averaged 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore, while Yurtseven added 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest.
-  NC State must replace its top three scorers from last season in Dennis Smith, Jr. (18.1), Terry Henderson (13.8) and Maverick Rowan (12.0). The Pack also lost the school's all-time shot block leader in BeeJay Anya (243 career blocks). Smith, Jr., was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, the first Pack player to accomplish this feat since Hawkeye Whitney in 1977. Smith was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth pick of the NBA Draft. Henderson, after having his appeal denied to return to NC State, went through training camp with the Charlotte Hornets and is now on the Greensboro Swarm roster in the NBA G-League. Rowan was the third overall selection of the NBA G-League draft by the Lakeland Magic.
-  NC State joins Florida State and Pitthttp://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspxsburgh as the only ACC teams to lose its top three scorers from last season. "according to
 
Yurtseven Selected to Preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Watch List
NC State sophomore center Omer Yurtseven has been selected as one of 20 student-athletes to the preseason watch list for this year's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Yurtseven was also on the preseason list that honors the nation's top center last season. A former five-star recruit, Yurtseven averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx
 
NC State Roster Breakdown
            The Wolfpack's 2017-18 roster features 14 players representing seven states, the District of Columbia and one player from outside the United State (Istanbul, Turkey).
- Six of the 14 players on the NC State roster hail from North Carolina. Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Washington, D.C. all have one. 
- NC State has six players listed on the roster at 6'7" or taller. Omer Yurtseven is the tallest player at 7'0" and Braxton Beverly is the shortest at 6'0". "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx
 
NC State Adds Four Signees in Fall Signing Period
- NC State signed four-star recruits Manny Bates, Saddiq Bey, Jericole Hellems and Ian Steere in the fall signing period. The four players will be freshmen on the 2018-19 NC State basketball team.
- Manny Bates is regarded as one of the best shot blockers in the 2018 class. He plays for Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville, N.C. where he is teammates with fellow signee Ian Steere.
- Saddiq Bey hails from Washington D.C., where he plays for Sidwell Friends School. He averaged 14.2 points per game as a junior to lead Sidwell Friends to a conference championship.
- Jericole Hellems is from Hazelwood, Mo., and plays for Chaminade High School. As a junior, he averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal per game to lead Chaminade to a second consecutive Class 5 State Semifinal berth.
- Ian Steere from Sanford, N.C., plays with Bates at Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville. Steere is a physical player that helped lead his former school, Wesleyan Christian Academy, to a runner-up finish in the North Carolina 3A State Championship last season."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

- Signing class is ranked 15th overall and 5th in the ACC by 247Sports.com. Ranked 17th overall and 6th in the ACC by Rivals.com. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/13/mens-basketball-pack-seeks-3-0-start-as-bryant-visits-pnc-arena.aspx

As for NC State's last game, they beat Charleston Southern.

NC State picked up the second win of the Kevin Keatts era as the Wolfpack downed the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, 78-56, Sunday afternoon at PNC Arena. The Pack moves to 2-0 for the second-consecutive season and the third time in the last four years."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

For the second consecutive game, NC State's defense forced its opponent into more turnovers than field goals made. On Sunday afternoon, Charleston Southern committed 24 turnovers, while connecting on just 21 field goals. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

The Pack turned the 24 turnovers into 26 points."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

Grad transfer Allerik Freeman led all scorers with 18 points, including a 3-of-5 mark from beyond the arc. Markell Johnson finished just one assist shy of his first-career double-double for the second-straight game, scoring 12 points and dishing out a game-high nine assists for the Pack. Redshirt-senior Lennard Freeman grabbed eight rebounds to lead all players. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

Redshirt-junior guard Torin Dorn was the Pack's second-leading scorer, putting up 14 points of 5-of-8 shooting for the game. Sam Hunt and Omer Yurtseven each had 11 points to round out the Pack's double-digit scorers. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

A Charleston Southern three-pointer put the Bucs up 11-10 early in the first half, but that was the last time CSU held a lead in the game. NC State exploded for a 17-0 run to end the period, including three-straight three-pointers from Hunt. Johnson capped off an electric end to the half with a buzzer-beating three to put the Pack up 42-21 at the break. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

Allerik Freeman started strong, scoring 10 of the Pack's first 15 points as he went 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from three over the first eight minutes of the game. Johnson facilitated the Pack's offense with six assists in the first 20 minutes."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

Trailing by 21 at the half, Charleston Southern came out hot and went on a 19-7 run to shorten NC State's lead to 52-40 with 12:44 remaining. After some back and forth, the Pack solidified the victory with a 12-3 run over the final 4:10."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

All seven of Lennard Freeman's points came in the second half, as the Washington, D.C. native was 1-of-2 from the field and 5-of-7 at the free throw line. Dorn added a team-best nine points in the second frame to help put the Bucs away."according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/12/mens-basketball-freemans-18-points-lead-pack-past-bucs-78-56.aspx

As for Bryant's last game, they lost on the road in Athens to Georgia.

Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) posted a 24-point night to begin the season, but the Bryant University men's basketball team was defeated by Georgia, 79-54, Friday night at Stegeman Coliseum to open the 2017-18 season. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

"We knew going in that for us to have a chance, we had to make a lot of threes. We had good looks in the first half; we just didn't knock down shots. It was a good strategy, but we just didn't make the shots we needed to. Without Bash Townes, our best inside player, we knew we were going to have trouble scoring around the rim. We pushed the pace, but just didn't knock down the shots we needed to in order to be successful tonight." "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Bryant opened the scoring on a jumper by sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) before Georgia responded with an 11-0 run. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

• The Black and Gold had cut the deficit to 25-15 with 7:39 remaining in the first half on a layup by senior Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.), but Georgia responded with a 29-5 run that spanned both halves to take control. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Bryant closed the game on a 13-4 run with four points from freshman Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania). "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Georgia answered a game-opening basket by sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) with an 11-0 run. The Bulldogs from Athens would lead by at least six points the rest of the way."according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

• Grant had 12 points in the first half as Georgia built a 40-17 halftime advantage with a half-ending 15-2 run.
• Georgia opened the second half on a 14-3 run to extend the lead to 54-20 with 15:10 remaining.
• Bryant responded with a 7-0 run of its own that included five straight points from freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.).
• After Georgia took its largest lead of the night at 71-36 with seven minutes to go, an 11-4 spurt with five points from Grant cut the deficit to 75-47 with 3:39 to go. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Bryant would trim the Georgia lead to 22 on a Layman free throw before Georgia scored the final three points for the 79-54 margin. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) tallied a team-high 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting with three three-pointers. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

• Freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) was in double-figures in his Bulldog debut with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
• Freshman Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) provided a second-half spark, contributing four points and five rebounds.
• Senior Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.) added six points for the Bulldogs. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Bryant was outscored 39-37 in the second half. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Bryant falls to 0-1 all-time http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqsagainst Georgia, its first SEC opponent since joining Division I in 2008-09. "according to

• Friday marked the sixth-consecutive season that Bryant has opened the season against either a major conference or nationally ranked opponent.
• Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) was in double-figures in scoring for the 22nd time in 33 college games.
• Grant's 24-point output was the fifth of more than 20 in his collegiate career.

Freshmen Brandon Carroll (Brewster, N.Y.), Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) and Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) all made their Bryant debuts Friday. "according to http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20171110xhxkqs

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball