NC State To Take On Arizona In The Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
After hosting Presbyterian in game one of The Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis in Raleigh Kevin Keatts and NC State will now take on Arizona who is a member of the Pac 12 in Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
The NC State men's basketball team opens play at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Wednesday evening against second-ranked Arizona. The game played at the Imperial Arena on the grounds of the Atlantis Resort. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
NC State improved to 4-0 on the season with an 86-68 win over Presbyterian Tuesday night. The Pack had five players score in double figures, led by senior forward Lennard Freeman with a career-high 23 points. Also in double figures for the Pack was Torin Dorn (18 points), Allerik Freeman (12 points), Omer Yurtseven (11 points) and Markell Johnson (10 points). For the fourth consecutive game, Johnson led NC State in assists with seven and also had a team-best four steals.
- The Pack has ridden a balanced scoring all season as the team has had at least five players score in double figures in all four games this season. In the season-opening win over VMI, NC State had seven players score in double figures.
- NC State recorded 14 steals in Tuesday win over Bryant. It's the most steals in a game for NC State since the Pack had 16 steals in a win over Boston College on Jan. 19, 2012. It was a 192-game span between 14+-steal games for the Pack. NC State has 46 steals in four games this season, a mark that leads the ACC and ranks in a tie for seventh overall in NCAA DI. NC State averages the most steals per game of any team in a power conference.
NC State-Arizona Series
- Wednesday's meeting will mark the third meeting between the two programs.
- Arizona has won the previous two meetings. The Wildcats beat the Pack, 76-74, on Dec. 23, 2009 in Tucson and defeated NC State, 72-62, on Dec. 10, 2010.
- The Pack has an all-time record of 15-13 against teams from the Pac-12 Conference. NC State's last win against a Pac-12 opponent was Dec. 18, 2012 when the Pack defeated Stanford,
88-79, in PNC Arena.
- Arizona head coach Sean Miller was an assistant coach for the Pack under Herb Sendek for five seasons from 1996-2001. Wildcat assistant coach Mark Phelps served on staff at NC State for 10 seasons. He was Director of Operations from 1997-2000 and an assistant coach from 2001-06. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
Wednesday Storylines
- NC State is seeking a 5-0 start for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
- A win would give head coach Kevin Keatts a tie for the best start to a coaching career in NC State history. Sidney Lowe's 2006-07 team started the season 5-0, which is the best start to a head coaching career in NC State basketball history.
- NC State last played the #2 ranked team in the country on Feb. 11, 2015 when the Pack lost to Virginia, 51-47, in PNC Arena. The last time NC State defeated the #2 ranked team in the country was Jan. 11, 2015 when the Pack defeated Duke, 87-75, in PNC Arena.
- December 28, 1994 was the last time NC State played the #2 ranked team in a non-conference game. The Pack lost to eventual National Champion UCLA, 88-80, in Pauley Pavilion. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
Constant Defensive Pressure leading to Opponent Turnovers
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts came to Raleigh promising that his program would pressure the opponents full court and create turnovers. Through four games his inaugural Wolfpack team is living up to his promise.
- The Pack has forced all four opponents this season into 20+-turnovers. The last NC State team to force opponents into 20 or more turnovers four times in a season was the 2009-10 team. The last seven NC State teams (2010-11 team through 2016-17 team) only twice forced opponents into 20 turnovers (2010-11 team forced East Carolina into 20 turnovers on 11/18/10 and 2016-17 team forced Virginia Tech into 20 turnovers on 1/4/17). In Keatts first four games at NC State, his teams forced opponents into 21 (VMI), 24 (Charleston Southern), 27 (Bryant) and 22 (Presbyterian) turnovers.
- The 27 turnovers NC State forced Bryant into on Nov. 14 are the most turnovers the Pack has forced an opponent to commit since Mount St. Mary's had 27 on Nov. 22, 2002.
- Through four games this season, the Pack has forced its opponents into more turnovers than made field goals. NC State opponents have turned the ball over 94 times, while connecting on 90 field goals.
- In 4 games, Pack has now forced 94 turnovers. The 23.5 turnovers forced per game ranks tied for fourth in NCAA Dl and are the most forced turnovers by a team from a power conference.
- NC State recorded 14 steals in Tuesday's win over Bryant. It's the most steals in a game for NC State since the Pack had 16 steals in a win over Boston College on Jan. 19, 2012. It was a 192-game span between 14+-steal games for the Pack. NC State has 46 steals in four games this season, a mark that leads the ACC and ranks in a tie for seventh overall in NCAA DI. NC State averages the most steals per game of any team in a power conference. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
Winning the Turnover Battle
Not only have the Pack been forcing turnovers, but they have been protecting the basketball, too. NC State has had single digit turnovers in three of the four games this season.
- The Pack is +55 in turnover margin. Pack has forced 94 turnovers and only turned it over themselves 39 times. +55 turnover margin is the best TO margin in NCAA Dl this season.
- Major turnaround from last year's team. Last season, NC State finished the season -67 in turnover margin, including -14 mark in non-conference games.
- The low number of turnovers has led to a great assist-to-turnover ratio for the Pack. NC State has had better than a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in three of the four games this season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
Healthy Freeman Becoming an Offensive Force
NC State senior Lennard Freeman had offseason leg surgery prior to the 2015-16 season and after playing through pain that season, elected to have offseason leg surgery again prior to the 2016-17 season and sat out the year to recover. Now fully healthy, Freeman has started his senior season with an offensive outburst.
- A career 3.6 points per game average coming into the season, Freeman has reset his career-high three times this season and is averaging 16.3 points per game through four games. He opened the year with 15 points against VMI, had 20 against Bryant and then had 23 in the Pack's most recent outing against Presbyterian.
- Freeman is shooting a team-best 69.7 percent from the field and is also connecting on a team-best 82.6 percent of his foul shots (19-of-23). The Washington D.C. native, entered this season a career 52.7 percent free throw shooter.
- In 103 career games coming into this season, Freeman had only scored in double figures six times, he's scored in double figures in 3 of 4 games this season.
- Thursday's game against Presbyterian was the 107th career game in an NC State uniform for Freeman. It was the first time in those 107 games that Freeman led NC State in scoring.
- Freeman, who entered this season as a player best known for doing the gritty things that don't show up in the box score, has also set career-highs with three steals and three blocks this season, both set against Presbyterian. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
Noting NC State's Returning and Lost
- 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 has not played this season.
- Torin Dorn (18 starts) and Omer Yurtseven (14 starts) also return for the Pack. Dorn averaged 9.5 points & 4.6 rebounds per game last season, while Yurtseven added 5.9 points & 4.4 rebounds per game.
- 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 Pittsburgh as the only ACC teams to lose its top three scorers from last season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
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/2017/11/21/mens-basketball-pack-opens-bad-boy-mowers-battle-4-atlantis-against-2-arizona.aspx?path=mbball
As for NC State's last game, they beat Presbyterian.
Another dominant performance inside from Lennard Freeman led NC State to an 86-68 victory over Presbyterian Thursday night at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack moved to 4-0 in its first season under head coach Kevin Keatts. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
NC State's defensive pressure caused Presbyterian to cough it up 22 times, making it the fourth-consecutive game the Wolfpack's opponents have finished with 20 or more turnovers. NC State took care of the ball effectively as it finished with a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio with 16 assists to just eight turnovers. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
Lennard Freeman was unstoppable in the paint, leading five double-digit NC State scorers with a career-high 23 points on an efficient 9-of-12 from the field and 5-6 from the free throw line. Tonight's game marked the third time this season Freeman has reset his career-high. He previously set his career-hight in points this season with 15 against VMI, then had 20 against Bryant and then 23 tonight. Freeman also made his presence felt on the defensive end, recording career-highs in both blocked shots and steals with three. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
Torin Dorn led the Wolfpack in rebounding with a season-high nine board, while Markell Johnson led the team in assists, for the fourth consecutive game with seven, and steals with four. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
Dorn added 18 points along with a career-high four assists, Allerik Freeman chipped in 12 points and Omer Yurtseven finished with 11 points on a season-high five made field goals on seven attempts. Markell Johnson had 10 points to round out a balanced attack for the Wolfpack. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
While NC State came out with the win, Presbyterian made the Wolfpack work for it as they went into the half with a 44-36 lead. The Blue Hose turned the ball over only seven times in the first half, fewest for an NC State opponent in a half this season, while also shooting 60 percent in the first half to go into the locker room with an eight-point advantage. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
The Pack turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, forcing Presbyterian into 15 turnovers in the final 20 minutes. NC State re-took the lead with 13:34 left to play on a Dorn layup and never looked back as the Pack never trailed again. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
After shooting 60 percent from the field and turning the ball over only seven times in the first half, the Blue Hose shot 31.6 percent in the second half and turned it over 15 times. In the final 20 minutes, Presbyterian only had six made field goals. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
For the season, NC State has now forced its opponents into 94 turnovers. For the third time in four games, the Pack had less than 10 turnovers in a game as NC State finished the game against Presbyterian with eight. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
NC State flexed its muscle down low as Freeman and Yurtseven combined to shoot 14-of-19 from the field and helped the Pack to a 56-32 advantage in points in the paint. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-freemans-career-high-23-points-headline-82-68-defeat-of-presbyterian.aspx
As for Arizona's last game, they beat CSU Bakers Field.
Allonzo Trier made eight of nine shots, including all three 3-point attempts, for 28 points and No. 3 Arizona coasted to its third straight victory, 91-59 over Cal State-Bakersfield on Thursday night. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Freshman Deandre Ayton added 18 points, 16 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds — his third double-double to start his college career — for Arizona (3-0). Dusan Ristic scored 12 points and Parker Jackson-Cartwright 11 for the Wildcats, who led by as many as 18 in the first half and 38 in the second. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Jarkel Joiner scored 14 points, Moataz Aly 12 and Shon Briggs 11 for the Roadrunners (1-2). "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Jackson-Cartwright capped a dominating first half for the Wildcats by throwing it in from a couple of steps behind the midcourt line at the halftime buzzer and the Wildcats led 44-27. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
The Roadrunners scored the first five points of the second half to cut the lead to 44-32 on Joiner's layup but never got any closer. Freshman Emmanuel Akot's 3-pointer punctuated a 10-2 run and the Wildcats led 65-41 with 12 minutes to play. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
The rout intensified with an 18-2 Arizona run. Trier's 3-pointer capped the outburst and put the Wildcats up 87-51 with 5:04 to go. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Trier almost certainly would have had his third consecutive 30-point game to start the season had he not been pulled with 4:37 left and his team up by 26. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Through three games, Trier is shooting 70 percent from the field and averaging 30 points per game. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Arizona had a 13-0 early run, seven by Trier, to go up 15-6 and controlled things from there. Trier was fouled on a 3-point try and made all three from the line to cap a 10-2 spurt that had the Wildcats up 39-21, their largest lead of the first half, with 2:42 left. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
BIG PICTURE
Cal State-Bakersfield: Roadrunners lost a couple of key pieces to the team that went 25-10 last season, was co-champion of the WAC and made it to the NIT semifinals. They couldn't stay with the Wildcats but should still have enough athleticism and be a factor again in the WAC. "according to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Arizona: The Wildcats cruised through three early season home games against lesser foes but the test comes soon when they travel to the Battle 4 Atlantis, meeting North Carolina State in the first round next Wednesday. If all works as planned, Arizona would face No. 5 Villanova in the championship of the eight-team tournament. "according http://www.arizonawildcats.com/news/2017/11/16/mens-basketball-cats-improve-to-3-0-with-91-59-victory.aspx
Tip-off is set for 7:00pm. The game will be televised on ESPN3. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball