Previewing Hofstra
No. 2 seed NC State will open the 2019 NIT against No. 7 seed Hofstra in Reynolds Coliseum. Here is a preview of the CAA regular season champs.
Official Website: LINK
Team Roster: LINK
Team Stats: LINK
Team Schedule: LINK
Record: 27-7 (15-3 CAA)
Quick Notes: Hofstra enters the NIT 27-7 overall the CAA regular season champs, having lost in the CAA title game to Northeastern.
Hofstra is led by senior guard Justin Wright-Foreman.
The 6-foot-2 standout is averaging a ridiculous 27.0 points per game and is doing it with unmatched efficiency. Wright-Foreman is shooting 51.1% from the field, 42.9% from three-point range, and 85.8% from the free throw line.
He is the reigning two-time CAA Player of the Year and will be a problem for NC State.
Junior guard Eli Pemberton is averaging 15.6 points per game in a secondary role to Wright-Foreman. He’s shooting 35% from 3-point range and averaged nearly seven free throw attempts per game.
Finally, keep an eye on Jacquil Taylor in the post. He leads the team in rebounds (8.8 rpg) and blocks (1.9 bpg). The 6-foot-10 defender is a grad transfer from Purdue.
HOFSTRA PRIMARY STARTING LINEUP
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. |
| 03 | Justin Wright-Foreman | G | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. |
| 05 | Eli Pemberton | G | 6-5 | 195 | Jr. |
| 23 | Jacquil Taylor | C | 6-10 | 235 | Gr. |
| 04 | Desure Buie | G | 6-0 | 160 | Sr. |
| 0 | Tareq Coburn | G | 6-5 | 195 | Jr. |
Reserve To Watch
G Jalen Ray: Hofstra isn’t deep and Ray is the main reserve to keep an eye on. He’s averaging 23 minutes per game and is at 7.4 ppg on the season while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.
STAT TO TRACK
Hofstra is one of the best teams at the country at getting to the free throw line and making free throws. This has to be a major concern for NC State given the Wolfpack’s struggles at limiting free throw attempts.
| CATEGORY | HOFSTRA |
| Free Throw Percentage | 80.3% (No. 2 Nationally) |
| Free Throw Makes | 17.7 (No. 3) |
| Free Throw Attempts | 22.0 (No. 47) |
NC State cannot allow Hofstra to live at the line on Tuesday.
What makes it even more scary for the Wolfpack is Hofstra doesn’t foul.
| CATEGORY | HOFSTRA |
| Opponent Free Throw Percentage | 70.2% (No. 148) |
| Opponent Free Throw Makes | 10.6 (No. 22) |
| Opponent Free Throw Attempts | 15.1 (No. 20) |
Hofstra is averaging 7.1 more free throw makes per game than the opposition. NC State? Opponents are making 2.5 more free throws per game than the Wolfpack.