TRI-PARTISAN: Crunch Time For Wolfpack
Each week I submit a Tri-Partisan column to WRALSportsFan.com, and here is this week's feature where I tell you what I believe NC State has to do to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.
WRALSportsFan.com: Crunch Time For Wolfpack
It's now or never for NC State.
Every week it felt like the Pack was either riding an emotional high after big wins or trying to rebound from questionable losses, and here we are. A regular season home finale left against Wake Forest that will play a role in not only the team’s ACC Tournament seeding but also their NCAA Tournament chances.
Let's start with the ACC Tournament, where things are still up in the air for the Pack. NC State can be seeded as high as No. 5 or as low as No. 8, with potential second round matchups against Boston College, Miami, and Pitt as possibilities, or even... North Carolina.
Win that opener and a major resume-building opportunity would be up next: a matchup versus one of the ACC's Big Four teams this season -- Florida State, Virginia, Louisville, or Duke. For much of the season it was tabbed a Big Three, but Virginia has won seven straight games to put itself in the mix for a share of the title.
UVA’s recent rise is certainly good news for NC State, who knocked off the Cavaliers in Charlottesville on January 20th, as that road win is looking better and better on the Wolfpack's NCAA Tournament resume entering the final week of the season.
NC State has a solid case for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament with four Quadrant 1 victories. Those include decisions over Wisconsin, who is currently in first place in the Big Ten, and Duke at home, along with road victories over Syracuse and Virginia.
However, that's probably not going to be enough – and that is why Friday night vs. Wake Forest is so critical. Can a win there lock up an NCAA bid for NC State? Probably not, but a loss would be very damaging. NC State can't afford another bad loss, and losing at home to Wake Forest could potentially end the Pack's at-large tournament chances. Click the link to read the rest of the story: LINK