NC State returns to action tonight at 9:00 pm at Notre Dame. Here are some pregame notes on the Wolfpack and a preview of the Irish.

NC STATE NOTEBOOK

Pack Tracks

NC State shot a season-high 60 percent and tied its season-high with 12 three-pointers to knock off Virginia, 77-63, inside PNC Arena on Saturday.

- The Pack became the first ACC team - and only the second team overall - since Tony Bennett became head coach of the Cavaliers to shoot 60 percent or better against Virginia.

- Senior forward Jericole Hellems led the Pack in scoring for the second consecutive game with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. The Saint Louis, Mo., native is 62.2 percent (23-of-37) from the field in the Pack’s last four games, including 52.2% (12-of-23) from three-point range.

- Freshman guard Terquavion Smith added 20 points, connecting on 8-of-13 field goals, including four three-pointers. Smith has started the last 13 games for NC State. He is averaging 17.7 points per game since joining the starting lineup and has hit at least three three-pointers in 10 of the 13 games. He is averaging 3.50 three-pointers per game in ACC play which is the most of any player in the conference.

The Greenville, N.C., native is more than just a shooter, as he has also recorded multiple steals in seven of the last nine games and ranks eighth in conference play with his 1.89 steals per game average.

- Redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron added 13 points and a team-high five assists in the win and has now scored in double figures in every game this season. Seabron has now led NC State in scoring nine times, in rebounding 18 times, and in assists 14 times this season. He is the only player in the ACC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.

Wednesday Storylines

- NC State has won seven of its last nine ACC road games. The Pack won its final five road games last season and have gone 2-2 this season in conference road games.

Notre Dame is 7-0 at home this season with victories over Kentucky, North Carolina, and Clemson.

- NC State has 47 steals in the last five games (after only posting 25 in its first four ACC games) and now ranks third in steals (7.9) and turnover margin at +3.05 in conference play.

- Wednesday is a matchup of two of the top three-point shooting teams in the ACC.

Notre Dame averages the most three-pointers per game in conference play at 10.14 per game. NC State has hit the most three-pointers by an ACC team in conference play (83 in nine games) and ranks third in the ACC with an average of 9.22 three-pointers per game.

NC State’s Terquavion Smith leads all ACC players with 32 three-pointers (3.56 per game) in ACC play. Jericole Hellems is 10th in ACC play with 22 three-pointers in nine games (2.44 per game). Notre Dame counters with five players who all average above or right under two three-pointers made per game in conference play.

Get Back To The Foul Line

For most of the season, NC State ranked in the top-10 in free throw attempts, but the Pack has attempted just 31 free throws in the last four games. In Saturday’s win over Virginia, Dereon Seabron (5-6 FTs) was the only NC State player to attempt a free throw.

NC State attempted 77 more free throws than its opponents in non-conference play, but in ACC play, the Pack's opponents have attempted 27 more free throws than the Pack.

Battle of Superb Freshmen

NC State’s Terquavion Smith and Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley are two of the ACC and college basketball’s top freshmen this season.

Smith has been named ACC Freshman of the Week twice this season and averages 14.9 points per game on the season and has upped his average to 16.7 points per game in ACC play.

Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley has been named ACC Freshman of the Week three times this season and averages 15.0 points per game on the season and has upped his average to 17.3 points per game in ACC play.

Casey Morsell Getting Back To It

The UVA transfer started the season by averaging 12.3 points per game in the Pack's first eight games of the season. He injured his ankle in the Pack's four overtime win over Nebraska and missed NC State's next two games.

Since returning to the lineup Morsell initially struggled on the offensive end, but he has settled in and had his best two offensive games since returning in the Pack’s last two games. Morsell had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting against Virginia Tech on Wednesday and had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Virginia on Saturday.

The Ft. Washington, Md. native went a combined 5-for-7 from three-point range in the last two games. He has also stepped it up on the defensive end and has posted 10 steals in the last five games.

Smith Is Not Shy

Freshman guard Terquavion Smith has shot at least nine three-pointers in seven of the Pack's last nine games. He only attempted nine or more three-pointers in one of the Pack's first 11 games this season.

In conference games, Smith leads the ACC in three-pointers made per game at 3.56 and ranks 9th in three-point field goal percentage at 40 percent. If you take out Smith's two off games (vs. Clemson and at Duke) where he shot a combined 1-of-16 from downtown, the Greenville, N.C. native is shooting 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from downtown in his other seven ACC games.

NC State - Notre Dame Series

- Wednesday is the 17th meeting between the two programs. The all-time series is tied at 8-8.

- NC State is 5-3 all-time against the Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion and has won four straight meetings in the series.

- Kevin Keatts is 4-1 against Notre Dame as head coach of NC State, including a 2-1 mark against the Fighting Irish inside Purcell Pavilion.

- Last Meeting: NC State defeated Notre Dame, 80-69, on March 3 last season. Cam Hayes scored a career-high 20 points while Dereon Seabron posted the first double-double of his career with then career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (13).

NOTRE DAME PREVIEW

• Notre Dame Roster

• Notre Dame Schedule

• Notre Dame Stats

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
 

KEY RESERVES
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Guard Blake Wesley: A 6’5 guard, Wesley is one of the most dynamic playmaking freshmen in the country and owns five 20-point scoring games, including last three of the last five.

A local product from South Bend, Wesley is Notre Dame’s go-to player down the stretch.

Guard Dane Goodwin: The senior guard is playing as well as anyone in the country right now.

Goodwin is the only major conference player (and one of just two players in the country) to average .500 FG%, .400 3FG%, .900 FT% and score over 15 points per game.

NC State can't let him get going from three-point range tonight.

X-FACTOR

Forward Nate Laszewski: At 6-foot-10, Laszewski leads Notre Dame in rebounding and can score on the block -- but what makes him dangerous is his three-point shooting ability.

Laszewski will be defended by Jericole Hellems, and that matchup will be critical to the outcome.