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

NC STATE NOTEBOOK

Pack Tracks

NC State dropped a 100-80 decision at North Carolina on Saturday. The Tar Heels shot 54.8 percent from the field and hit 15 three-pointers, a season-best for an NC State opponent this season, in the win.

- Freshman guard Terquavion Smith led NC State with 34 points on 10-of-21 shooting and 11-of-13 shooting at the foul line. The 34 points are the second-most by a freshman in program history (35 by Ernie Myers on 1/26/83 vs. Duke), tied for the 11th-most by a freshman in ACC history, and the most ever by a freshman at the Dean Smith Center. The 34 points are also the most scored by an ACC player in a conference game this season.

- Smith also tied his career-high with four steals against the Tar Heels. Smith now has 22 steals in the Pack’s last 10 games and ranks third in the ACC in conference-only games with his 2.1 steals per game average.

- Senior forward Jericole Hellems added 25 points against UNC. The 25 points are his high against an ACC opponent in his career. The Saint Louis, Mo., native is now shooting 53.6 percent (37-of-69) from the field and 50 percent (19-of-38) from three-point range in the Pack’s last six games.

- Redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron only had two points against UNC. It was the first game this season that he did not reach double figures in scoring. He still leads NC State in scoring, rebounding, and assists this season, and is one of just two players in the ACC (Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams) to do that.

Wednesday Storylines

February is National Black History Month, and in the Pack’s first game of February NC State will be wearing special Adidas HBE (Honoring Black Excellence) jerseys. The cream colored jerseys have a row of flowers down the sides that symbolize "give them their flowers while they are still here.”

The flower featured on the Pack’s jerseys is the Dogwood which is the state flower of North Carolina. The jerseys are meant to not just celebrate history, but also celebrate the here and now. They are to show love and acknowledgement to Black leaders and influencers of today and tomorrow.

- NC State’s Terquavion Smith and Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim enter Wednesday’s matchup having both shot 165 three-pointers this season. Smith leads the ACC with 59 three-pointers made while Boeheim has made 56.

Wednesday will be Smith’s first game against Syracuse’s vaunted zone defense. Boeheim will be facing NC State for the sixth time in his career. In his first two games against the Pack - as a freshman and sophomore - Boeheim shot a combined 2-for-12 from three in two losses to NC State.

Last season, in three Syracuse wins over NC State, Boeheim shot a combined 13-of-25 (52 percent) from three-point range against the Pack.

- Syracuse boasts two players that rank in the top-five in the ACC in three-point shooting in Joe Girard (54 3s; 41.5%) and Buddy Boeheim (56 3s; 33.9%). Overall, Syracuse ranks seventh in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage at 36.2 percent and averages making 8.6 per game.

Over the last three games, NC State’s defense has allowed its opponents to shoot a combined 50 percent from three (36-of-72) and all three opponents have hit double-digit three-pointers against the Pack.

- Over the last six games, senior forward Jericole Hellems is shooting 53.6% (37-of-69) from the field, including 50% (19-of-38) from three-point range. The Saint Louis, Mo., native went over 1,100 career points in last Wednesday’s game at Notre Dame and scored 25 points on Saturday at North Carolina, the most points in his career against an ACC opponent.

- Casey Morsell enters Wednesday’s game having hit eight of his last 10 three-pointers. He is shooting a combined 15-for-24 (62.5%) from the field in the Pack’s last four games.

More Than A Shooter

Freshman guard Terquavion Smith has made a name for himself as a shooter and scorer this season, but don’t discount his defense.
The Greenville, N.C., native has 22 steals in the Pack’s last 10 games and now leads NC State in steals with 34 this season. Smith has 23 steals in 11 ACC games and ranks third in the conference in ACC-only games with an average of 2.1 steals per game.

Marathon Men

Only three players in the ACC average over 35 minutes per game this season, and all three will be on the court Wednesday night. Buddy Boeheim leads the ACC in minutes played with an average of 37.7. NC State’s Dereon Seabron (36.1) and Jericole Hellems (35.5) rank second and third.

NC State - Syracuse Series

- Wednesday is the 17th meeting between the two programs. Syracuse leads the all-time series, 10-6.

- Kevin Keatts is 3-3 against Syracuse as head coach of NC State, including a 1-1 mark against the Orange inside PNC Arena.

- Last Year: Syracuse won all three meetings with the Pack, winning at home, at PNC Arena, and in Greensboro Coliseum in the ACC Tournament. Prior to last season, Keatts was 3-0 against the Orange as head coach of NC State.

SYRACUSE PREVIEW

• Syracuse Roster

• Syracuse Schedule

• Syracuse Stats

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
 

KEY RESERVES
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Guard Buddy Boeheim: Arguably the top shooter in the ACC, it starts with defending Buddy Boeheim, who leads the Orange and ranks second in the league in scoring at 19.4 points per game.

Last week he averaged 27.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 38.5 minutes per game in matchups at Pittsburgh and versus Wake Forest. 

Boeheim scored a season-high 30 points in th home win over Wake Forest.

Forward Cole Swider: At 6-foot-9, Swider leads the Orange in rebounding but is also a dangerous shooter from deep.  NC State will likely defend him with Dereon Seabron.

X-FACTOR

Center Jesse Edwards: NC State has struggled at times this season defending the five position, and Edwards is having a strong year for the Orange.

The Pack must keep him off the offensive glass and attack Edwards on the other end.  Syracuse can have problems at times when he's out of the game due to foul trouble given his importance to the 2-3 zone.