NC State returns to action today at 3:00 pm against Pittsburgh. Here are some pregame notes on the Wolfpack and a preview of the Panthers.

NC STATE NOTEBOOK

Pack Tracks

Redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron led NC State with 22 points against the Demon Deacons. It was the 10th 20+-point performance of the season for the Norfolk, Va., native. Seabron has now led NC State in scoring 11times this season, in rebounding 21 times, assists 16 times and steals eight times.

He leads the Pack in all four statistical categories. Seabron is one of only just five DI players and three Power-five players (Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis and USC’s Isaiah Mobley) to lead their team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

- Freshman guard Terquavion Smith had an off-shooting night, going just 3-for-16 from the field, but did knock down two three-pointers and now has an ACC-best 71 on the season.

He is now tied with Adam Harrington (1998-99) for the second-most three-pointers in a season for a freshman at NC State. Smith’s current scoring average of 15.5 points per game is the second-best by a freshman in program history.

Saturday Storylines

The Pack has won 11 straight games over Pitt, but the battles have been close. Last season, NC State defeated Pitt by one in Pittsburgh and three on its home court. If you take out, NC State’s 73-58 win over Pitt in the second round of the 2020 ACC Tournament, the Pack’s other six wins over Pitt in the Kevin Keatts era have all been by six points or fewer.

- Road Sweet Road? In ACC play, the Pack’s offense has scored more points and shot better on the road than at home. In six road games, NC State is averaging 74.7 points per game while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. In eight ACC home games, NC State is averaging 67.5 points per game and is shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three-point range.

- Get Jericole Hellems back on track: From Jan. 12- Jan. 29 (six game stretch), Hellems averaged 16.8 points per game on 53.6 percent shooting, including hitting 19-of-38 three-pointers. In the first three games of February, Hellems has scored just 12 points, shooting 4-of-24 from the field, including 2-of-13 from three-point range.

The good news for Hellems? He’s heading back out on the road. In six ACC road games this season, Hellems is averaging 17.3 points per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field overall and is shooting 50 percent (18-of-36) from three-point range.

- Terquavion Smith has hit 71 three-pointers and enters Saturday’s game tied for the second-most three-pointers by a freshman in program history. Maverick Rowan holds the freshman record with 81.

Smith’s current pace has him finishing the season with 91 three-pointers which would rank as the sixth-most in a single-season in program history and the most since Ralston Turner made 94 in the 2014-15 season.

- Biggest stat indicator for an NC State win? Opponent field goal percentage. In its 15 losses this season, NC State’s opponents are shooting a combined 50.4 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three-point range.

NC State is 1-10 this season if its opponent shoots over 50 percent from the field.

The Pack’s last four opponents have all shot over 50 percent from the field. In the Pack’s wins, opponents are shooting just 42 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range.

NC State - Pittsburgh Series

Saturday is the 24th meeting between the two programs. NC State leads the all-time series, 20-2, and has an 11-1 record against the Panthers since Pitt joined the ACC. The NCAA’s IARP ruled in December that the Pack must vacate the program’s 79-74 win inside PNC Arena on Jan. 17, 2017.

- NC State is 5-0 all-time against the Panthers at the Petersen Events Center.

- Kevin Keatts is 7-0 against Pitt as head coach of NC State, including a 3-0 mark against the Panthers inside the Petersen Events Center.

- Last season: NC State swept the season-series with the Panthers. Pitt led 71-69 at home with 1:49 to go, but a three-point play by DJ Funderburk gave NC State the lead and two Cam Hayes free throws put the Pack up three as NC State survived, 74-73.

Jericole Hellems led the Pack with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Funderburk recorded 16 points and eight rebounds. In the Pack’s 65-62 home win over Pitt, Hellems posted his second career double-double as he led the Pack in scoring with 15 points, in rebounds with 10 and assists with five.

PITTSBURGH PREVIEW

• Pittsburgh Roster

• Pittsburgh Schedule

• Pittsburgh Stats

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
 

KEY RESERVES
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Forward John Hugley: The 6-foot-9, 280-pounder seriously considered NC State out of high school before picking Pittsburgh, and he currently leads the Panthers in scoring and rebounding.

Hugley ranks among the league leaders in scoring (18th - 13.9 ppg.), rebounds (5th - 8.1 rpg.), offensive rebounds (4th - 2.68 orpg.), defensive rebounds (10th - 5.44 drpg.) and double-double (3rd - 7).

He has scored in double figures nine times in league play and is averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game against ACC opponents.

Also, NC State must keep him off the line.  Hugley ranks second in the NCAA in free throw attempts (174) and is tied for ninth in made free throws (123).

Guard Jamarius Burton: A transfer from Texas Tech, Burton has scored in double figures a team-high 18 times and is second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game.

He has elevated his play in the ACC averaging 14.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.4 percent (71-of-153) from the field, 40.0 percent (14-of-35) from three-point range and 87.2 percent (41-of-47) from the foul line. 

Terquavion Smith will likely draw the assignment of defending Burton.

X-FACTOR

Guard Femi Odukale: NC State has to keep Odukale out of the paint and off the free throw line, where he excels.

He currently leads Pitt in assists per game but can be an explosive scorer.  He had 22 points in the second half a week ago against Virginia Tech.

Look for Casey Morsell to defend Odukale for the Wolfpack.