NC State's ACC Run Ends, Eyes NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 12, NC State's ACC Tournament run ended Wednesday night with an 81-74 loss to Virginia. The Wolfpack fought hard in a close game, but couldn't pull it out in the end. They finished the regular season at 20 wins and 13 losses overall, 11-9 in conference play. It's the first year under head coach Will Wade, and now they wait for their postseason seating on Sunday. Unlike their two earlier blowout losses to Virginia, this matchup stayed tight. The Cavaliers led by just one point at half-time after a late three-pointer. But in the second half, Virginia took over the pain with a 20-4 scoring edge there, while NC State shot only 32% from the day, floor. Coach Wade praised his team's effort, but said they lacked the small details to beat a strong opponent like Virginia. He noted improvements in intensity compared to before, though they still struggled with turnovers and communication, especially early in the second half. Wade dismissed rumors about the LSU job,

1:01saying his focus is on building winners at NC State. Paul McNeil Jr. led with 26 points, continuing his strong season with big shots from beyond the arc. Wade highlighted his consistency and leadership as key for whatever comes next. With the season wrapping up, NC State eyes the NCAA tournament and plans an offseason overhaul to fix weaknesses and match up better in the ACC. They show fight this time, setting a foundation to build on.