NC State vs Texas: Revenge Game in Dayton

0:00On March 16, NC State takes on Texas in the key NCAA tournament playing game Tuesday, March 17, at 9.15pm in Dayton on True TV. Both teams enter with similar records, NC State at 20 wins and 13 losses, Texas at 18 and 14. Rankings put them close to, with NC State around 34 on Kenpaman, Texas 37. Predictions lean slightly toward the Wolfpack in a Taiwan, Mike 83-82. These squads met back in late November in Maui, where Texas pulled out a 102-97 win behind hot 3-point shooting, hitting 16 from deep. Both new coaches, Will Wade for NC State and Sean Miller for Texas, had up and down first years in their conferences, finishing 9-9 or 10. And 8, they share some quirks, like tough quadrant 1 losses and surprise defeats at home. Fans have mixed feelings about NC State season, from disappointment over unmet hype to optimism that tournament runs can build momentum.

1:01Coach Wade hit his goals of top half ACC finish and an NCAA bid, though barely, and success here could quiet the doubters. Texas fans hope their offensive firepower overcomes late season slumps, mirroring NC State's own 5 out of 6 skid to close regular play. Keep an eye on rebounding from those streaks, since both rank high and offense, but middling on defense. Fouls plagued their first clash with tons, called, and key guys like NC State's Daring Williams, need to attack inside after recent struggles. Texas star Dalen Swain leads his team in scoring, boards, assists, steals, and minutes, a rare feat. NC State looks prime for revenge, by tightening defense and getting stars like Williams going, setting up a strong tournament path, starting with this. Win.