Quote :

"The big factors are pace, shot-making, and whether NC State can avoid letting Texas control the game physically. Texas already beat NC State 102-97 on November 26, 2025, shooting 56% from the field and 50% from three, so the Wolfpack has already seen how dangerous the Longhorn offense can be. NC State’s edge is perimeter firepower and tempo, while Texas is more comfortable playing slower and leaning on interior scoring and half-court execution. Both teams also enter the First Four having lost five of their last six, so confidence and composure late will matter a lot. For NC State specifically, Paul McNeil Jr.’s scoring pop is huge after his 26-point game against Virginia in the ACC tournament. If State wins the three-point battle and keeps Texas from getting efficient looks inside, it has a real shot."

But where is the AI attribution?

3/16/2026 6:32:35 AM

Quote :

" I, for one, am excited to see how this team does in the tournament."

You mean losing to Texas again tomorrow?


[Edited on March 16, 2026 at 6:34 AM. Reason : .]

3/16/2026 6:32:50 AM

I feel like if you strip the bracketology and projections of where we might be seeded away from it, being in Dayton doesn’t seem that surprising to me. Seems like those projections mostly had us avoiding Dayton and maybe a 10 seed. So that became our perception of where we expected to be. But the resume really isn’t that strong. One very bad loss to GT. Maybe one of the worst losses of any at large team? Really no high end wins. The volume of Q1 and 2 wins looks good on paper. Not all Q1 or 2 games are equal. Losing to 94th ND is a Q2 loss. But that’s obviously a worse loss than losing to Seton Hall on a neutral court. Both Q2 losses but that ND loss is objectively a bad loss to a bad team. At Wake Forest is a Q1 win for us. Wake sucks. Our best win on paper is probably UNC and they were without their 2 best players.


I’m not shitting on the team, but I think Justin is right. We seem to be a paper tiger. Digging into our resume rather than just looking at quantity of Q 1/2 wins, it’s really pretty meh.

3/16/2026 9:26:38 AM

Lol:

3/16/2026 9:47:52 AM

is the lol cause we get barkley and vitale?

3/16/2026 9:55:42 AM

Quote :

" Kickstand All American 12394 Posts user info edit post This team has definitely shown its ceiling. *Do they lose in the round of 64 or 32? *Current bracketology does not have this team in a play-in game. 2/24/2026 9:56:39 PM "

Dumbass.

3/16/2026 10:17:05 AM

Play-in game potentially gets NC State a few more seconds of exposure on this year's One Shining Moment retrospective!

3/16/2026 10:59:49 AM

The ball is tipped
[UT and NCSU tip-off camera pan]
And there you are
/end

3/16/2026 12:50:57 PM

Lol

3/16/2026 2:12:10 PM

Lol

3/16/2026 3:23:41 PM

Gameday, but should not have been.

3/17/2026 10:15:42 AM

We should consider playing some defense tonight. A lot of defense would be good. But just some might be enough to win

3/17/2026 11:03:34 AM

I hope we have 0 second chance points, and have >90 first chance points. Meanwhile, I want Texas to have <90 any chance points. If we can stick to that formula, I like our chances.

3/17/2026 11:23:54 AM

I don’t think the average basketball fan can understand this level of in depth analysis. Only on TWW can the greatest basketball minds discuss what it takes to win a game

3/17/2026 11:50:46 AM

Short answer: Yes — NC State can absolutely beat Texas tonight. But it’s basically a coin flip.

Here’s the reality going into the game:

It’s very close on paper. Oddsmakers have it nearly even, with NC State Wolfpack listed as a slight favorite by about 1–1.5 points in many lines.

Some previews still lean Texas Longhorns slightly, depending on matchup and shooting.

Advanced models and analysts are split—some predict NC State by 1 point, others like Texas in a toss-up.


What decides it

NC State advantage: pace + perimeter scoring (they can heat up fast)

Texas advantage: shooting efficiency + already beat NC State once this season

Both teams have been inconsistent, which is why nobody feels confident either way


My take

If NC State hits threes and pushes tempo ? they win

If Texas controls the game and shoots well ? Texas wins


Prediction: NC State has a slight edge, but this is basically a 50/50 game—expect it to be close late.

If you want, I can break down matchups or give a score prediction.

Alright, putting a number on it:

Prediction:
NC State Wolfpack 74 – 71 Texas Longhorns

Why that score:

NC State tends to play a little faster ? more possessions = low-to-mid 70s

Texas is efficient enough offensively to keep pace

Both teams can go cold at times ? keeps it from getting into the 80s

Late free throws likely decide it


Expect a tight game—something like 68–68 with a couple minutes left, then NC State edges it out at the line.

If you want, I can give you a “what would have to happen for Texas to win instead” scenario too.

3/17/2026 1:20:35 PM

late tip, hope we show up

3/17/2026 1:23:10 PM

If will wade called me today and asked me for one piece of advice to tell the players (and he did), I would simply tell him "ask the players to look at how hard the other team is trying to win, and then try harder than that to win"

3/17/2026 2:20:11 PM

#TryHarder

3/17/2026 2:25:25 PM

Quote :

"I wanna be very clear, this is not a rebuild, Wade said. We’re gonna be in the top part of the ACC next year and we’re going to the NCAA Tournament."

- Will Wade

3/17/2026 2:45:21 PM

Technically 7th is the top part and technically we are in the NCAA tournament

3/17/2026 2:52:22 PM

1	Duke	17	1	.944	32	2	.941	82.3	63.1	31.6	12.4	NCAA Tournament
2	Virginia	15	3	.833	29	5	.853	80.6	68.4	21.6	9.4	NCAA Tournament
3	Miami (FL)	13	5	.722	25	8	.758	81.9	71.2	18.0	7.3	NCAA Tournament
4	North Carolina	12	6	.667	24	8	.750	79.8	71.3	19.4	10.9	NCAA Tournament
4	Clemson	12	6	.667	24	10	.706	74.1	66.7	17.0	9.6	NCAA Tournament
6	Louisville	11	7	.611	23	10	.697	84.8	72.2	23.4	10.8	NCAA Tournament
7	NC State	10	8	.556	20	13	.606	83.7	76.5	18.0	10.8	NCAA Tournament
7	Florida State
9	California
9	Stanford
11	Southern Methodist
11	Virginia Tech
13	Wake Forest
14	Syracuse
15	Pittsburgh
16	Notre Dame	
16	Boston College
18	Georgia Tech

3/17/2026 3:16:58 PM

My point is that 7th and last 4 in the tournament is not a red reckoning

3/17/2026 4:13:26 PM

Those who stand on this side of history will not remember the 2025/26 NC State Men's Basketball season as a "red reckoning."

3/17/2026 5:24:24 PM

Quote :

"The ball is tipped [UT and NCSU tip-off camera pan] And there you are /end"

Marv Albert: "YES!!!"

3/17/2026 7:29:29 PM

Those who stand on this side of history will not remember the 2025/26 NC State Men's Basketball season

3/17/2026 8:47:50 PM

Hey guys i hope we win

3/17/2026 9:08:30 PM

Same

3/17/2026 9:12:42 PM

Start the dang game. It’s almost 9:30 wtf

3/17/2026 9:24:17 PM

White jerseys...

3/17/2026 9:29:08 PM

Between Vitale, Barkley, and this hoarse dude this broadcast is gonna suck

I like Barkley fine. But in the studio

3/17/2026 9:32:18 PM

Holloman sucks

2 fouls and a turnover.

3/17/2026 9:34:29 PM

Sigh we just suck.

3/17/2026 9:35:19 PM

Dog shit start. Like 5 missed shots within 3 feet. And Texas hitting 3s again. Super fun!

3/17/2026 9:36:48 PM

THIS IS ALL DARRION WILLIAMS FAULT!!!!1!1!1111111

3/17/2026 9:37:44 PM

Offense is pretty hideous to watch

Defense too

3/17/2026 9:38:40 PM

They have a giant 7 footer and we still just keep trying to shoot over him. It’s not working.

3/17/2026 9:41:03 PM

Can Q just do a normal fucking layup please

3/17/2026 9:44:50 PM

Hey he's like 1-3 on layups! That's elite.

3/17/2026 9:45:30 PM

Wtf was that

[Edited on March 17, 2026 at 9:46 PM. Reason : Was like statue of liberty layup?]

3/17/2026 9:46:00 PM

lol Vitale and Barkley just openly shitting on the sport they are covering. Fun!

3/17/2026 9:47:14 PM

Something tells me Dick and Charles will retire soon.

3/17/2026 9:48:11 PM

Short white dude off the bench out rebounding us. Cool

3/17/2026 9:48:31 PM

^^^They aren't wrong though

[Edited on March 17, 2026 at 9:49 PM. Reason : Not sustainable as chuck said]

[Edited on March 17, 2026 at 9:49 PM. Reason : Another ^]

3/17/2026 9:48:49 PM

Stop driving at 7 footers

3/17/2026 9:49:02 PM

More like out hustling us which ain’t hard to do. Able about the only one with hustle.



And they can’t miss threes open or sloppy guarded.

[Edited on March 17, 2026 at 9:53 PM. Reason : We in trouble early ]

3/17/2026 9:50:37 PM

lol the 3 point shit is just unreal. 5/6 already. Did we learn anything from the first game?

3/17/2026 9:53:11 PM

Lol at the my cousin vinny reference

3/17/2026 9:54:33 PM

Texas is on pace for 56 rebounds

3/17/2026 9:54:58 PM

Dicky V currently previewing R2 matchups that might not even happen…UNC - Illinois, Kentucky - Iowa State lol

3/17/2026 9:55:22 PM

TA pump faking a wide open dunk. This team is just not good.

3/17/2026 9:56:30 PM