2014 NCAA Tournament First Four: North Carolina State advances

Mar 18, 2014; Dayton, OH, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward T.J. Warren (24) dribbles past Xavier Musketeers forward Justin Martin (20) in the second half of a college basketball game during the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Remember on Sunday when folks were questioning the inclusion of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the 2014 NCAA Tournament? Yeah, me either.

That’s because NC State has a player. Not just any player, mind you, but the ACC Player of the Year, T.J. Warren. And Warren can get buckets.

Despite being in foul trouble for much of the first-half, Warren ended the game with 25 points, five boards and three steals. All of which helped fuel the Wolfpack to a victory over Xavier, 74-59.

There’s a Big East Conference side-story to this, but let’s just appreciate what North Carolina State just did rather than put down a new version of an old league.

There is still plenty of more work to be done by the Wolfpack. Up next will be a tough game against Saint Louis. It will be (yet another) a game that NC State will play the role of the underdogs, but it seems like the public perception of them happens to be going though some more change, as more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon.

Enjoy T.J. Warren while you can, folks.