NC State Basketball: 3 keys for the ACC opener vs. Miami

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Markell Johnson #11 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack talks with head coach Kevin Keatts against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

WICHITA, KS – MARCH 15: Myles Cale #22 of the Seton Hall Pirates dribbles the ball while being guarded by Braxton Beverly #10 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

3. Can N.C. State turn the Hurricanes over?

Another big key for N.C. State in this contest will be if they can force the Hurricanes into turning the ball over.

This could be a tall task for the Wolfpack, as hanging on to the ball is one of the things that Miami does well. So far this season, the Hurricanes have turned the ball over just 12 times per game, which is 5th best among ACC schools and 67th best nationally. Looking at the six players that have seen action in every game, Lawrence II and sophomore guard Chris Lykes account for 6.1 of those 12 turnovers, while the remaining four players commit just 6.7 per game.

N.C. State is one of the better teams in the sport at thievery. The Wolfpack swipes 8.1 steals per game and as good as that number is, it is just the 5th best in the ACC, as the conference currently has seven teams in the top-100 in the country in steals. But it’s not just the steals, Keatts’ team is even better at forcing turnovers, they force their opponents into 19.23 per game, that number is the conference’s best and 5th best in college basketball.

Next. Top players from each conference in 2019. dark

Getting a team that doesn’t turn the ball over, to turn the ball over will be a big key to success for N.C. State in this one.

Home/NC State Wolfpack