NC State Basketball: 3 keys to victory for the Wolfpack against Pittsburgh

NC State Basketball: 3 keys to victory for the Wolfpack vs. Pittsburgh

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Markell Johnson #11 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack walks across the court in the second half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images /

1. Keep Trey McGowens in check

Pittsburgh Panthers freshman guard Xavier Johnson is one key player on the scouting report for the NC State Wolfpack but another key player to keep in check will be freshman guard Trey McGowens.

McGowens put up a season-high 33 points on 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) and 4-of-7 shooting (57.1 percent) from 3-point range to go along with six rebounds, three steals and two assists in a big overtime victory over the Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday night.

McGowens is producing 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 assists per game in his first season with the Panthers. He’s shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from 3-point range alongside Johnson in the starting rotation. His 33-point outburst marked a career-best for him and came just four days after his team fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels, 85-60.

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It seems McGowens has found his niche as the go-to scorer on offense since then. The Wolfpack should have their hands full containing an athletic guard that can also fill it up from behind the arc.

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