Bracketology 2020: Michigan, NC State and DePaul going the wrong way

NC State (14-7, 5-5 ACC)

The Wolfpack aren’t in nearly as much trouble as Michigan. They have that going for them.

But it’s been eight long days for State fans, with the team nearly dropping three games in rapid succession.

Things started out rather well for Kevin Keatts and company, actually. On Jan. 20, the Pack sauntered into Charlottesville and grinded out a 53-51 win over Virginia. The victory gave NC State its third Q1 win (for now) and seemingly cemented their place as the fourth-best team in the ACC.

Then again, they barely hung on to beat a Virginia team that is in a bit of a nosedive. Perhaps it was too soon to jump to any conclusions about this team.

Immediately following the win over UVA, North Carolina State traveled to Atlanta to take on a Georgia Tech that has quietly crept up toward the Top 80 in the NET recently. The Yellow Jackets sunk their stingers into the Pack, drumming up a 64-58 win for the home crowd to complete the season sweep over NCSU. Josh Pastner’s ballclub also beat the Wolfpack in Raleigh on opening night in November.

Even with the loss to Georgia Tech, the week was something of a push for NC State.

But they gave their stock a push in the wrong direction yesterday.

Heading back home to the state capital, the Wolfpack were looking to get things back on track against rival North Carolina. With the Tar Heels incredibly sitting outside of the Top 100 in the NET, victory seemed all but assured for Keatts’ squad.

So, naturally, North Carolina State lost.

Suddenly, there are holes popping up in their resume. NC State is still 5-5 in a tough conference and sport the same 5-5 mark in their games against Q1 and Q2 teams. Unfortunately for the Pack, they also have two Q3 losses after falling to UNC.

Their strength of schedule won’t be the albatross that it was last season when Keatts drew up college basketball’s softest non-conference docket. In fact, it should be going up soon. Keep in mind that NC State still has not played Florida State, Louisville, or Duke this season. They face the Cardinals on Saturday but won’t play the Seminoles or Blue Devils for another three weeks.

And while their SOS may improve, there is little in the Wolfpack’s recent showings to suggest that their record will do the same. In between those three home games against the best the ACC has to offer, NC State will go on a three-game road trip against Syracuse, Miami, and Boston College.

They likely need to win all three of those road games—as well as probably needing at least one against somebody in the Top 3—if they are going to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament this March.