Busting Brackets
Fansided

NC State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to upsetting Louisville at home

By Hunter Moore

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: C.J. Bryce #13 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack puts up a shot against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half at PNC Arena on January 29, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: C.J. Bryce #13 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack puts up a shot against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half at PNC Arena on January 29, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 16: Markell Johnson #11, Jericole Hellems #4 and Devon Daniels #24 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 16: Markell Johnson #11, Jericole Hellems #4 and Devon Daniels #24 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Stay healthy

NC State has dealt with their fair share of injuries this season, which have cost NC State many games. To begin the season NC State was without Johnson and D.J. Funderburk (suspension) and lost at home to Georgia Tech. NC State has since been forced to redshirt two new players in AJ Taylor and Dereon Seabron at Wake Forest in mid December Jericole Hellems took a scary fall in the closing minutes which resulted in a short hospital visit and a concussion.

Shortly after Hellems returns from his concussion CJ Bryce gets a concussion of his own during warmups ahead of a matchup with Appalachian State, this costs Bryce four games in which NC State went 2-2 with losses at Clemson and Virginia Tech. The latest injuries for Kevin Keatts team came against Clemson at home, in the first half Manny Bates took an elbow to the head and at the end of the game, Pat Andree rolled his ankle. Bates went on to miss two games at Virginia and at Georgia Tech while Andree has missed 3 straight including the North Carolina game on Monday.

Not only have these injuries cost NC State the games in which key players were out it has also caused players to play much worse in their return. Before Jericole Hellems concussion he was playing the best basketball of his collegiate career, averaging 12.3 ppg, 4 rpg and 39% from 3 since his return from injury he has averaged just 7.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg and under 30% from 3 a huge decline.

The same is said for Bryce who was putting up all-ACC numbers before his concussion averaging 16.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 43.5% from 3 since his return from concussion his production has dropped off drastically averaging 6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 26.7% from 3. NC State needs to find the old CJ Bryce and Jericole Hellems if they want to turn this season around.

Home/NC State Wolfpack