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NC State Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for the Wolfpack

By Cooper Watson

RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 22: Mr. Wuf, mascot of the North Carolina State Wolfpact. performs during a game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at PNC Arena on December 22, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 22: Mr. Wuf, mascot of the North Carolina State Wolfpact. performs during a game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at PNC Arena on December 22, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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NC State Basketball (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NC State Basketball (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Key reserves for the Wolfpack

C/F – Ebenezer Dowuona (Jr.)

Dowuona was asked to play a massively increased role at center following Manny Bates’ injury, and ended up posting impressive rim protection numbers, as discussed in detail on the first page of this piece. D.J. Burns is the better offensive option at the five, but Dowuona is unquestionably the better option defensively. That said, he’ll need to improve his touch around the basket and footwork to take the next step as a player.

Key stat: Dowuona had a block rate of 7.6% last season, the fifth-highest mark in the ACC. He was also the only player on NC State last season to have a positive defensive box +/- (0.9), per Torvik.

G – Breon Pass (So.)

Pass will be the primary backup guard for Joiner, Morsell, and Smith. That is if Smith ever comes off the court. Still, Pass is primed to see an increased workload this season after averaging just 8.8 minutes per game last season. A former football player, his athleticism and physicality go a long way as a guard in the ACC.

Key stat: According to KenPom, Pass had a turnover percentage of 20.2% last season, the highest on the team. Although it might sound counterintuitive, look for that number to drop with increased playing time this season.

C/F – Dusan Mahorcic (Gr.)

Mahorcic is a 6-foot-10-inch physical presence in the paint who rounds out a nice trio of big men at Keatts’ disposal. Burns is the best option offensively, Dowuona has the length and shot-blocking, and Mahorcic is the best rebounder and most physically intimidating of the three. He has one year of eligibility left after transferring to NC State from Utah this offseason.

Key stat: Mahorcic led Utah in defensive rebounding percentage last season at 24%, per KenPom.

F – Ernest Ross (So.)

Ross is a 6-9 forward who has good length but will need to bulk up to be a consistently effective frontcourt piece in the ACC. He missed most of ACC play last season with a fractured right ankle but should be a valuable, versatile frontcourt piece for Keatts this season.

Key stat: Although he played limited minutes and missed roughly half of the season, Ross had the highest offensive rebounding rate on the team at 12.7%, per KenPom.

F – Greg Gantt (R-Jr.)

Gantt transferred to NC State from Providence in the summer of 2021 but ended up having a major surgical procedure that kept him out for all of last season. Gantt is a 6-8 and 220-pound forward who has the athleticism and physical tools to help address NC State’s defensive struggles.

Key stat: Gantt led Providence with a defensive box +/- of 2.4 in 2020-21, per Torvik.

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