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NC State Basketball: Takeaways from 2022-23 non-conference results

By Austin Glasscox

Dec 13, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Casey Morsell (14) and guard Jarkel Joiner (1) high five during the 1st half against Furman Paladins at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Casey Morsell (14) and guard Jarkel Joiner (1) high five during the 1st half against Furman Paladins at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports /
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NC State Basketball
NC State Basketball guard Jarkel Joiner Casey Morsell Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

After the way, the 2021-22 season went for NC State Basketball they needed to come out of the gate strong to begin the new campaign. With a revamped coaching staff, four new impact transfers, and coach Kevin Keatts firmly on the hot seat, the Wolfpack had a great showing in the non-conference. After beating Vanderbilt 70-66 on Saturday night the Wolfpack finished their non-conference schedule with a 10-1 record, they’re currently 10-3 overall after dropping their first two ACC games of the season.

The Wolfpack’s lone loss in the non-conference came against the defending National Champion Kansas Jayhawks to open the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in a close contest in which NC State proved that this was a completely different team from last year, they would ultimately go on to lose 80-74.

However, they would come out of the Battle 4 Atlantis with two quality neutral site wins against Dayton, who was picked preseason to win the Atlantic 10, and Butler, who featured former Wolfpack big man Manny Bates. NC State left the Bahamas proving to everyone that they could score with anyone in the country, and offering hope and optimism to everyone in Wolfpack Nation if they continue to grow and develop on the defensive end of the court.

NC State was able to defend its home court and avoid any “bad losses” in the non-conference. The one non-conference game that stood out the most, aside from the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament was when the Wolfpack took on preseason SoCon favorite, the Furman Paladins on December 13th. This came a week after the Wolfpack lost their starting center Dusan Mahoricic, and coughed up a 16-point lead at Miami just three days before.

NC State was able to contain the two-headed monster of Mike Bothwell, and Jalen Slawson to only 20 combined points on 6-19 shooting from the field. The Wolfpack controlled the game from start to finish and would come away with an impressive 92-73 victory.

Here are my three biggest takeaways as the Wolfpack looks toward ACC Play.

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