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

Jack Clark must stay out of foul trouble

Jack Clark is the swiss army knife of this NC State basketball team.

Clark can affect the basketball game in so many ways, but fouls and more specifically 1st half fouls have been an issue for Clark so far this season. Clark is averaging 8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.1 steals so far this season in 27.2 minutes per game.

I know it is not considered a non-conference game but against Miami, his foul trouble issues proved to be the difference. In that game, he only played 11 minutes and in those minutes he had 5 rebounds and a steal to go along with 3 points. The Wolfpack were up 3 points when Clark got his 5th foul with 7:02 remaining in the game. Miami would go on to outscore the Wolfpack by 10 points in the final 7:02 and win the game.

A big reason why Clark needs to stay out of foul trouble is that he helps greatly on the defensive end of the court, the place where NC State struggles the most. When he is in the game at the power forward spot, NC State can switch 1-4 on ball screens, and that is a staple for this Wolfpack defensive scheme.

Clark is currently tied for the ACC lead in steals per game with 2.1 on average. His quickness to go along with his length and height at 6’8” helps him stay in front of smaller guards, but also disrupt post players when they try and back him down. When he is in foul trouble the Wolfpack struggle in defensive rotations which leads to open shots, and rebounding which leads to second-chance points.

NC State needs a glue guy like Jack Clark if they’re going to pick up the defensive intensity which will help put teams away at the end of games. His role in the offense is starting to expand as well after he has started to come out of an early season slump from behind the arc. If Clark can stay away from cheap fouls and stay on the floor, the Wolfpack could become a threat on both ends of the court.