23. North Carolina State Wolf Pack
Will Wade takes over in Raleigh, bringing a wave of transfers, including Quadir Copeland from McNeese and Tre Holloman from Michigan State. With Matt Able projected as a one-and-done star, NC State could immediately contend in the ACC under its new, aggressive identity. This will be a new look team for sure, but after the season Wolf Pack fans had to go through in 2024-25, they are ready to learn new faces and names this season.
This was a team that was absolutely dreadful in the final season with Kevin Keats at the helm. The Wolf Pack won just 12 games all season, and did not play in any postseason play. The only two teams in the ACC that justthey finished ahead of were the Boston College Eagles and Miami Hurricanes. This marked the end of an eight-year run for Keats at NC State, jut a season removed from reaching the NCAA Tournament Final Four the previous season.
Wade will bring the same energy he brought to his teams at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese before taking over for the Wolf Pack. Wade has won every stop he has made. He went 40-25 at Chattanooga, before going 51-20 at VCU. His time in Baton Rouge saw him go 105-51 before he was let go due to ongoing recruiting violations. At McNeese, he led the Cowboys to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and won 36 out of 38 games in the Southland Conference.
- Head Coach: Will Wade (1st season)
- Home Arena: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
- 2024-25 Record: 12-19
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 5-15
- 2024-25 Advancement: Did not qualify for ACC Tournament, finishing 16th in regular season
- Leading scorer: Marcus Hill, 11.5 per game
- Leading rebounder: Dontrez Styles, 5.0 per game
- First Game: Monday November 3 vs. North Carolina Central