Two years ago, the North Carolina State Wolfpack made a Cinderella run to the Final Four. It looked as though they were on their way to becoming the third house on Tobacco Road in the neighborhood of ACC relevance. Now the once-promising house has been stripped down to its studs, new owners are rebuilding, and many are wondering if the house belongs in the neighborhood or will stick out like a sore thumb next to the two long-standing mansions already there.
The new owner of the N.C. State blueprints is someone who is going back to his roots in the ACC. Will Wade began his coaching career as a student manager at Clemson before becoming an assistant at both Harvard and VCU. He got his first head-coaching job in 2013 at Chattanooga, and over the next decade plus, would return to VCU, spend time at LSU, having moderate success, and had an extremely successful 50-9 two-year stint at McNeese State before taking the job at N.C. State.
As with any coaching change comes a myriad of question marks. However, with Wade, the coach comes with as many questions as the roster. Yes, Wade has been a very successful coach in his career, amassing a 246-105 record and six trips to the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, while at LSU, Wade was caught on tape offering money to potential recruits and was immediately suspended by the school. Wade would then renegotiate his contract to have the suspension lifted a month later. As a result, he could be terminated if the school were ever issued a formal notice of allegations. On March 12, 2022, that is exactly what happened, and Wade was relieved of his duties. He became the head coach at McNeese State exactly a year later and, in June 2023, was suspended 10 games and given a two-year show-cause penalty for what took place at LSU.
The roster Wade inherited in Raleigh was nearly nonexistent. A total of 12 players left the program either by transfer or graduation. For coaches in years past, that could be considered a death knell for their first year with a new program. However, in the age of the portal and NIL, a lot of coaches now see it as a bit of a blessing, allowing them to build a roster from start to finish and do so quickly. That’s exactly what Wade did, bringing in 13 new players, including nine transfers.
Projected Starters
Guard-Tre Holloman (Senior)
Tre Holloman should be the starting point guard for the Wolfpack. After spending his previous seasons in East Lansing with the Michigan State Spartans, Holloman will now have the keys to drive his own car as a starter for the Wolfpack. He averaged 3.7 assists last season, which is the second most of any player brought in by Wade this summer, but his high-major pedigree should earn him the starting nod.
Forward-Terrance Arceneaux (Junior)
Another former reserve brought in by Wade who should now earn starting minutes is Terrance Arceneaux, who has been on the sport’s brightest stage with Houston before joining the Wolfpack. Arceneaux missed some time at Houston with an Achilles tear but has shown flashes of a strong offensive game as a reserve for the Cougars. That game could blossom in an expanded role for the uber athlete under Wade.
Forward-Darrion Williams (Senior)
One thing you’ll notice about the three biggest transfers brought in by Wade is that they all come from winning programs. Such is the case for Darrion Williams, who was the poster child for versatility at Texas Tech last season. The 6’6 forward averaged 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for the Red Raiders last season. Williams is a guy who always seems to know what his team needs on the offensive end of the floor, and he’s able to deliver, whether it be a bucket inside, a dish to find an open teammate, or an offensive board and a put-back.
Forward-Ven-Allen Lubin (Senior)
Ven-Allen Lubin moves just down the road from Chapel Hill to Raleigh, leaving the Tar Heels for the Wolfpack. Lubin was good in small stretches for North Carolina, averaging nearly nine points and 5.5 rebounds in 20 minutes last season. Questions remain about his defensive abilities and what he can contribute offensively with more consistent minutes on a roster with more offensive options.
Guard-Quadir Copeland (Senior)
The final starting spot will likely come down to two names that Wade knows well, Quadir Copeland and Alyn Breed. Both shooting guards followed Wade from McNeese State, but Breed played in just two games due to an injury. Copeland likely gets the last starting spot as a 6’6 forward with the ability to pass the ball to others who will be more relied upon scorers.
Key Reserves
Guard-Alyn Breed (Senior)
Breed will certainly be a key contributor off the bench for the Wolfpack. Breed is a guy who can back up Holloman, as well as being a scorer off the bench as a shooting guard. It’s clear Breed can score, as evidenced by the small sample size last season, netting 17.5 points in those two games.
Guard-Paul McNeil (Sophomore)
Paul McNeil is the lone returning player for N.C. State and the sophomore could benefit greatly from both an increased role and the strength of this roster in the frontcourt. McNeil is a 6’5 shooter who should see more space to get that shot off with guys like Williams and Copeland posing threats closer to the rim.
Center-Scottie Ebube (Senior)
Scottie Ebube is a 6’10 center who should see frontcourt minutes behind Lubin. Ebube was more of a defensive specialist at Wyoming, averaging five points and 2.7 boards in 10 minutes per game. Like Lubin, Ebube is an athletic 6’10 and could excel if he’s asked to crash the glass and be a deterrent on the defensive end.
Forward-Jerry Deng (Junior)
With players like Williams, Copeland, and Arceneaux, having players that can space the floor and give those guys room to work inside the arc is important. One of those spacers could be Jerry Deng, who comes to the Wolfpack from Florida State. The 6’9 forward can stretch the floor and have that athletic ability blossom with Wade. Deng could be an unpolished rock that Wade can shine up in a new role.
Guard-Matt Able (Freshman)
Another guy who could open up the floor as a shooter is also the lone first-year player likely to see rotational minutes. Matt Able is yet another 6’6 lengthy shooter; he was a top-30 recruit out of Florida. Able averaged over 20 points per game as a senior and shot 40% from behind the arc, and if he can get that shot to translate in his first year, Able and McNeil could prove to be a vital duo off the bench for Wade.
Schedule Outlook
The Will Wade era begins with four straight home tilts, beginning with North Carolina Central on opening night. After that, UAB, UNC-Greensboro, and VCU come to town before the team heads out to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. They open in Maui with Seton Hall, then will face either USC or Boise State. Their last game of the tournament will be against the other side of the field, consisting of Washington State, Chaminade, Arizona State, or Texas. Coming home with a Maui title would be a strong notch in their belt heading into the crux of their schedule.
The Wolfpack returns to the mainland to begin December in Auburn to face the Tigers in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The last part of their non-conference schedule is highlighted by a pair of home games on Dec. 10 and Dec. 13, when they play host to Conference USA favorite Liberty and the Kansas Jayhawks, before finishing up with a neutral-site game against Ole Miss.
They begin the new year with what could be a crucial resume game, with a home clash against Virginia. A home game against Georgia Tech is sandwiched between Boston College-Florida State and Clemson-Pittsburgh road trips. The last two months of the season could make or break the Wolfpack’s postseason hopes. Outside of trips to SMU on Feb. 3, Louisville on Feb. 9, and Virginia on Feb. 24, all of their key matchups are at home. They host Miami on Valentine’s Day, UNC on the 17th, before hosting Duke on March 2nd in the penultimate game of the regular season.
Season Outlook
There is plenty to be excited about in Raleigh this season. In this day and age, it is a lot easier for coaches to break ground and build a roster from nothing than it used to be. That’s what Wade has done with the nine transfers, building a roster that should be strong both inside and out, given its athleticism. There are always questions about getting so many new faces to gel, but building a roster through the portal allows teams to build an experienced roster, theoretically making the chemistry easier.
The biggest question mark on the roster has to be the interior defense, with guys like Lubin and Ebube. But one of the calling cards of Will Wade’s coached teams it’s that they can play defense. Going back to his time at VCU, Wade’s teams have finished in the top 100 in defensive efficiency in six of those nine seasons. Once Wade gets a defensive plan of attack, the Wolfpack’s ceiling goes even higher.
Looking at the roster, it’s not hard to envision a bounce-back season for N.C. State. They have the experience, the athleticism, both inside and out, and the scoring ability for a strong first season for Wade. Even in a stronger ACC, the Wolfpack should be in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament berth. This season will show us whether the new owner of the N.C. State property is capable of building another house on Tobacco Road.