02-08-2025, 10:13 AM
Welcome back Michael O'Connell! MOC & his Wolfpack teammates come onto today's game riding a 7-game losing streak. I saw an article saying that they (&/or their fan base?) have 2 goals at this point in the season: 1) Get into the ACC tournament - 15 teams qualify and NC State is currently tied for 16th; and 2) Avoid the team record for losses - the 2021-2 team finished with a record of 11-21, 4-16 in the ACC. Just last season, they were in the Final 4. But 4 of 5 starters from the semi-final loss to Purdue are gone - including DJ Horne & the memorable DJ Burns. MOC started in that game and 3 current players were the only bench players to appear in the game - Jayden Taylor, Ben Middlebrooks, & Breon Pass. But the Final 4 is a distant memory.
The Wolfpack has a record of 9-13, 2-9 in the ACC, 0-8 away from home. They have played some really competitive games against several very good teams, but their best wins are over Florida State & Notre Dame. They have led in the 2nd half in 8 of their 9 ACC losses, but have had trouble finishing close games. Stanford is favored by 6-1/2. I have not heard any update on the status of Jaylen Blakes &/or Benny Gealer.
NC State has an undersized, but veteran starting line-up - 4 seniors and MOC (a grad student - not sure what he's studying since, unless I'm missing something, the NC State web site doesn't consider that to be worthy of including in a bio - he graduated from Stanford in 3 years with a degree in economics). Starters Wednesday at Cal were:
#10 Marcus Hill (6'4/185 Sr G) Played 2 years at JC & 1 at Bowling Green, where he was All-MAC 1st team. Averages 12.9ppg (on 48.3% shooting - 13th in the ACC) & 4.2rpg.
#8 Jordan Taylor (6'4/195 Sr G) Played 2 years at Butler. Averages 12.0ppg, 3.1 rpg.
#3 Dontrez Styles (6'6/210 Sr G/F) Played 2 years at UNC & 1 at Georgetown, where he was a starter. Averages 10.0ppg, 4.6rpg.
#34 Ben Middlebrooks (6'10/240 Sr F) Played 2 years at Clemson. Averages 8.1ppg, 4.1rpg.
#12 Michael O'Connell (6'2/195 Gr G) Played 3 years at Stanford, mostly as a starter. Averages 6.4ppg, 2.7rpg, and 3.32 assists per game - 13th in the ACC. His assist/turnover ratio is also 3.32 - 2nd in the ACC.
Other players in their rotation are: #5 Trey Parker (6'1/165 Fr G); #4 Breon Pass (6'0/175 Sr G) - unique in that he is in his 4th year at NC State; and #11 Dennis Parker Jr. (6'6/205 So G). Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6'10/240 Sr C), a part-time starter averaging 8.2ppg & 4.9rpg, did not make the trip to California due to an injury. In his absence, Ismael Diouf (#33, 6'9/215 Jr F) played 24 minutes (his season high) during the Cal game.
One of the few categories where NC State stands out is turnover margin, where they are 2nd in the ACC at +3.09. In their 9 wins, they have averaged 19.3ppg off turnovers, outscoring opponents by 102. In their losses, they average 10.9ppg off TOs, outscoring opponents by only 7.
Stanford needs to take advantage of this opportunity to end the 2-game skid. 20 wins and a winning ACC record are still possible, but much less likely without a win today. Next week they're on the road at Georgia Tech (a team that was struggling until wins over Louisville and at Clemson in their last 2 games) and Duke (nationally televised on ABC).
The Wolfpack has a record of 9-13, 2-9 in the ACC, 0-8 away from home. They have played some really competitive games against several very good teams, but their best wins are over Florida State & Notre Dame. They have led in the 2nd half in 8 of their 9 ACC losses, but have had trouble finishing close games. Stanford is favored by 6-1/2. I have not heard any update on the status of Jaylen Blakes &/or Benny Gealer.
NC State has an undersized, but veteran starting line-up - 4 seniors and MOC (a grad student - not sure what he's studying since, unless I'm missing something, the NC State web site doesn't consider that to be worthy of including in a bio - he graduated from Stanford in 3 years with a degree in economics). Starters Wednesday at Cal were:
#10 Marcus Hill (6'4/185 Sr G) Played 2 years at JC & 1 at Bowling Green, where he was All-MAC 1st team. Averages 12.9ppg (on 48.3% shooting - 13th in the ACC) & 4.2rpg.
#8 Jordan Taylor (6'4/195 Sr G) Played 2 years at Butler. Averages 12.0ppg, 3.1 rpg.
#3 Dontrez Styles (6'6/210 Sr G/F) Played 2 years at UNC & 1 at Georgetown, where he was a starter. Averages 10.0ppg, 4.6rpg.
#34 Ben Middlebrooks (6'10/240 Sr F) Played 2 years at Clemson. Averages 8.1ppg, 4.1rpg.
#12 Michael O'Connell (6'2/195 Gr G) Played 3 years at Stanford, mostly as a starter. Averages 6.4ppg, 2.7rpg, and 3.32 assists per game - 13th in the ACC. His assist/turnover ratio is also 3.32 - 2nd in the ACC.
Other players in their rotation are: #5 Trey Parker (6'1/165 Fr G); #4 Breon Pass (6'0/175 Sr G) - unique in that he is in his 4th year at NC State; and #11 Dennis Parker Jr. (6'6/205 So G). Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6'10/240 Sr C), a part-time starter averaging 8.2ppg & 4.9rpg, did not make the trip to California due to an injury. In his absence, Ismael Diouf (#33, 6'9/215 Jr F) played 24 minutes (his season high) during the Cal game.
One of the few categories where NC State stands out is turnover margin, where they are 2nd in the ACC at +3.09. In their 9 wins, they have averaged 19.3ppg off turnovers, outscoring opponents by 102. In their losses, they average 10.9ppg off TOs, outscoring opponents by only 7.
Stanford needs to take advantage of this opportunity to end the 2-game skid. 20 wins and a winning ACC record are still possible, but much less likely without a win today. Next week they're on the road at Georgia Tech (a team that was struggling until wins over Louisville and at Clemson in their last 2 games) and Duke (nationally televised on ABC).
