This is a big week for NC State basketball. They have 3 straight home games against Clemson, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. NC State needs to go 2-1 in this stretch to show that they are a Top 25 program. I believe that this is achievable. NC State is not the same team without Markell Johnson. They are sloppy offensively and seem to struggle to get into offensive sets, and tend to play hero ball. Braxton Beverly is a good guard, however he is not a point guard. Beverly does not have the slashing and shot creation that Johnson has and is struggling at the point. In this three game stretch they need to overcome this issue and begin playing more crisp if Johnson doesn’t come back this week.
Clemson is 11-7 overall record and 1-4 in the ACC. They are a lower level ACC basketball team this season, and big disappointment. NC State should win this game even without Markell Johnson. Clemson is allowing teams to shoot 37% from three and rank 149th in turnover percentage. This is a team that really is a good matchup for NC State, who likes to shoot threes and turn teams over. However, I felt this way about Wake Forest and we know how that game turned out.
Virginia, well, is Virginia and is a bad match up for NC State. Virginia is a slower paced team and is patient on the offensive end. They don’t turn the ball over and make teams defend for the entirety of the 30 second shot clock. NC State does not play good man to man defense. What NC State does, they press you and force you to turn the ball over and get in transition. Virginia doesn’t allow you to do that. It’s harder to speed a team up, then it is to slow a team down.
Finally, we come to the most interesting game of the three. NC State versus Virginia Tech. Now, if you have read my posts recently, you all know where I stand on Virginia Tech. That being said, this game is going to be very interesting. Virginia Tech is not the top 10 team that they reached this year. However, they aren’t a bottom feeder either. Virginia Tech is a very good team. They are a Top 15-20 team. They are very similar to NC State. The Hokies shoot 42% from three and they don’t turn the ball over. If Markell Johnson is back for this game, NC State wins. If Johnson is still out, I think the Hokies win this game.
As I look at the upcoming NC State basketball schedule, it is possible that NC State could win 12 conference games. But this 3 game stretch is important to that end and should let us know where this season goes.
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