For the first time since 2006, the North Carolina State Wolfpack are back in the NCAA Tournament! The Pack failed to make all six NCAA Tournaments under their previous coach Sidney Lowe. However, this year the hiring of Coach Mark Gottfried has brought a buzz for college basketball back to Raleigh. Going into last weekend's ACC Tournament, State was on the bubble between making or not making it into the "Big Dance". It would have taken a valiant effort from the Wolfpack to persuade the selection committee to give them a seed in the Tournament.
On Thursday, the Pack played their first round game against the Boston College Eagles. NC State rode on the backs of Scott Wood (22 points) and CJ Leslie (11 points, 11 rebounds) to a 78-57 win to advance to play against the nationally ranked #17 Virginia Cavaliers in the second round. Once again it was Leslie coming up big with 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Pack to a 67-64 win. On Saturday, the Wolfpack advanced to face their arch rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels. According to ESPN College Basketball analyst Jay Bilas, the Wolfpack would be safely in the NCAA Tournament as long as they played a tough, competitive game against the nationally ranked #4 power house. State didn't disappoint. CJ Leslie led the team with 22 points. Lorenzo Brown carried the pack into overtime after Leslie fouled out about midway through the second half. Though the officiating of this game was arguably the worst I've ever seen, the Wolfpack deserve a lot of credit for only losing by 2 points to arguably the best team in the nation.
As for the Pack in the NCAA Tournament, they make their first round appearance on Friday against San Diego State at 12:40 pm on truTV.
GO PACK GO!!!
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