WOLFPACK – Winning an NCAA Tournament game depends on a plethora of things. It’s getting used to playing against a new opponent. It’s often adapting to new officials.
It’s mostly about reacting to the pressure that increases with each round and throughout the game. The teams that are resilient and strong enough to overcome it should continue playing.
Go home, shake hands with the victorious squad, and go if you don’t. It’s that easy. N.C. State emerged victorious in the South Region’s second round at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, defeating Oakland 79-73 in overtime. It’s the harsh reality of a one-loss-and-done type of competition.
Having won two NCAA games after winning the ACC title, the Wolfpack (24–14), seeded eleventh, moves on to the Sweet 16 in Dallas on Friday.
These victories bolster the Pack’s five-game winning streak in the ACC Tournament. The Pack’s D.J. Burns said, “It’s just incredible.” It really is great to be able to accomplish what we are.
Basketball is all that it is to us. It is not considered a “magic carpet ride” by anyone in this locker room. ”March is dedicated to this. Just like us, several teams qualified for this round by winning their conferences, but it doesn’t make them inferior clubs. We simply continue to compete with one another.
The Pack’s largest basket of the game may have been Jayden Taylor’s corner 3-pointer late in overtime. With 31 seconds remaining in overtime, D.J. Horne, who had a very quiet game, made two free throws to give his team a seven-point advantage.
Burns then added two more to give the team a 79-70 edge. Burns, the big guy having again another fantastic performance, led the Pack with 24 points and 12 rebounds while arguing back and forth with some loud Oakland supporters.
“Things like that are fun,” Burns remarked. That is a component of the game. The fans will definitely make a move toward you. It must be enjoyable for you to do.
Trey Townsend of Oakland, a talented 6-6 big who led the 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies (23-12) in the second half, finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds. Burns’ performance neutralized Townsend’s effort. “Man, I knew they needed me,” Burns remarked.
Kevin Keatts, our coach, said to us in the pre-overtime huddle, “I need you to rebound, I need you to be aggressive.” “Don’t let up,” he commanded. I began repeating that to myself.
But everyone needed to pitch in on this particular night for the Wolfpack. In addition to Michael O’Connell’s 12 points and eight assists, Mohamed Diarra contributed another double-double for the Pack with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Against Townsend, a powerful, slick type with devious maneuvers, Diarra and Ben Middlebrooks were tasked with covering his offense alternately. They both failed to finish. As Keatts put it, “We really had no answer for him.” It was a tight and stressful last minute of regulation.
O’Connell drove to the hoop with 55.6 seconds remaining, the shot clock winding down, and made a spinning layup, drawing a foul. The Pack now lead 66-64 thanks to his 3-pointer. A game-changing play, according to Keatts.
With 41.5 seconds remaining, Jack Gohlke of the Golden Grizzlies tied the score at 66 with a pair of free throws. Burns missed an inside shot with eighteen seconds remaining after the Wolfpack called a timeout, and Oakland utilized the time to set up possession.
However, the Grizzlies turned the ball over, and as time ran out, Casey Morsell of the Pack made a long heave that struck the rim and backboard. An official review verified the call. Greg Kampe, the coach of Oakland, stated, “It’s just awful we didn’t get a shot.” That is my responsibility. This will be with me for the rest of my life.
In the second half, Oakland’s offensive was almost entirely focused on Townsend, the Horizon League player of the year, and he delivered. Kampe declared, “He’s a pro.” “He demonstrated it tonight.
