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Duke Basketball: NC State trying to regain its footing after hot start

By Kevin Connelly

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: Wyatt Walker #33, Devon Daniels #24 and Braxton Beverly #10 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack react in the first half of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at PNC Arena on January 29, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 29: Wyatt Walker #33, Devon Daniels #24 and Braxton Beverly #10 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack react in the first half of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at PNC Arena on January 29, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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The North Carolina State Wolfpack will be trying to steady itself, traveling to Durham to face the Duke Basketball team.

After starting the season 13-1 with wins its signature win at home over then No. 7 Auburn, the North Carolina State Wolfpack have struggled since, posting a 5-6 record since the second ACC game this season.

After a win over Miami to start conference play, the Wolfpack alternated wins and losses for the next six games before dropping three straight games.

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Losses at home to North Carolina and on the road against Wake Forest and Louisville, didn’t sit well with NC State, but the Wolfpack were able to find a way to beat Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, and Clemson.

After the win against Clemson, North Carolina State dropped an overtime heat-breaker to Virginia, 66-65, but followed that up with the embarrassing and humiliating 47-24 loss at home to Virginia Tech.

The three game losing streak continued with a loss on the road against North Carolina where the Wolfpack gave up 113 points.

Since then, North Carolina State has beaten Pittsburgh and Syracuse but will have to hit the road again on Saturday to face the Duke Blue Devils.

NC State relies on four key players who all average double figures.

The leader of the group is Torin Dorn, who is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, by averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

C.J. Bryce is a threat from 3-point range, shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc, while averaging 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Markell Johnson is the team’s leading assist game with 4.0 assists per game but also contributes 10.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.4% from 3-point range.

The Blue Devils also cannot forget about Braxton Beverly, who averages 10.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

The Duke Blue Devils will host the NC State Wolfpack at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday evening and the game can be seen on ESPN.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the North Carolina State Wolfpack. 

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