5 Things We Learned From NC State’s Sweet 16 Victory

The Wolfpack may be this year’s Cinderella story

Entering the tournament as a No. 11 seed, few projected the Wolfpack to make a deep run, especially to the Elite Eight. However, each round, NC State continues to show that their record doesn’t define them. Playing against top competition and coming out victorious in all three rounds up to this point, NC State continues to defy the odds. As the lowest seed remaining in the tournament, the ACC champions look to continue their Cinderella story.

DJ Burns Jr. impacts the game in more ways than scoring

In the first two games, DJ Burns Jr. quickly became the story for NC State as his intensity and scoring helped lift the Wolfpack over their competition. However, in the win over Marquette, the big man took only four shots after making double-digit field goal attempts in the first two rounds. Despite his lack of scoring against Marquette, Burns Jr. served as the team’s playmaker on Friday. Finishing with a game-high seven assists, the senior is leaving his mark on the game in more ways than one.

Mohamed Diarra is a rebounding workhorse

Mohamed Diarra may not be a player many people have heard of, but since tournament play began, he has been one of the most essential pieces in NC State’s run. Diarra has been a rebounding monster. Through three games, the six-foot-ten forward is averaging 13.3 rebounds per game. If he can continue to crash the boards for the Wolfpack, his impact on the glass will continue contributing to his team’s winning ways.

NC State’s backcourt is underrated

NC State may not have the top-ranked prospects that other teams in the tournament have, but they have talented players who have constantly been overlooked. Their talented backcourt has been a large part of their success. With the likes of DJ Horne, Casey Morsell, and Michael O’Connell in the backcourt, these three versatile guards have gone toe-to-toe with some of the nation's best backcourts all year. From the ACC Championship to now the Elite Eight, the Wolfpack looks to carry their momentum into a big-time battle against Duke’s loaded backcourt.

The Wolfpack may be this year’s Cinderella story

Entering the tournament as a No. 11 seed, few projected the Wolfpack to make a deep run, especially to the Elite Eight. However, each round, NC State continues to show that their record doesn’t define them. Playing against top competition and coming out victorious in all three rounds up to this point, NC State continues to defy the odds. As the lowest seed remaining in the tournament, the ACC champions look to continue their Cinderella story.