Will Wade Era Begins Monday as Pack Faces NC Central

Basio badr

ago 8 hours

The NC State men’s basketball team is set to inaugurate the Will Wade era on Monday night. The Wolfpack will face North Carolina Central in their season opener at the sold-out Lenovo Center. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be available for streaming on ACC Network Extra.

Will Wade Era Begins Monday as Pack Faces NC Central

Head coach Will Wade, who joined NC State on March 23, 2025, has a rich coaching history. He previously led McNeese to a remarkable 58-11 record and consecutive Southland Conference titles during his tenure there. Wade’s last victory with McNeese marked the school’s first NCAA Tournament win.

Wade brings over a decade of head coaching experience, having previously coached at Chattanooga, VCU, and LSU. His leadership has resulted in seven NCAA Tournament berths over his career, including five consecutive appearances in recent years.

Team Updates and Preseason Insights

NC State is now entering its 116th basketball season. The Pack completed their preseason with a thrilling 88-86 comeback victory against South Carolina. Despite trailing 79-68 with eight minutes left, they rallied to secure the win thanks to a last-second three-pointer by Paul McNeil, Jr.

Ven-Allen Lubin led the scoring during the game, contributing 18 points. Other key players, including Quadir Copeland, Tre Holloman, and Darrion Williams, each scored 16 points. Collectively, the team demonstrated impressive shooting accuracy, hitting 66.7% of their attempts from the field.

Roster Changes Heading into the Season

For the upcoming season, Wade has overhauled the roster significantly. Only one returning scholarship player, Paul McNeil, Jr., remains from last year’s 12-19 squad. Last season’s top eight scorers are not returning, marking a notable shift in the team’s structure.

This offseason, NC State added 13 scholarship players, including:

Nine transfers from other Division I institutions
Two international players who previously played professionally
Two freshmen who recently completed high school

Home Game Advantages

Historically, NC State has been strong in home openers, winning 30 of their last 31 against non-conference opponents. They have an outstanding 66-3 record since the 2016-17 season in regular season home games against non-conference teams.

On Monday, 13 players could make their official debuts for NC State. Last season, seven players debuted in the opening game.

Wade emphasizes a focus on free-throw shooting, as evidenced by NC State’s exhibition win, where they shot 30 free throws compared to South Carolina’s 15. This strategy aligns with Wade’s previous success; at McNeese, his teams frequently outperformed opponents at the foul line.

Historical Matchup with NC Central

NC State leads the all-time series with North Carolina Central 4-1. The teams have faced off five times since the 2007-08 season, always in Raleigh. Their last encounter was on November 20, 2013, where NC Central triumphed 82-72, despite NC State forcing overtime with a last-minute three-pointer.

The 2013 matchup was notable for its fouling intensity. The two teams combined for 57 fouls and set multiple records for free throws made and attempted in the Lenovo Center.

As the Wolfpack prepares for their season opener, the excitement surrounding the Will Wade era and the changes within the team promise a thrilling start to the season.