NC State’s season is hanging by a thread, and the criticism is piling up. Calling their season disappointing would be an understatement, for the Wolfpack sits at 9-14 overall and 2-10 in ACC play, with just eight games remaining in the regular season to turn things around. Head coach Kevin Keatts is feeling the heat with ongoing struggles and an offense that can’t find its rhythm. When you hit as low, expect some harsh truths from the analysts.
Projected to finish eighth in the 2024-25 ACC Preseason Poll, NC State has fallen well short of expectations, currently sitting at 17th in the conference and with an 8-game losing streak.
On the recent episode of Mark Titus Show, the host did not hold back in his assessment of NC State’s Final Four run, bluntly stating, “NC State sucks, they’re terrible… they weren’t even that good last year, they just got hot at the right time.”
His words echo the reality of last season—while the Wolfpack’s ACC title and Final Four appearance were remarkable, they masked a shaky 22-14 regular season. Led by experienced seniors like DJ Burns, DJ Horne, and Casey Morsell, the Wolfpack found its stride when it mattered most. It was the first time the program had made a Final Four appearance since 1983. But with those key players gone, their current struggles suggest that last season’s success may have been a mere fluke.
Jan 8, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts checks on a player during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Mark ‘s harsh assessment of NC State’s current state ties directly to the absence of DJ Burns, who was the heart of last year’s Final Four run.“NC state, DJ Burns is gone so you know like, whatever if you had fun watching that NC State run don’t tune into NC State this year, they’re 9-14, they’re just not good they’ve lost eight in a row, NC State’s irrelevant.”
As Kevin Keatts’ most dependable player, Burns averaged 12.9 points per game, providing a dominant presence in the paint and serving as the team’s offensive anchor. Without him, the Wolfpack has lacked a go-to score and struggled to generate consistent offense. With their season slipping away, the Wolfpack faces a pivotal matchup.
NC State seeks redemption at home
If NC State manages just two more wins, finishing the season with 11 victories, it would mark one of their worst regular seasons in decades. The Wolfpack haven’t won fewer than 11 games since 1992-93 when they went 8-19. They also finished with 11 wins in 2021-22 under Kevin Keatts, signaling a troubling pattern.
Desperate to break out of their slump, NC State will host Louisville on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Their latest setback—a crushing 74-73 loss to Stanford—extended their losing streak to eight games. Freshman guard Trey Parker has been a rare bright spot, scoring a season-high 19 points against Stanford and averaging 12.3 over his last four games.
Meanwhile, Louisville (18-6, 11-2 ACC) has been rolling, coming off an 88-78 win over Miami. Terrence Edwards Jr. led the way with 27 points and 10 assists, while Reyne Smith added 26 points, knocking down six threes.
This will be the first ACC matchup between these teams this season. NC State will look to finally get back in the win column at home, while Louisville hopes to keep its strong conference run alive.
With their season spiraling, NC State faces a crucial test against a red-hot Louisville squad. A win could provide a much-needed spark, but another loss would only deepen their struggles. The Wolfpack must rise to the occasion or risk cementing one of their worst seasons in program history.
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