Maui Wrap Up: What Did the Wolfpack Learn?

Maui Invitational Results 1-2

NC State was favored by some to win the tournament, and they were favored in all three games.

The Maui Invitational didn’t turn out exactly the way we had hoped, but the team ended up playing three games against quality competition. Based on the Thanksgiving Day KenPom snapshot, Texas (KP 39) would rank 7th in the ACC right behind Wake, Boise St (KP 57) and Seton Hall (KP 61) would rank 12th & 13th, right behind FSU. Auburn (KP 24) would rank 4th, right behind UNC. What have we learned about the team, now that they have played three consecutive ACC level opponents.

Will Wade Knows His Team Has Not Played Close To It’s Potential Against Good Teams

• VCU postgame – “We were very fortunate to win”

• SHU postgame – “…Very disappointing – disjointed, didn’t play to our standards, didn’t play smart basketball, they got in the paint at will”

• BSU postgame – “…we played better, not as good as we need to be. Our defense was better, having Arceneaux in there covered over some mistakes. Got to be better than we were today, just a step in the right direction”

• Texas postgame – “…not good enough in any facet … extremely disappointing week”

Defense Is A Problem!

KenPom: Ranked 9th in offensive efficiency (3rd in ACC), ranked 93rd in defensive efficiency (16th in ACC)

The core principles of the Wade defense are switching 1-5 and double teaming the post. Like any defense, it has some weaknesses, inevitably mismatches are created by the switching and players are left uncovered by the double team. However, there are ways to mitigate those flaws, Coach Wade has been running this defense a long time and knows what is wrong. From the perspective of someone who is not an expert on defense, it appears the players are mostly executing the core principles but are missing the (apparently) very important fine tuning aspects that keep the defense from being exploited like we saw. Good coaches will do that to you. This is now on every scouting report our opponents will see.

This is who the Pack is today – the baseline against which they have to improve

Team

FG%

3PT %

3PT-M

O-REB

D-REB

T-REB

Assist

NC State

48%

41%

8.7

8

23.3

31.3

14.3

Opponent

47%

38%

11.3

9

26.3

35.3

14

Team

Steal

Blk

TO

PO-TO

Fst Brk Pts

Pts in Pnt

Fouls

NC State

7

3.3

9.7

14.3

11.3

32.7

24.3

Opponent

5.7

4.3

12

14.3

18

24.7

19.3

What did we learn?

The Good – Team:

1. The Wolfpack can shoot the 3PT well against quality defenses

2. Starting to see hints that the Pack can force steals – Holloman, Arceneaux, and Able averaged better than one per game. That was a characteristic of the McNeese team. Need to lean into this blossoming skill, but without fouling.

3. NC State played three teams with size in the front court and out scored all three in the paint.

4. The Pack won the turnover battle in the first two games; Texas topped them 7-6. Keeping the turnover average under 10 against quality competition is very good.

The Good – Players:

1. As promised, give Lubin 28 minutes a game, he’ll average a double-double (In Maui he averaged 33.7 mins, 16.7 pts, 10 rebs)

2. McNeil shot 37.5% from 3PT for the tournament, 4 players shot better (fewer attempts)

3. Four starters averaging double figures, with Holloman and Able right behind them at 8 ppg.

4. Copeland is an excellent passer, no matter the level of competition

5. Coach Wade said Alyn Breed was one of the bright spots from the tournament. His minutes will increase.

6. Terrance Arceneaux gave us a peek at his potential against BSU.

7. Matt Able keeps getting better. Two good games in Maui.

8. As hoped, Tre Holloman has rediscovered his sophomore season shooting touch. He was 4-5 (80%) from 3Pt for the tournament

The Bad – Team:

1. Maui was an opportunity for quality NCAAT resume wins, and they only got one. I’m sure they expected at least two. The Pack is going to have to beat one (or more) upper echelon team to make up for this poor performance.

2. The Wolfpack is giving up a lot of quality 3PT shots – and teams are shooting well against them, FG & 3PT.

3. Weak defensive rebounding is a Wade characteristic we are seeing again

4. The Pack’s guards cannot stop the fast break. Quick guards are running away from us. Points in the Paint are a big weakness.

5. Fouls – Seton Hall had more fouls, and the Pack got manhandled. Coach Wade got their attention and they dialed up the intensity for the next two games and had three players foul out each game. It appears the team is going to have to live with fouls, but there were too many lazy / bad decision fouls.

The Bad – Players:“

1. Darrion Williams was not the “dominant in the important games” player I expected him to be

2. Turnovers – Two of our primary ball handlers, Copeland and Williams, together are turning it over a combined 4 times a game. After a 5 TO game against VCU, Holloman has only turned it over 3 times in the last three games.

3. Ven Lubin is a point of vulnerability in the defense once he gets switched on to a guard. Not unexpected for a big man, but opponents will be looking for that.

4. Jerry Deng / Musa Sagnia are not yet ready to contribute at this level of competition. Together they averaged less than 10 mins per game.

The Good News?

1. Defense – It will improve. NC State has a very good coaching staff. The starters are four seniors, and McNeil. They are quality players and will figure this out. Copeland and Breed have experience in the defense. Expect to see improvement by Wednesday at Auburn and a much better defensive team by the time Kansas comes to Lenovo December 13th.

2. Rebounding – This should improve, just looking at Maui, Williams is 2.4 rpg below his career average, Arceneaux is just getting back and has averaged 1.1 rpg better for his career than what we are seeing so far, and Copeland has been a little better (+0.6). That’s enough to make up our Maui 4 rpg deficit, and does not include improvement by Breed, Able, Sagnia, and McNeil which will happen.

3. Offense – The Wolfpack averaged 84 ppg for the tournament. For comparison, last season Duke led the ACC at 83.2 ppg. Despite a weak shooting night against Seton Hall, the Pack shot 48% / 41% / 73.9% for the tournament. The Pack scored 97 points against the best team they have played.