Just three words have captivated an tournament.
“Why Not Us?”
NC State has already had an incredible run. In order to punch their ticket, the Wolfpack needed to win the ACC Tournament. Problem was, they were the 10-seed. No byes, five games, five days. That’s what stood in NC State’s way… and they came through.
The Pack upset Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina to claim the 2024 ACC Title and an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament. In the dance, NC State once again had one of the tougher roads. They upset Texas Tech, beat Oakland, then upset Marquette and Duke in the second weekend to punch their ticket to Phoenix.
Nine straight wins. What a run for the Pack.
DJ Bruns Jr. has been phenomenal. The senior forward is averaging 18.3 PPG in the tournament so far, providing that physical presence that a championship team needs.
DJ Horne returned to action in the second round of the ACC Tournament and has been vital to this run. Horne, in the past eight games, has averaged 17.1 PPG.
Now they go up against the Purdue Boilermakers, one of the best teams in the nation. They are led by Zach Edey, the two-time AP Player of the Year. It’s a tall task, but NC State has faced those before.
And each time, they have answered.