NC State basketball dropped their third game in a row, falling to ACC newcomer Cal 65-62 on Saturday evening.
If Hollywood was looking to make a remake of the 1993 classic “Groundhog Day,” the story of the 2024-25 NC State basketball team might be a good candidate. For the fifth time in their last six games, it took the last possession to decide the outcome of the game.
The Wolfpack (9-9, 2-5) were led by Jayden Taylor with 18 points and Marcus Hill added 13, his 11th straight game scoring double figures. The Golden Bears (9-9, 2-5) recovered from their poor performace against UNC to have more of a balanced offense, led by Jovan Blacksher Jr. with 14 points.
Takeaway #1: Cal’s balanced attack gave the Wolfpack fits
California was coming off of an offensive performance where only two players were able to score in double digits. It looked like the Golden Bears needed to go back to the drawing board to get more players involved offensively.
Against the Wolfpack, Cal were able to get five players scoring 10 or more points. In fact, this is just the second time this season NC State allowed five or more players to score in double-digits.
In the first half, it was Jeremiah Wilkinson and Mady Sissoko who was getting the bulk of the offense. In the second half, however, DJ Campbell and Blacksher took the reigns of the offensive attack with each notching 9 points in the final 20 minutes.
JOVAN. BLACKSHER. 🤯💯
Moments after NC State had taken the lead in the second half on a Jayden Taylor and-1, @ytnunahead responded and delivered the lead back to Cal to secure the dub over the Wolfpack@CalMBBall | @CalAthletics | #GoBears | @cpisecurity pic.twitter.com/MM8UqU5OoO
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) January 19, 2025
Takeaway #2: NC State needs to win the mental battle
With having multiple games in a row where the game is determined by the final possession appears to be wearing down the Wolfpack. Coach Kevin Keatts noted that winning the mental battle seems to be an issue.
“If you miss a shot that’s okay, you know you got to get back and play some great defense and not let that affect you as you’ll go along throughout the game,” Keatts said.
Spin cycle so good we had to include the replay 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/pczxPVSMkS
— NC State Men’s Basketball (@PackMensBball) January 18, 2025
Despite Taylor’s 18 and Hill’s 13, only one other Wolfpack player notched double-digit scoring. Ben Middlebrooks did most of his offensive damage in the first half, where he scored nine of his 11 points.
The Wolfpack have a week to work on the mental toughness and offensive consistency, as they do not take the court again until next Saturday against SMU.
Takeaway #3: Three-point defense shows signs of life
Going into the match-up against NC State, Cal had allowed their last seven opponents to shoot over 30% from beyond the arc. For the season, only four opponents were held to under 30%.
In fact, this was the first time since November 2023 held their opponent to under 20% shooting from three. In that contest, Cal fell to Montana State by three points.
OH.
MY.
MADY.📺 » ACC Network#GoBears pic.twitter.com/825ZjfwDDQ
— Cal Basketball (@CalMBBall) January 19, 2025
This game helped to improve the team’s three-point defense but still ranks towards the bottom of all of Division 1 programs.
Cal’s next opponent, Florida State, currently ranks 12th in the ACC by shooting 33.1% from three-point range. The Seminoles have been held to under 30% shooting 5 times, but have been shooting over 25% in the past eight games.
Next up for NC State (9-9, 2-5): at SMU (14-4, 5-2) – Jan. 25 at 12 p.m. EST
Next up for California (9-9, 2-5): vs. Florida State (13-5, 4-3) – Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. EST