The 2024 season was a fever dream for anyone wearing red and white in Raleigh. Five games in five days to take the ACC. A Cinderella sprint to the Final Four. DJ Burns becoming a national folk hero while bullying defenders twice his size. It felt like the NC State men’s basketball program had finally shattered the "NC State Shit" curse once and for all.
But sports are brutal. Memory is short. By March 2025, less than a year after that confetti fell, Kevin Keatts was out. The high of Phoenix was replaced by a 12-19 thud, and just like that, the Wolfpack entered a new era.
Honestly, the hire that followed sent shockwaves through the conference. Will Wade—the high-energy, controversial, "winning-at-all-costs" architect of LSU’s previous success—stepped into the Lenovo Center. If you thought the Keatts era was a roller coaster, buckle up. We are currently in the middle of the 2025-2026 season, and the vibe around the program has shifted from "happy to be here" to a cold, calculated efficiency.
The Will Wade Effect and the 2025-2026 Turnaround
People expected a slow rebuild. They were wrong. As of mid-January 2026, NC State men’s basketball is sitting at 12-5 overall and 3-1 in the ACC. That is a massive jump from where this team was twelve months ago.
Wade didn't just recruit; he scavenged. He utilized the portal to build a roster that looks more like an SEC powerhouse than a traditional ACC finesse squad. The team is currently ranked 30th nationally in scoring, averaging 86.5 points per game. That’s a far cry from the stagnant offenses that plagued the tail end of the Keatts tenure.
The biggest misconception? That this is just a "transfer team" with no soul. If you watch them play, the defensive intensity is terrifying. They aren't just out-talenting people; they are out-working them. Wade’s "repressive" defensive style has NC State ranked in the top 80 for defensive efficiency, a metric that usually takes years to install.
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The New Faces Carrying the Torch
Let’s talk personnel, because the names on the jerseys have changed fast. You've got Darrion Williams, the Texas Tech transfer, who has become the undisputed alpha. He’s putting up 14.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, but it's his 3.3 assists that really grease the wheels of this offense. He’s a "connector" in every sense of the word.
Then there’s the youth. Paul McNeil Jr. is a local kid from Rockingham who stayed home, and thank goodness he did. As a sophomore, he’s leading the team with a 41.9% clip from three-point range. In the 113-69 blowout of Florida State on January 10, McNeil looked like the best shooter to wear a Wolfpack jersey in a decade.
2025-2026 Impact Players
- Quadir Copeland: A senior guard who is basically a Swiss Army knife. He’s averaging 13.5 points and leads the team with over 6 assists per game. His vision is what allows the fast break to actually work.
- Ven-Allen Lubin: The big man in the middle. After a stint at North Carolina (yes, that UNC), he crossed the rivalry line to join the Pack. He’s providing the rim protection and 12.7 points per game they desperately needed.
- Matt Able: The five-star freshman from Baltimore. He isn't a starter yet, but he’s already giving Wade 8.6 points off the bench and shows flashes of being a future NBA lottery pick.
Why the "Cardiac Pack" Label is Dead
For years, NC State fans lived for the drama. Every game was a nail-biter. Every win felt like an escape. But Will Wade is trying to kill that identity. He wants blowouts.
Look at the schedule. A 48-point win over NC Central. A 46-point win over UNCG. A 44-point demolition of Florida State on the road. These aren't just wins; they are statements. The Wolfpack is playing with a level of "disrespect" for their opponents that we haven't seen since the 80s.
Of course, it hasn't been perfect. The overtime loss to #19 Kansas (76-77) in December stung. It showed that while the Pack can run with the elite, they still have a tendency to get "hero-ball" happy when the shot clock winds down. Wade was seen fuming on the sidelines after that one, and the team responded by winning four of their next five.
The Recruiting War for 2026
The success on the court is bleeding into the recruiting trail. NC State is currently in a dogfight for Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star point guard from New York. Rivals has him ranked as the #2 point guard in the country for the 2026 class.
It’s basically a two-horse race between NC State and Duke. A few years ago, the idea of State beating Duke for a blue-chip guard from the Northeast would have been laughable. Now? It’s a coin flip. Wade’s reputation as a developer of pros is resonating with kids who want to get to the league fast.
What Actually Matters for the Rest of the Season
If you’re following NC State men’s basketball right now, the next few weeks are the "proving grounds." The schedule is a gauntlet:
- Georgia Tech (Home) - Jan 17
- Clemson (Away) - Jan 20
- Pitt (Away) - Jan 24
- Syracuse (Home) - Jan 27
Clemson is currently undefeated in conference play (5-0), and that January 20th matchup in Littlejohn Coliseum will likely decide who takes the early lead in the ACC standings. If the Wolfpack can steal that one on the road, the conversation moves from "are they improved?" to "are they a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament?"
Actionable Insights for the Wolfpack Faithful
To truly understand where this program is headed, keep your eyes on the turnover margin. Wade’s LSU teams were legendary for forced turnovers, and this current State squad is 32nd in the country in that category. When they force 15+ turnovers, they are almost unbeatable.
Also, watch the rotation. Wade is currently playing 10 guys double-digit minutes. That depth is a weapon in the ACC where fatigue sets in by February. If Jerry Deng or Terrance Arceneaux can find more consistency from the perimeter, the floor spacing becomes a nightmare for opposing coaches.
The "Cardiac Pack" might be a fun nostalgia trip, but Will Wade's version of NC State is something different: a disciplined, high-scoring machine that doesn't care about your feelings or your "miracle" runs. They just want to win.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the ACC standings specifically following the Jan 20th Clemson game; a win there cements State as a Top 15 team.
- Track Matt Able’s minute progression; if he hits 25+ minutes a game, his scoring output could push the team into the 90 PPG territory.
- Stay updated on Deron Rippey Jr.'s commitment timeline, as his decision will define the program's trajectory for the next three years.