As No. 2 Duke looks to remain undefeated in conference play against a tough N.C. State squad, the Blue Zone is here with an overview of the Wolfpack and three keys to take down the local rivals:
Overview
2023-24 record: 26-15, 9-11 in the ACC
2024-25 record: 9-10, 2-6 in the ACC
Head coach: Kevin Keatts
Series history: Duke leads 96-65
Last meeting: 76-64, N.C. State, March 31, 2024
After a remarkable run to the Final Four last year that saw the Wolfpack go from a losing conference record to ACC champions, it has been a tragic return to below-mediocrity for this year’s N.C. State group. Without breakout star DJ Burns Jr. on the roster, the Wolfpack have lost nearly all its ACC games and was largely unable to find footing against any quality non-conference opponents.
Despite its weak resume, N.C. State is still nothing to scoff at. The group from Raleigh has found a leader in senior guard Marcus Hill, who clawed his way up from community college to the Power 4 by way of Bowling Green. Hill averages 13.2 points per game and 2.1 assists, along with just under a steal. Hill’s partner and fellow senior Jayden Taylor has also proven himself in his second season with the Wolfpack, transferring from Butler and averaging 12.7 points and 1.4 steals per game.
The frontcourt has seemingly been mostly by committee, with forwards Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Ben Middlebrooks both putting up decent minutes. The 6-foot-10 duo has been solid, but not outstanding, down low. Against a tall Duke team, N.C. State could struggle to contain all the different scoring options.
3 keys
Trap game: N.C. State is, by all the numbers, not an outstanding team. That said, the Wolfpack has a history of being a punchy group. Think back to last year and that aforementioned run. Duke is easily the better squad, but the Blue Devils are young and on a roll. They need to ensure that they don’t get overconfident — or set their sights on Saturday’s North Carolina game — and forget about this one. Keeping cool and focused is imperative for Duke.
Attack the post: N.C. State does not boast a great paint player, and lacks anyone above the 6-foot-10 Middlebrooks and Huntley-Hatfield. Duke, on the other hand, has a lot of height. Led by the imposing 7-foot-2 Khaman Maluach and 6-foot-9 Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils can be a punishing team down low. If the squad from Durham can attack the rim and force those forwards to make big players, Duke can generate high-percentage looks from all over.
Kon in the kitchen: After an uninspiring zero-point outing from guard Kon Knueppel against Boston College, the freshman got back in the Wake Forest game. He put up 15 points on 3-for-7 shooting from three and tacked on three assists. As a taller small forward, Knueppel should have plenty of chances to generate more looks for himself against the Wolfpack. If he can score with volume, this should be an easy opportunity to pick up momentum heading into the game against the Tar Heels.
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Martin Heintzelman is a Trinity junior and Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.