NC State
Duke
#ACCTourney: Pack-Duke Set For Wednesday Afternoon
3/9/2016 10:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| NC State (16-16) vs. Duke (22-9) | ||
| Date | Wednesday, March 9 | |
| Time | 2:30 p.m. ET | |
| Location | Verizon Center – Washington, D.C. | |
| Tickets | StubHub | |
| Television | ESPN (Sean McDonough, Doris Burke, Allison Williams) | |
| Radio | Wolfpack Sports Network (Gary Hahn, Tony Haynes) | |
| Game Notes | NC State | Duke | |
| Season Statistics | NC State | Duke | |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast | |
| Social Media | @PackMensBball | Facebook | |
THE STARTING 5Â -Â The Top 5 Storylines For This Game
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1. 'MARCH' GOTTFRIEDÂ Â
Now is the time of year when, if history is any indication, Mark Gottfried will have the Wolfpack at its best. Under the fifth-year coach, the Wolfpack boasts a 21-11 record during the month of March. That total includes five NCAA Tournament victories and an 8-4 ACC Tournament record. Dating back to 2014, NC State has a 12-5 record in March contests.
2. CAT'S A FIRST-TEAMERÂ Â Â
After posting a season rarely seen in ACC history, Cat Barber was voted first team All-ACC by both the media and the conference's coaches. The 6-2 junior leads the ACC in scoring with 23.3 points per game (league-best 23.6 ppg in ACC play) and is on pace to become the second player in ACC history to average 23 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 4.0 apg (Kenny Anderson in 1990-91). Barber has a league-best eight games with 30 or more points, including six in ACC play. In NC State's last game against Wake Forest on Feb. 13, Barber exploded for a career-high 38 points. Additionally, he is also leading the conference in free throws made (232) and minutes per game (38.7) and is third in free throw percentage (.869) and seventh in assists (4.38).
3. IN THE ACC TOURNAMENTÂ Â
NC State, a charter member of the ACC, owns a 71-52 all-time record in the league tournament. Mark Gottfried is 8-4 in the ACC Tournament as head coach at NC State and owns a career record of 22-15 in conference tournament play (OVC, SEC, ACC). The Pack has won two tournament games in three of Gottfried's four seasons, and has won at least one ACC Tournament game every season. Duke has been the most common opponent for NC State in the Pack's ACC Tournament history, with Wednesday's game being the 26th tourney game between the two schools.
4. PACK-DUKE, EPISODE 244Â
Wednesday's contest at the Verizon Center will be the 244th meeting between the two long-time Tobacco Road rivals. The two schools, located 22 miles apart, played at least twice each season from 1925-26 until the 2005-06 season. A victory for NC State would not only put the Pack in the tournament quarterfinal, but it would be its 100th all-time win over Duke. There is a history in the D.C. area for State and Duke, as the Pack won 71-64 in overtime over the Blue Devils in the 1987 ACC Tournament final.Â
5. MEETING FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SEASON
NC State and Duke met twice this season, with Duke winning both contests. On Jan. 23 at PNC Arena, the Wolfpack led Duke 43-36 at halftime before the visiting team shot 70.8 percent in the second half to edge the Wolfpack 88-78. Five players were in double figures that day for the Pack - led by Cat Barber's 19 points. Two weeks after that, NC State visited Cameron Indoor Stadium and lost 88-80. The Pack trailed just 79-76 with 3:40 left in the game and actually led early in the second half. Barber scored 26 points and had six assists and Maverick Rowan chipped in 17 points.
