NC State vs. Purdue (-9, 146.5) NCAA at Glendale, AZ.
Before we continue to make reference and comparisons between this season’s NC State and Jim Valvano’s iconic Wolfpack 1983 NCAA champs, there is an important distinction; aside from the ACC Tourney semifinal win over Virginia, and perhaps the second-round OT win in the Dance over Oakland, NC State hasn’t been riding lightning into the Final Four like Jim Valvano waving his magic wand in 1983.
Those of us who recall know that the Wolfpack had to survive harrowing ordeals in not only the ACC Tourney, but against Pepperdine, UNLV, and Virginia in the Dance before even making it to the Final Four. (Valvano’s fouling tactics were never seen before or since, not just fouling when behind in the late going, but doing it when scores were tied, and daring foes to make one or both of their nervy one-and-one FT attempts; two shots at the tenth foul wasn’t instituted until afterward, mostly because of Valvano’s tactics.)
In 2024, belying its usual underdog status, NC State actually has some rather comfortable wins over North Carolina (by 8), Texas Tech (by 13), Marquette (by 9), and Duke (twice, the latest win by 12 in the Elite 8) in this 9-game win streak into Phoenix, suggesting the unexpected ascent is a bit more than merely a string of good luck. Purdue, of course, is a different challenge because of 7-4 Zach Edey, who became a nice default option (that’s an understatement, considering his 40-point showcase) in the Elite 8 when the Riveters couldn’t buy a triple against Tennessee.
But while Edey was able to set up low against the Vols’ bigs, we suspect that the bruising 6-9, 275-lb. D.J. Burns can succeed in at least pushing the slighter (albeit taller) Edey a bit further away from the bucket. (It will be important for Burns to stay on the floor as much as possible; while capable, other frontliners Mohamed Diarra and Ben Middlebrooks are not going to be able to deal with Edey in the same manner.) Meanwhile, though he’s been good at avoiding fouls, Edey, when on the stop-end, might have to deal with the bruising Burns, who proved too much for the Blue Devils’ bigs to handle on Sunday.
Thus, some potentially tricky scenarios here for the Boilermakers, more so if their long-range shooting, which was hitting a nation’s best 41% into the Elite 8, again goes sideways. After outplaying Duke’s accomplished backcourt for the second time in two weeks, the likes of DJ Horne, Casey Morsell, Michael O’Connell and Jayden Taylor, with their ability to also harass the opposing perimeter the past two weeks, will certainly not blink at facing the Purdue guards.
The Boilermakers are not unbeatable, as Northwestern, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Wisconsin proved away from Mackey Arena. With seven straight outright wins as a ‘dog, it’s safe to say the Wolfpack won’t be intimidated. And… haven’t we seen this before from NC State at a Final Four?
NC State 72 – Purdue 69 PLAY NC STATE and UNDER