Sat Mar 08 17:50:00 UTC 2025: **NC State’s Reign Ends: Defending Champs Miss ACC Tournament**
RALEIGH, NC – In a stunning upset, NC State’s men’s basketball team has been eliminated from the ACC Tournament, marking the first time in conference history that the defending champion will not participate the following year. Despite a win against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Notre Dame’s victory over Stanford secured their place in the tournament, leaving the Wolfpack two games behind with only one game remaining in the regular season.
While NC State held a tiebreaker over Notre Dame due to an earlier win, their overall poor performance – winning only four games outside of the Notre Dame matchup – ultimately cost them. The team’s struggles included early road losses and disappointing home performances, as well as missed opportunities in games considered winnable.
The Wolfpack’s final game will be Saturday against Miami, a matchup between two teams unlikely to contend for the tournament. Both teams have struggled this season, having a combined 0-20 road record going into the final game. The unexpected outcome is partially attributed to the ACC’s expansion, with the addition of Stanford, Cal, and SMU resulting in a larger conference, but the same tournament size. These new teams also contributed to the Wolfpack’s downfall, defeating NC State in all four matchups this season.
The season’s conclusion leaves many questioning the consistency of coach Kevin Keatts’ program and highlighting the unacceptable performance from a defending champion. The team now looks to the off-season to address its shortcomings and improve for next year.
First Piper 