CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NC State men’s basketball team (19-12, 10-8 ACC) is set to kick off its 2026 ACC Tournament campaign against the 15th-seed Pittsburgh Panthers (13-19, 5-13 ACC) on Wednesday. The matchup will accept place at the Spectrum Center, with tipoff scheduled for noon, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans can similarly tune in to the Wolfpack Sports Network where Matt Chazanow and Chucky Brown will provide commentary.
Entering this tournament, NC State is looking to rebound from a narrow loss to Stanford, where they fell 85-84 in their final regular-season game. Despite the setback, the Wolfpack has had strong individual performances throughout the season, notably from Ven-Allen Lubin, who led the team with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the loss against Stanford. Lubin has been a standout player, boasting a shooting percentage of 68.4%, which currently ranks third in the NCAA and is the second-best single-season shooting percentage in ACC history, trailing only UNC’s Brendan Haywood.
Key Players and Stats
Quadir Copeland has also made headlines this season, earning a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. He has shown significant improvement, averaging a career-best 13.7 points, 6.6 assists, and 49.6% shooting from the field. Copeland leads the ACC in assists, and his 205 total assists are the most by an NC State player in a single season since Chris Corchiani in 1990-91. He joins an elite group of ACC players to achieve over 200 assists and 400 points in a single regular season.
As a team, NC State has excelled at three-point shooting, making double-digit threes in 13 of 31 games this season, including two games with 19 three-pointers. They currently rank third in the ACC and 27th nationally, averaging 10.3 three-pointers per game, and they lead the ACC in three-point percentage at 38.0%. This season, NC State has made a record-breaking 318 three-pointers, the most in a single season for the program.
Recent Form and Matchup Insights
Despite their impressive statistics, NC State has struggled in recent games, specifically from beyond the arc, where they have shot just 28.4% in their last four outings. The team is 14-3 when shooting over 35% from three-point range, highlighting the importance of their long-range game in achieving success.
Historically, NC State has performed well against Pittsburgh, leading the all-time series 23-6, and they are 2-0 in ACC Tournament matchups against the Panthers. Their most recent contest took place on January 24, where NC State triumphed over Pittsburgh with an 81-72 score, aided by a 15-2 run in the second half.
What’s at Stake?
With the Wolfpack looking to regain momentum in the tournament, the matchup against Pittsburgh presents a critical opportunity. NC State’s ability to control the boards will be crucial; they are undefeated when out-rebounding opponents this season. Conversely, they have struggled when being out-rebounded, having lost nine consecutive games in that regard, emphasizing the require to improve in this area as they proceed in the tournament.
As the ACC Tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on NC State to notice if they can leverage their scoring depth and shooting proficiency to advance further. The team’s top four scorers are closely matched in points, with Lubin, Copeland, Darrion Williams, and Paul McNeil Jr. Each averaging over 13 points per game, which could play a pivotal role in their tournament success.
As fans prepare for this exciting matchup, the atmosphere at the Spectrum Center is sure to be electric. The outcome of this game could significantly impact NC State’s trajectory in the postseason. Both teams are eager to make a statement, and with the stakes high, the Wolfpack will aim to capitalize on their strengths and secure a victory against the Panthers.
For updates and live coverage, fans are encouraged to follow the game on ESPN2 and the Wolfpack Sports Network.
