NC State To Host Penn State For The ACC / Big Ten Challenge

New NC State head coach Kevin Keatts who previously was the head coach at UNC Wilmington and who is in his first season in Raleigh  will be on the sidelines for his first ACC/ Big Ten Challenge as NC State will host Penn State Wednesday.

As for NC State who has a record of 5-2 they lost their last game  to Tennessee on Friday.

NC State fell to Tennessee, 67-58, in the third-place game of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday. Allerik Freeman led the Pack in scoring for the fourth time this season with 14 points. Also reaching double figures in scoring for NC State in the game was Lennard Freeman (11), Braxton Beverly (10) and Omer Yurtseven (10).
- Omer Yurtseven had a productive Battle 4 Atlantis tournament averaging 12.7 points on 59.2 percent shooting and 9.3 rebounds in three games in the Bahamas. The sophomore recorded his second career double-double, scoring a career-high 17 points and pulling down a season-best 13 rebounds against UNI. Ten of Yurtseven's 13 rebounds came on the offensive end against the Panthers. The 10 offensive rebounds tie for the second-most in a single-game in program history. It's only the second time since the 1984-85 season that an NC State player has had double-digit offensive rebounds in a game.
- The Pack has made a major turnaround in two categories in the early tenure of Kevin Keatts. After finishing 13th in turnover margin and steals in the ACC last season, NC State currently leads the ACC this season in turnover margin (+6.43) and ranks second in steals (9.3 per game). "according to NC State fell to Tennessee, 67-58, in the third-place game of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday. Allerik Freeman led the Pack in scoring for the fourth time this season with 14 points. Also reaching double figures in scoring for NC State in the game was Lennard Freeman (11), Braxton Beverly (10) and Omer Yurtseven (10).
- Omer Yurtseven had a productive Battle 4 Atlantis tournament averaging 12.7 points on 59.2 percent shooting and 9.3 rebounds in three games in the Bahamas. The sophomore recorded his second career double-double, scoring a career-high 17 points and pulling down a season-best 13 rebounds against UNI. Ten of Yurtseven's 13 rebounds came on the offensive end against the Panthers. The 10 offensive rebounds tie for the second-most in a single-game in program history. It's only the second time since the 1984-85 season that an NC State player has had double-digit offensive rebounds in a game.
- The Pack has made a major turnaround in two categories in the early tenure of Kevin Keatts. After finishing 13th in turnover margin and steals in the ACC last season, NC State currently leads the ACC this season in turnover margin (+6.43) and ranks second in steals (9.3 per game). "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
NC State-Penn State Series
-  Wednesday's meeting marks the 20th meeting all-time between the two programs.
-  The Pack leads the all-time series 16-3 and has won the last two meetings. NC State has a 13-1 advantage over the Nittany Lions in games played in Raleigh.
-  NC State won the last game between the two teams, 72-55, in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
-  The Pack has an all-time record of 113-102 against teams from the Big Ten. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Wednesday Storylines
- Its strength vs. strength Wednesday at PNC Arena for NC State and Penn State. Both the Pack and Nittany Lions rank among the nation's best in turnovers forced, turnover margin and steals this season. Penn State ranks 19th in the country in turnovers forced per game (18.8), while NC State ranks 24th (18.4). The Nittany Lions rank fifth in the country in steals per game (11.0), while the Pack ranks 24th (9.3). NC State has one of the top turnover margins in the country this season (+45), but Penn State also ranks high in that department (+36).
- The Pack has an opportunity Wednesday night to end Penn State's three-game win streak in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The Nittany Lions' three-game win streak is the best current win streak of any Big Ten team in the Challenge. Overall, Penn State is 8-8 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. NC State is 6-11 all-time in the Challenge, but does have a 5-3 record when playing Big Ten-ACC Challenge games in PNC Arena. Wednesday's meeting is just the second in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge between the two schools. NC State defeated Penn State, 84-76, in the 2000 Challenge, which clinched that year's challenge for the ACC. The ACC leads the series with the Big Ten, 11-5-2. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Constant Defensive Pressure leading to Opponent Turnovers
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts came to Raleigh promising that his program would pressure the opponents full court and create turnovers. Through seven games his inaugural Wolfpack team is living up to his promise.
- The Pack has forced four of its seven opponents this season into 20+-turnovers. The last NC State team to force opponents into 20 or more turnovers four times in a season was the 2009-10 team. The last seven NC State teams (2010-11 team through 2016-17 team) only twice forced opponents into 20 turnovers (2010-11 team forced East Carolina into 20 turnovers on 11/18/10 and 2016-17 team forced Virginia Tech into 20 turnovers on 1/4/17). In Keatts first four games at NC State, his teams forced opponents into 21 (VMI), 24 (Charleston Southern), 27 (Bryant) and 22 (Presbyterian) turnovers.
- The 27 turnovers NC State forced Bryant into on Nov. 14 are the most turnovers the Pack has forced an opponent to commit since Mount St. Mary's had 27 on Nov. 22, 2002.
- In the first four games this season, the Pack forced its opponents into more turnovers than made field goals. For the season, NC State opponents have turned the ball over 129 times, while connecting on 160 field goals.
- In seven games, the Pack has forced 129 turnovers. The 18.4 turnovers forced per game ranks 24th in NCAA Dl and are the second-most forced turnovers by a team from the ACC. (Florida State - 18.8 forced per game)
- NC State recorded 14 steals in Tuesday's win over Bryant. It's the most steals in a game for NC State since the Pack had 16 steals in a win over Boston College on Jan. 19, 2012. It was a 192-game span between 14+-steal games for the Pack. NC State has 56 steals in five games this season, a mark that leads the ACC and ranks 24 overall in NCAA DI. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Winning the Turnover Battle
Not only have the Pack been forcing turnovers, but they have been protecting the basketball, too. NC State has had 10 or fewer turnovers in four of its seven games this season.
- The Pack is +45 in turnover margin. Pack has forced 129 turnovers and only turned it over themselves 84 times. +45 turnover margin is the seventh best TO margin in NCAA Dl this season.
- Major turnaround from last year's team. Last season, NC State finished the season -67 in turnover margin, including -14 mark in non-conference games. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Healthy Freeman Becoming an Offensive Force
NC State senior Lennard Freeman had offseason leg surgery prior to the 2015-16 season and after playing through pain that season, elected to have offseason leg surgery again prior to the 2016-17 season and sat out the year to recover.  Now fully healthy, Freeman has started his senior season with an offensive outburst.
- A career 3.6 points per game average coming into the season, Freeman has reset his career-high three times this season and is averaging 12.6 points per game through seven games. He opened the year with 15 points against VMI, had 20 against Bryant and then had 23 in the Pack's win against Presbyterian. 
- Freeman is shooting a team-best 74.4 percent from the field this season. Freeman would lead the ACC in field goal percentage, but falls just short of the minimum number of field goal makes to rank among ACC leaders. To be listed you have to average 5 made field goals per game, Freeman has made 32 field goals in 7 games (4.6 field goals per game).
- The senior is connecting on a team-best 82.8 percent of his foul shots (24-of-29). The Washington D.C. native, entered this season a career 47.9 percent free throw shooter.
- In 103 career games coming into this season, Freeman had only scored in double figures six times, he's scored in double figures in 4 of 7 games this season. 
- The game against Presbyterian on November 16 was the 107th career game in an NC State uniform for Freeman. It was the first time in those 107 games that Freeman led NC State in scoring.
- Freeman, who entered this season as a player best known for doing the gritty things that don't show up in the box score, has also set career-highs with three steals and three blocks this season, both set against Presbyterian. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Noting NC State's Returning and Lost
- Senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu is NC State's leading returning scorer (11.8 ppg.) and rebounder (7.0 rpg.). The Boston, Mass., native has led NC State in rebounding the last two seasons and is aiming to be the first NC State player to lead the Pack in rebounding in three consecutive seasons since Todd Fuller did it from 1993-96. Abu suffered a Grade 2 MCL Sprain in October and has not played this season.
- Torin Dorn (18 starts) and Omer Yurtseven (14 starts) also return for the Pack. Dorn averaged 9.5 points & 4.6 rebounds per game last season, while Yurtseven added 5.9 points & 4.4 rebounds per game.
-  NC State must replace its top three scorers from last season in Dennis Smith, Jr. (18.1), Terry Henderson (13.8) and Maverick Rowan (12.0). The Pack also lost the school's all-time shot block leader in BeeJay Anya (243 career blocks). Smith, Jr., was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, the first Pack player to accomplish this feat since Hawkeye Whitney in 1977. Smith was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth pick of the NBA Draft. Henderson, after having his appeal denied to return to NC State, went through training camp with the Charlotte Hornets and is now on the Greensboro Swarm roster in the NBA G-League. Rowan was the third overall selection of the NBA G-League draft by the Lakeland Magic.
-  NC State joins Florida State and Pittsburgh as the only ACC teams to lose its top three scorers from last season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 

NC State-Penn State Series
-  Wednesday's meeting marks the 20th meeting all-time between the two programs.
-  The Pack leads the all-time series 16-3 and has won the last two meetings. NC State has a 13-1 advantage over the Nittany Lions in games played in Raleigh.
-  NC State won the last game between the two teams, 72-55, in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
-  The Pack has an all-time record of 113-102 against teams from the Big Ten. "according tohttp://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
Wednesday Storylines
- Its strength vs. strength Wednesday at PNC Arena for NC State and Penn State. Both the Pack and Nittany Lions rank among the nation's best in turnovers forced, turnover margin and steals this season. Penn State ranks 19th in the country in turnovers forced per game (18.8), while NC State ranks 24th (18.4). The Nittany Lions rank fifth in the country in steals per game (11.0), while the Pack ranks 24th (9.3). NC State has one of the top turnover margins in the country this season (+45), but Penn State also ranks high in that department (+36).
- The Pack has an opportunity Wednesday night to end Penn State's three-game win streak in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The Nittany Lions' three-game win streak is the best current win streak of any Big Ten team in the Challenge. Overall, Penn State is 8-8 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. NC State is 6-11 all-time in the Challenge, but does have a 5-3 record when playing Big Ten-ACC Challenge games in PNC Arena. Wednesday's meeting is just the second in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge between the two schools. NC State defeated Penn State, 84-76, in the 2000 Challenge, which clinched that year's challenge for the ACC. The ACC leads the series with the Big Ten, 11-5-2. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Constant Defensive Pressure leading to Opponent Turnovers
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts came to Raleigh promising that his program would pressure the opponents full court and create turnovers. Through seven games his inaugural Wolfpack team is living up to his promise.
- The Pack has forced four of its seven opponents this season into 20+-turnovers. The last NC State team to force opponents into 20 or more turnovers four times in a season was the 2009-10 team. The last seven NC State teams (2010-11 team through 2016-17 team) only twice forced opponents into 20 turnovers (2010-11 team forced East Carolina into 20 turnovers on 11/18/10 and 2016-17 team forced Virginia Tech into 20 turnovers on 1/4/17). In Keatts first four games at NC State, his teams forced opponents into 21 (VMI), 24 (Charleston Southern), 27 (Bryant) and 22 (Presbyterian) turnovers.
- The 27 turnovers NC State forced Bryant into on Nov. 14 are the most turnovers the Pack has forced an opponent to commit since Mount St. Mary's had 27 on Nov. 22, 2002.
- In the first four games this season, the Pack forced its opponents into more turnovers than made field goals. For the season, NC State opponents have turned the ball over 129 times, while connecting on 160 field goals.
- In seven games, the Pack has forced 129 turnovers. The 18.4 turnovers forced per game ranks 24th in NCAA Dl and are the second-most forced turnovers by a team from the ACC. (Florida State - 18.8 forced per game)
- NC State recorded 14 steals in Tuesday's win over Bryant. It's the most steals in a game for NC State since the Pack had 16 steals in a win over Boston College on Jan. 19, 2012. It was a 192-game span between 14+-steal games for the Pack. NC State has 56 steals in five games this season, a mark that leads the ACC and ranks 24 overall in NCAA DI. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Winning the Turnover Battle
Not only have the Pack been forcing turnovers, but they have been protecting the basketball, too. NC State has had 10 or fewer turnovers in four of its seven games this season.
- The Pack is +45 in turnover margin. Pack has forced 129 turnovers and only turned it over themselves 84 times. +45 turnover margin is the seventh best TO margin in NCAA Dl this season.
- Major turnaround from last year's team. Last season, NC State finished the season -67 in turnover margin, including -14 mark in non-conference games. 
 
Healthy Freeman Becoming an Offensive Force
NC State senior Lennard Freeman had offseason leg surgery prior to the 2015-16 season and after playing through pain that season, elected to have offseason leg surgery again prior to the 2016-17 season and sat out the year to recover.  Now fully healthy, Freeman has started his senior season with an offensive outburst.
- A career 3.6 points per game average coming into the season, Freeman has reset his career-high three times this season and is averaging 12.6 points per game through seven games. He opened the year with 15 points against VMI, had 20 against Bryant and then had 23 in the Pack's win against Presbyterian. 
- Freeman is shooting a team-best 74.4 percent from the field this season. Freeman would lead the ACC in field goal percentage, but falls just short of the minimum number of field goal makes to rank among ACC leaders. To be listed you have to average 5 made field goals per game, Freeman has made 32 field goals in 7 games (4.6 field goals per game).
- The senior is connecting on a team-best 82.8 percent of his foul shots (24-of-29). The Washington D.C. native, entered this season a career 47.9 percent free throw shooter.
- In 103 career games coming into this season, Freeman had only scored in double figures six times, he's scored in double figures in 4 of 7 games this season. 
- The game against Presbyterian on November 16 was the 107th career game in an NC State uniform for Freeman. It was the first time in those 107 games that Freeman led NC State in scoring.
- Freeman, who entered this season as a player best known for doing the gritty things that don't show up in the box score, has also set career-highs with three steals and three blocks this season, both set against Presbyterian. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx
 
Noting NC State's Returning and Lost
- Senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu is NC State's leading returning scorer (11.8 ppg.) and rebounder (7.0 rpg.). The Boston, Mass., native has led NC State in rebounding the last two seasons and is aiming to be the first NC State player to lead the Pack in rebounding in three consecutive seasons since Todd Fuller did it from 1993-96. Abu suffered a Grade 2 MCL Sprain in October and has not played this season.
- Torin Dorn (18 starts) and Omer Yurtseven (14 starts) also return for the Pack. Dorn averaged 9.5 points & 4.6 rebounds per game last season, while Yurtseven added 5.9 points & 4.4 rebounds per game.
-  NC State must replace its top three scorers from last season in Dennis Smith, Jr. (18.1), Terry Henderson (13.8) and Maverick Rowan (12.0). The Pack also lost the school's all-time shot block leader in BeeJay Anya (243 career blocks). Smith, Jr., was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, the first Pack player to accomplish this feat since Hawkeye Whitney in 1977. Smith was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth pick of the NBA Draft. Henderson, after having his appeal denied to return to NC State, went through training camp with the Charlotte Hornets and is now on the Greensboro Swarm roster in the NBA G-League. Rowan was the third overall selection of the NBA G-League draft by the Lakeland Magic.
-  NC State joins Florida State and Pittsburgh as the only ACC teams to lose its top three scorers from last season. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/11/28/mens-basketball-pack-returns-to-pnc-arena-to-host-penn-state.aspx

As for Penn State who has a record of 6-1 they won their last game against Oral Roberts.

-- Finishing out the November home schedule at the Bryce Jordan Center with a perfect 5-0 mark, the Penn State men’s basketball team topped Oral Roberts 86-48. Four Nittany Lions scored in double figures with guards Nazeer Bostick and Jamari Wheeler having career-best days with 14 points each. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

Penn State came out of the gate quickly by making six of its first seven attempts while holding the Golden Eagles to just 1-6 shooting in the game’s first five minutes. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

“I was looking forward to see my team compete today after (Texas) A&M and a tough practice yesterday, I wanted to see how we responded,” said Penn State coach Patrick Chambers. “I think they did a really good job, leadership was there, discipline was there. I’m really proud of our team to come out and compete like they did.” "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

The Nittany Lions had their three highest field goal percentages of the season this week including the 56.1 percent against Oral Roberts, bolstered by a 66.7 percentage (19-27) in the second half. Defensively, Penn State held the Golden Eagles to 33.3 percent shooting for the game and only 25.9 percent (7-27) in the first half. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

The defensive efforts translated into only 19 first-half points for Oral Roberts, the lowest total allowed by Penn State in any half this season. Penn State came out of halftime on a 17-5 run and shot 66.7 percent in the second period, the best of any half this season, which allowed for substitutions for the Nittany Lions."according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

Highlights of the second half included three-straight steals by Wheeler, leading to two of his own layups, and a dunk by redshirt sophomore forward Mike Watkins. On the afternoon, Penn State tied a season-low with only 10 turnovers and swiped 14 steals, a total tied for second highest this year. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

Wheeler set five career-high numbers and tied another with 14 points, a game-best seven rebounds, five steals and six field goals made, and tied his career-best with four assists. Bostick tied his career best with field goals made and, Tony Carr, who finished with 13 points, set a career best with three treys. Josh Reaves, who totaled 10 points, added to his stat line with four steals, three assists and a blocked shot. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

Penn State dominated in other team categories, scoring 44 of its 86 points in the paint to Oral Roberts’ 20 and nearly doubling in point contributions from the bench (41-21). The Nittany Lions were also able to take advantage of the Golden Eagles mistakes, converting the 18 turnovers into 29 points. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

With 86 points in today’s game and 87, and 85, respectively, against Texas A&M and Pittsburgh, the Nittany Lions posted consecutive 80-plus-point games for the first time this season and the first time since the opening three games of 2016-17. "according to http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112417aaa.html

Tip-off is set for 7:15pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ESPNU. "according tohttp://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball