Raleigh, NC (My Sportsbook) - The 21st-ranked NC State Wolfpack close out a brief two-game homestand to start the 2007-08 season, as they welcome the New Orleans Privateers to Raleigh for a non-conference showdown at the RBC Center.
The Wolfpack opened their much-anticipated season with a solid 66-47 win over William & Mary this past week. After posting 20 wins a year ago in Sydney Lowe's first season at the helm, the future is certainly bright for the Wolfpack. Following this game, NC State will head to Orlando to take part in the Old Spice Classic.
The Privateers also won their season-opener last week, outlasting Northwestern State, 72-66. It was a successful debut for new head coach Joe Pasternack.
This is just the second all-time meeting between these two teams. NC State won the only other matchup, a 92-58 lopsided affair in 2004.
The Privateers return four starters from a year ago, but none more important than All-Sun Belt performer Bo McCalebb. The veteran guard is the reigning SBC Player of the Year and ranks as the school's all-time leading scorer. McCalebb put up 16 points in the season-opening win at Northwestern State, but struggled a bit with his shot, hitting 6-of-17 from the floor. McCalebb gave way to talented forward Kyndall Dykes, who had a solid game, leading the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. Center Ben Elias finished in double figures as well, adding 14 points to the cause. Despite McCalebb's average performance from the floor, the team as a whole shot a solid .538 from the field. The Privateers lost the rebounding battle (39-34) and turned the ball over 15 times in the game, but were able to hold Northwestern State to just .375 shooting, including 8-of-28 from behind the arc.
The Wolfpack would have had a team that could contend for the ACC crown this year, even without bringing in another player. The returning nucleus for NC State, including Brandon Costner, Gavin Grant and Ben McCauley was outstanding. Now add talented freshman J.J. Hickson to the mix, and this is a team that can make some serious postseason noise. Hickson stepped right into the mix in his collegiate debut, as he hit all 12 of his shots, en route to a whopping 31 points against William & Mary. The point total was the highest in ACC history for a freshman in his first game. Costner took a backseat, but still made his presence felt in the win over the Tribe, finishing with a double-double consisting of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Courtney Fells also notched double digits, adding 10 points to the cause. The Wolfpack played tough defense in the opener as well, limiting the Tribe to 29.1 percent shooting. Despite posting a 19-point win, there is plenty of room for improvement for this team, as NC State shot just .444 from the floor, hampered by a 5-of-24 showing from behind the arc (.208).
