ACC Preview: N.C. State Wolfpack

The 2013-14 season was a disappointing one for the N.C. State Wolfpack. The team was coming off of a
25-11 record the previous year which saw them consistently ranked in the Top 25; however, the early
departures of Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie crippled their offense, leaving the lion’s share of the work
to T.J. Warren. Warren was the lone bright spot in a disappointing season that yielded a 22-14 (9-9
ACC) record and a first round tournament exit to Saint Louis. Coach Gottfried has focused his recruiting
attention on athletic forwards who can come in and contribute early; however, it remains to be seen
whether just three incoming recruits will have a significant impact on the team’s performance.
Key Loss
-T.J. Warren, F (24.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG)
Warren literally did it all for the Wolfpack last year. Playing for a squad that could barely crack the top-
100 in any team statistical category, Warren shouldered the pressure and carried his team through their
disappointing season. He was effective on the offensive glass and dominated the team’s offensive game
plan, all while playing disruptive defense to the tune of 2.4 S/BPG. Next year, it will be interesting to see
how Coach Gottfried runs the offense, as Warren accounted for 32% of the team’s total shots.
Key Additions
-Abdul Malik Abu, F
Abu is a physical and athletic power forward with great instincts playing around the rim. Although his
half court game needs to be developed, he excels at rebounding the ball and running the fast break.
Ranked 7th nationally at PF, Abu will be expected to contribute from day one, but he has a lot of
learning to do before he can adequately fill the shoes of his predecessor, Warren. Look for Abu to get a
lot of his looks early in the season cleaning up the glass.
-The Martin Brothers, F
It’s clear that Gottfried wants his players to run the ball next season with the recruitment of Caleb and
Cody Martin. The dynamic duo out of Oak Hill Academy both play on the wing and exhibit a sound, all-
around skillset. At 6’7 Cody can get down the lane with ease, and he has the basketball IQ to know when
to shoot or kick out to open shooters. Caleb has a similar skill set to his twin, but distinguishes himself
with his intangibles; he plays the game in a frenzied attack mode, usually looking to get his shot in the
paint before distributing the ball.
4-Star Running Back: Miami Commit
4-Star Running Back: Miami Commit