The Wolfpacker Show: NC State basketball sweeps season-openers, previewing football vs. Duke

NC State men's and women's basketball opened the 2024-25 campaign with a pair of season-opening wins earlier this week, while Wolfpack football is set to close out its home slate against Duke this weekend.

The Pack, which raised three banners across two nights at Lenovo Center and Reynolds Coliseum, earned wins over USC Upstate and East Tennessee State to begin a new season 1-0. The men raced past the Spartans all night, while the women used a dominant second half to coast by the Buccaneers on election night.

Football, meanwhile is riding a two-game winning streak for the first time this season, as looks to finish its seven-game schedule at Carter-Finley Stadium on a high note against the Blue Devils. Duke beat NC State in dominant fashion last season at Wallace-Wade Stadium before the Wolfpack closed the year with five straight wins.

– NC State men's basketball's decisive win over USC Upstate. The Pack cleaned up its turnovers in the second half as it pulled away with a dominant win over the Spartans. NC State used a starting lineup most expected, but senior forward Ben Middlebrooks was the starting center instead of Louisville transfer Brandon Huntley-Hatfield . Why was that and will that continue moving forward? Noah explains.

– After talking about the defending ACC Champion men's team's opening game, Ethan broke down the women's first game since its Final Four appearance. The team had 12 turnovers in the first half, which Ethan called "ugly," before the team figured it out in the second half. The Wolfpack exploded for 50 points in the final two quarters to pick up its first win of the season.

– The hosts then turned the page to NC State's football matchup with Duke this weekend. The Blue Devils enter the game at 6-3, but have lost its past two games against SMU and Miami. Is Duke as good as its record suggests?

– Wide receiver Jordan Moore leads the way for the Blue Devils' offense as the team's go-to passing option. Ethan broke down why he could present a tall challenge for cornerbacks Aydan White Brandon Cisse, but they could also rise to the occasion against Duke's top threat.

– While Duke's rushing attack is one of the worst in the ACC this season, the hosts pointed out that the Blue Devils can lean on that if needed when it's going well. Running back Star Thomas is Duke's leading rusher with 706 yards and five touchdowns this season. He had 30 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown in Duke's win over North Carolina earlier this season.

– As Duke's offense isn't eye-popping statistics-wise this fall, its pass defense is the top ranked unit in the ACC with just 192.6 yards allowed a game. The hosts broke down how that could make freshman quarterback CJ Bailey's day be a challenge. They also talked about how he could perform at a high level against a top pass defense in his sixth-career start with the Wolfpack.