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"WRAL Triangle and Two" hosts Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez discuss the NC State men's basketball team making its first Final Four since 1983.

Welcome to another edition of Wrl Triangle and two. I'm Mark Bergen. He's Luis Fernandez Lewis, the NC State wolfpack. Our final four bound. This is a sentence. I can't believe I'm saying. It feels weird even saying it out loud. I mean, first time in 41 years for the men. Um on, on the women's side, first time since 1998 their second time ever. So it's, it's just, I mean, I, I don't know, II, I, I, I don't want to speak out of turn, but I feel like Sunday had to be like a top three moment for NC State basketball fans in general. Like, I, I don't know, it's kind of hard to, besides national championships. I think it's kind of hard to compare it. What a run. Let's put this into perspective for the listeners and viewers of Wrl Triangle and 2, 1974 the championship with David Thompson back when Sloan was the head coach. Then you had the 83 team as well. There are parallels to the 83 teams. Louis. Would you like me to get into it? Let's hear it. You, you want you for, for those listening. Uh, Mark said he wanted me to genuinely react to these. So I, he has not told me what this is. We're, I'm just gonna react. All right. So you go back to the AC C tournament winning five games, five days. The Michael o'connell banked in three pointer against Virginia and descended it and do an overtime off of a missed free throw a lot like the 83 team where they also had to win the conference tournament to make March madness to make the big tournament. So you got that. I go into this matchup with Purdue and Zach Edie a lot like what did the 83 team need to do to make the final four? They had to beat Ralph Sampson in Virginia and they three times. So there's that parallel you also have if somehow the Wolf Pack get by Purdue in the final four in the championship game, I'm assuming uconn is gonna be the representative from the other final four game over Alabama uconn, a parallel to Phi Slamma Jamma with Houston back in the day would be a huge favorite over NC state. But the fact that we are here going into the conference tournament, there were rumors and questions about Kevin Keat's future at the program. This has been an incredible run. I can't believe we live in a world where NC state in the final four, Duke and UN C are not. It's been fantastic to watch it's, it's, um, it is a wild world indeed. Um, but I mean, the, the thing is, I just NC State has earned every ounce of this success. Like, really the only game I look at that was like, oh, they probably didn't play that well. What in this, this postseason run was the Louisville game, the very first one where, you know, they did not have DJ Horn and they, you know, struggled at times, especially defensively against Louisville. But since that point, they're defensively, what they have been able to do has been inc incredibly impressive. They've had so many different individual players step up, not just DJ Burns and DJ Horne who are obviously the stars of the show, but the Michael o'connell of the world hitting that, that three, the, the fact that that free throw missed from Virginia is ultimately what started this chain reaction is pretty wild. But, um, you know, the, uh, Ben Middlebrook scoring 20 points against Texas Tech, uh, you know, Mo Diarra, uh, playing the way he has while observing Ramadan, like, it's been amazing to see the, the success that they have had. Um I don't know, it's just, this is a very rare opportunity for NC State and I think they've made the most of it um, in down on every, every turn, every path. So the question now leads to how do you slow down Zach Edie, likely the multi time player of the year. The reason I compared him to Samson is we'll find out April the seventh, but he's gonna win this award over RJ Davis who is also a finalist among the four to win this award. How you slow him down? I think you take a page and Kevin Ks, I know that you're listening here. I think you take a page out of the 83 wolfpack team. How did they slow downs and the triangle and two or maybe a box in one defense? I don't think it could just be, oh, let's throw Mo Dr on him. I don't think it could be. Oh DJ Burns, I try to do two things. Try to get him in foul trouble and then try to deny the basketball that Purdue's best player. Well, and I think that's what's so interesting is so last year, part of the reason why Perdue lost in the first round to a 16 seed was because this team, um was kind of Zach Edie or bust. Uh, the team this year though with Purdue is a lot more multidimensional. They're one of the better shoot three point shooting teams in the country. So when you double, um Edie who, you know, doesn't necessarily pass like the best out of double teams. But when you double him, you know, you have guys who are wide open and, and hit those shots consistently, no doubt. And as you would expect when you get to the final four, this is the best team that state will face. Um, the, the free line to me is going to be such a big part of this. Like, do you play without fouling? And it's just, it's so hard and there is a whole conversation to get into about Zack and free throw attempts and things like that. I don't know if I can get into that at this point. Hang on, hang on just a second. Lewis, let me stop you there because I want to mention the three point shooting at Piggyback off a year ago with this Purdue team, a team that shot about 32% from the three point line this season. The boiler makers are almost 41% from the 3.1. So that to me is the big difference of, well, how is Purdue any different this year? Was it just matchups where they got lucky to make the final four? No, no, no, no, no. The three point shooting for Purdue much improved from a season ago. And if I remember correctly, I think like the top 33 point per, uh, shooting percentage teams are all in the final four. I believe it. I believe it's uconn Purdue and Alabama. I wanna say, um, don't quote me on that, but I, I believe it's, it's both, all three of those teams are very, very good three point shooting teams. Um, you know, so that's what they're gonna have to face and part of it too is state three point shooting is always weird to me because some of it is defense, but I also think a lot of three point shooting is just kind of, is luck like our teams on that day, are they not on that day? State has done pretty well in terms of three point defense during this run, especially in the NCAA tournament, really, the only team in the NCAA tournament that has shot, um, you know, above a season average type thing against them is Oakland and that was the closest game it went into overtime. So if that three point shooting continues, you know, there you go. But it's kind of so transitioning from the three point shooting to the free throws because so just some numbers here. Um So in terms of like the teams, ok, uh 11 stat to kind of look at is fouls per game and then free throw attempts to field goal attempts or excuse me, free throw attempts per field goal attempts. So in terms of fouls, per game, Perdue is about 13.9 fouls per game and see it is 16.3. So that may not seem like a lot, but that's the difference between like top 10 and, you know, uh outside of the top 100 the free throw attempts per field goal attempts. Purdue has about 0.422 free throw attempts per field goal attempt. So essentially for every field goal. They're averaging about half a free throw, um, which is top 10 in the country. And the guy who's shooting all those free throws is Zach. He is first in free throw attempts by 115 free throw attempts. Like, so, I mean, and he, he's, he's, you know, top scorer per game in the country. He averages 25 points per game. I mean, like 3rd, 3rd in rebounding. Exactly. Rebounding, offensive rebounding. He's first, he gets 4.7 offensive rebounds per game. Like, you know, it's Zach just presents such a dilemma because I do think that there is some of the, and once again, I'm trying to, I'm treading around this carefully. I'm not saying that Zach E is a free throw merchant by any means, but so much of Purdue and how you play Purdue is determined by how the officials blow the whistle that day. Um And so, you know, I think it was II I believe what was it? Uh He shot, Zach Zach shot about 24 I believe free throws against Tennessee. So like he's shooting a lot, he's getting to that line a lot and then that's obviously gonna be a problem if you have guys like DJ Burns or Mo Diarra, for example, or Ben Mill Brooks picking up those fouls, that's gonna be an issue. That's, that's one of the, it, we'll, we'll kind of figure out how that's going to be almost immediately in the game, but they have to foul, I mean, they have to defend without fouling. That's gonna be huge. 71% from the free throw line for Ed as well. So he's not a slouch. He doesn't have some of the same troubles that, uh, that plague other big men that play the sport offensively. If I'm, the wolf pack gotta go right at him, gotta go right at him and try to get him in foul trouble. That's what I would try to do and say, let's fight fire with fire if it's burns, if it's horns, someone attacking the hoop. If it's diarra, let's go right at this dude and make the referees blow the whistle. That's how because you got to get him off the floor. That's, that's, I would agree. However, that's the thing like Zack is also a very good defender. His footwork is very good and the way he plays defense, he does not foul a lot. This Perdue team does not foul a lot in general. He's also number 22 in blocks. He averages about 2.16 blocks per game. So it is just, it is a puzzle when, when Purdue is clicking, when they're hitting from the outside and when Zach Edie is getting to the free throw line, they are just hard to stop. So it is, it is gonna be a huge challenge for, for NC State. Um I mean, if you can, that truly have Zach Edie, not be on the court is probably the best way to beat the, uh the boiler makers. But, you know, I think he, he only missed like a minute or so in the game against uh Tennessee. Like he's, he's not one of these bigs that, you know, will not play a lot of time. He is capable of playing 40 minutes and two or box in one. Get creative if you don't have the personnel because it's like, I don't know who's going to match up with them. And again, it's the reason why he's been in play like player of the year, was it unanimously a year ago? And then he won, he won all six national player of the year awards and why he's in contention and likely going to be the winner come April 7th. Uh One other player I want to mention from Purdue that you gotta slow down. Braden Smith, the sophomore guard uh among the assist leaders in all of college basketball as well. So it's not just, it's not just a one man show. He gets a lot of the headlines because he's a double, double machine. Purdue NC State has its work cut out for them come Saturday night, but the battle of the big men and burns like get the movie posters ready. I'm ready, Lewis. I'm not trying to wish my way, I'm ready. It's so, it's so interesting mark too because I'm not gonna say the word. Interesting. It's, it is cool because they are both large, like, you know, centers obviously, but they play the game so differently. Uh, you know, uh, DJ Burns had a tighter career high seven assists. Um, even though he wasn't and like, I think it was against Marquette, he only scored like four points, you know what I mean? But he is capable of impacting the game offensively, especially in many different ways. Um, I don't know, I am not a basketball coach so I don't know the best way to attack Purdue and Zach, but I think that there are ways that you can go about doing it. Um And really, I think a lot of it's going to come to, can the NC state defense that we have seen, can it translate and can N state continue to play efficiently on offense? It's going to be big. It's, it's gonna be really interesting to see, to see again. The righ rally around this Wolf Pack team has been special to watch just the scenes from Hillsborough Street on Sunday night, Easter Sunday and to see everyone at the Bell Tower. Bell Towers lit up in red and I, I mean, it just gives me chills thinking about it after the game, Lewis. Uh I rewatched the 30 for 30 survive and advance and go on. I mean, this is just what living in the triangle is all about, man. Like it's just like in this story like the 83 team, if you wrote it, if you wrote it and pitched it to a Hollywood director and said, hey, I wanna do a movie about this and you gave them the script and the synopsis of all these crazy things had to happen to get to this point. You'd have to throw the script out. It wouldn't be believable. Yeah. And that's, that's one thing that I think that the, um, that this team has kind of embraced. Well, is they're like, hey, we appreciate the history of these NC state type of runs. We appreciate the history of NC state basketball. We talk to those players, we have that relationship with those people. However, we are not the 83 team, we are different. Um We, we are creating our own history, our own legacy. And so that's been, I have enjoyed hearing them talk about that dynamic because I'm sure it's, you know, a, a any I remember Kevin Keats back in December when I say started off, I think it was what, three and one in conference play, four and 151, conference play, something like that. And he said, you know, anytime you are compared to 74 and 83 you know, both national championships, you're in a pretty good spot. And honestly, if anything, there's almost been too many comparisons to the 83 national championship team um with this group, but it's funny, it's funny how times are flat circle sometimes, you know. Yeah. And first final four run since that season for first time, they've been in the elite eight since 86. So, and then you knock off Duke. Now, if you're a Duke fan, you got to take some solace in this Luis Fernandez, this recruiting class headlined by Cooper flag. Oh my gosh. And it's like, OK, is K Philips or Jared mccain gonna come back? They'll probably go pro if I had to guess. I think the most recent mock drafts I've seen have them both inside like the top twentyish or something like that. So, but Cooper flag this 7 ft 2 7 ft three kid. Uh K Mulock, if I'm mispronouncing his name, Lewis, I forgive me. It's a name we'll become more and more familiar with because he's gonna make it next year. It's like this class that you have coming in if you're a Blue Devils fan, take solace in the fact that you weren't supposed to beat Houston in the sweet 16 in this class that you have coming in. I hate to look beyond this season already, but it's like, ok, which of the triangle teams is best position for the 2024 2025 season? Me Dukes at the top of that list when it comes to the triangle teams. Cooper flag, that's all you need to know. Cooper flag. Cooper flag is going to be very, very special to watch. Um Gatorade player. Of the year Lewis Paula banker, former Duke guy presented him the, the award uh last week. Fun fact. Um So, yeah. No, it's Duke's gonna be just fine. I'm not worried about Duke. Duke's gonna be ok. Uh But it's, I think the, the thing I've been telling myself this week, I think when you look at Duke, you look at UN C and the way kind of fandoms interact with state and stuff like that, this March, you were not the main character. That's just, that's just what it boils down to this, this March. And I guess now it's April, this, this postseason NC state is the main character. Are, does that mean they're gonna win it all? No, they know Purdue. They, they still would most likely have to be Purdue and Yukon. Who if you wanna, if they end up being Purdue and Yukon, you want to talk about that, that's gonna be one of the greater, greatest final forces we've ever seen because that's too hard matchups. But there they are the main characters the way they've captured the hearts of America, the way that people talk about them. Um The way DJ burns is down, the notoriety that he has, uh NC state is, you know, they are the main characters of this March madness. Luis Fernandez, is there anything else I know that we will have full coverage all this week leading up to the final four on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona but, uh, this has been another edition of WRL Triangle Two. Is there any coverage specifically that we need to tease between now and Saturday? I know we've got, uh Durham Bulls home opener on Tuesday at the DB A. Uh, so baseball season's here, very excited about that. But then, I mean, all week long, we're gonna get people ready for final four runs. And again, don't forget the women either too Lewis because you've got two NC State teams in the final four. So as this recording, um through about four o'clock on a Monday, we do not know what time uh N state women's will play. That will be determined by the end of these elite eight games with uconn and Southern Cal and uh Iowa and LSU, which my goodness, those games are gonna be fun. Must watch, watch TV. But um the, uh so we'll find out once those games are finished when they will play, but we do know it will be Friday and we do know that NC State will be playing uh undefeated South Carolina and there are so many fun storylines that revolve around that, you know, um Sa Rivers uh playing her first year at South Carolina. Um Isaiah James being, I believe the only player left from um uh NC State's double overtime game against uconn in the elite eight, a few years back. Uh We Moore finally getting into the final four for the first time in his career. Uh you know, there, there are, there are a lot of really fun storylines with both these NC state teams and, you know, it is going to be a really fun finish to uh March. That's for sure. I'm telling you this man, the wolf pack bring one national title or maybe multiple national titles. Ra Raleigh is gonna turn into Babylon Lewis. I'm telling you right now. It's, uh you know, it's funny because I know we, we joke about how many like, you know, um, uh bonuses and contract extensions and things that Kevin Keats has gotten over the past, you know, 23 weeks by making this run. I just b the statue. If, if, if N state wins the national championship, make the statue, just, just get the plans drawn up. That's, that's where they're at. I think he's Luis Fernandez, I'm Mark Berg. And thank you for watching another edition of Wral Triangle two, Apple and Spotify. Please leave us a five star review and on the youtube page on 99 9, the fan hit that subscribe button. Keep it here all week long, leading up to the NC state final four matchups, Louis, you're the absolute best sign off for the both of us. Take care so long. Everybody.

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