The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
64 ■ THE WOLFPACKER N C State redshirt sophomore wing Devon Daniels tends to play better when he is angry. Daniels might have scored more points or been flashier in other games this season, but a more defensive-minded version has emerged down the stretch for the Wolfpack. That was never more evident when he had 19 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists in just 25 minutes of action to propel NCSU to an 89-80 overtime home victory over Boston College Feb. 22. The Utah trans- fer was averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game through 27 games this season. He was two points away from his previ- ous season-high, which he achieved against Western Carolina Dec. 5, and he tied his career high for boards, which he achieved while playing for Utah against UC River- side on Nov. 25, 2016. Daniels' teammates could see the differ- ence in his play. "When he's on top of his game, he's unstoppable," NCSU redshirt sophomore center DJ Funderburk said. "I don't care if he's angry, passionate, whatever it is, for us to get the win is what I like." Fifth-year senior forward Torin Dorn echoed Funderburk's sentiments and said he likes "angry Devon Daniels." "That is when he plays his best, when he's mad," Dorn said. NC State head coach Kevin Keatts cred- ited Daniels' defense against BC star point guard Ky Bowman and Syracuse wing Tyus Battle, and simply said that some- times transfers take some time to fully em- brace their new roles. "He's been great," Keatts said. "I excited any time a young man turns a corner, es- pecially on the defensive end. That makes me smile. I know I am doing my job as a coach. I think it started at the Syracuse game where he played great defense." Bowman had a chance to win the game at the end, but he ended up shooting a dif- ficult three-point attempt against Daniels that missed easily, and the game went to overtime. "It was good defense, and he's a good player," Daniels said. "I'm just glad he missed it." Daniels said that he played with a lot of fire against the Eagles, but wouldn't call it his best game of the year. "I feel like I haven't been doing that for some of the season, but I'm trying to get that back," he said. "I just want to play with en- ergy and do anything to help my team win." Becoming a defensive stopper of sorts seemed an unlikely role for him in Octo- ber, but Daniels has quietly embraced that challenge. WOLFPACK BASKETBALL Wing Devon Daniels Is Hitting His Stride Daniels contributed 19 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists in just 25 minutes of ac- tion to help NC State defeat Boston College 89-80 in overtime Feb. 22. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 2018-19 NC State Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Oct. 29 Chowan! W, 111-62 Nov. 6 Mount St. Mary's W, 105-55 Nov. 10 Maryland Eastern Shore W, 95-49 Nov. 13 UNC Asheville W, 100-49 Nov. 17 Maine W, 82-63 Nov. 20 Saint Peter's W, 85-57 Nov. 24 Mercer W, 78-74 Nov. 27 at Wisconsin% L, 79-75 Dec. 1 vs. Vanderbilt^ W, 80-65 Dec. 5 Western Carolina# W, 100-67 Dec. 15 vs. Penn State$ W, 89-78 Dec. 19 Auburn W, 78-71 Dec. 22 USC Upstate W, 98-71 Dec. 28 Loyola (Md.) W, 97-64 Jan. 3 at Miami* W, 87-82 Jan. 8 North Carolina* L, 90-82 Jan. 12 Pittsburgh* W, 86-80 Jan. 15 at Wake Forest* L, 71-67 Jan. 19 at Notre Dame* W, 77-73 Jan. 24 at Louisville* L, 84-77 Jan. 26 Clemson* W, 69-67 Jan. 29 Virginia* L, 66-65 (OT) Feb. 2 Virginia Tech* L, 47-24 Feb. 5 at North Carolina* L, 113-96 Feb. 9 at Pittsburgh* W, 79-76 Feb. 13 Syracuse* W, 73-58 Feb. 16 at Duke* L, 94-78 Feb. 20 Boston College* W, 89-80 (OT) Feb. 24 Wake Forest* W, 94-74 Mar. 2 at Florida State* (ESPN2) 12 p.m. Mar. 6 Georgia Tech* (RSN) 9 p.m. Mar. 9 at Boston College* (RSN) 2 p.m. Mar. 12-16 ACC Tournament+ TBD ! Exhibition; % Big Ten-ACC Challenge; ^ Hoophall Miami Invi- tational in Miami; # at Reynolds Coliseum; $ Boardwalk Clas- sic in Atlantic City, N.J.; * ACC game; + at Charlotte; ACCNE — ACC Network Extra; RSN — Regional Sports Network