The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
TRACKING THE PACK 16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER wolfpacker spotlight NC State Athletics Capping a strong year for Wolfpack sports, NC State finished in 17th place in the 2021-22 Learfield Directors' Cup standings, a year-over-year jump of six places. Under the leadership of athletics director BOO CORRIGAN, the Pack finished with 870 points, placing fifth among the 15 members of the ACC in this annual ranking based on each institution's finish in up to 19 NCAA champi- onships. Texas earned the Division I title for the second consecutive year. This year's finish resulted in NC State being ranked in the top 25 of the Direc- tor's Cup in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. Last year, the Wolfpack came in 23rd. For the second straight year, unfortunate luck for NC State baseball cost the Pack a chance to gain more points and finish even higher in the standings. After the NCAA banished the Pack from the College World Series prematurely a year ago, NC State did not receive its full allotment of points. Had it done so, the Wolfpack would have finished five places higher at 18th in 2020-21. This year, the NCAA Selection Committee stunningly left NC State baseball out of the tournament field despite the Wolfpack's run to the ACC Champion - ship Game. Ironically, the team that received a berth over NC State was Ole Miss, which went on to win the College World Series. Had the Wolfpack made the field of 64 in baseball — and most analysts were projecting NC State as a No. 2 seed in the four-team regionals to start the tourney — it would have earned enough points to finish at least 15th in the final standings of the Learfield Directors' Cup. — Matt Carter/Photo By Roger Winstead