The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER "He always brings the most energy to our team, and he's still that way," Keatts said. The coach's hope is that Ole Miss transfer Jarkel Joiner, who elected to use his super senior year, will form a potent 1-2 backcourt combination with Smith. Keatts said that Joiner is already the leader of the team. Joiner was the Rebels' leading scorer last year, averaging 13.2 points per game and is considered a strong defender in the backcourt. Joiner also averaged 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game along with 2.3 assists. The transfer is looking to prove he can be a true floor leader. "This system matched what I feel like I can be as a point guard. I want to show I can be a point guard and lead a team," Joiner noted. Joiner is also confident in what he and Smith can do together. "I feel like we can be really special," he said. "I'm going to leave it at that." Keatts may use a three-guard lineup with senior Casey Morsell joining Smith and Joiner. Morsell averaged 7.2 points per game in his first season at NC State after transferring from Virginia. Keatts noted that Morsell could play shooting guard or wing forward. "I look at Casey as a guy that could possibly be one of the top defenders in the league," Keatts added. "He's strong, physical. He's also shooting the ball very well." Sophomore Breon Pass will add depth to the backcourt. He averaged 2.2 points and 0.7 assists in his debut season, playing in 25 games. Pass saw increased playing time late in the year, getting double-digit minutes in the final four contests. The lone freshman on the roster is LJ Thomas, a native of Plant City, Fla. Ke- atts noted Thomas is capable of playing both guard spots, like Pass. FRONTCOURT One of Keatts' top objectives in the offseason was to add more veteran post options, especially after Manny Bates and Jaylon Gibson transferred out. Enter DJ Burns Jr. from Winthrop and Dusan Mahorcic from Utah. The for- mer is the reigning Big South Confer- ence Player of the Year. Burns (6-9, 275 NC State Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Location Time TV Nov. 2 Lees-McRae (exhib.) PNC Arena 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Austin Peay PNC Arena 8 p.m. ACC Network Extra Nov. 11 Campbell PNC Arena 7 p.m. ACC Network Extra Nov. 15 Florida International PNC Arena 9 p.m. RSN Nov. 19 Elon PNC Arena TBD ACC Network Extra Nov. 23 Kansas* Paradise Island, Bahamas Noon ESPN Nov. 24 Dayton/Wisconsin* Paradise Island, Bahamas TBD TBD Nov. 25 TBD* Paradise Island, Bahamas TBD TBD Nov. 29 William & Mary PNC Arena 7 pm. ACC Network Extra Dec. 2 Pittsburgh PNC Arena 7 p.m. ACC Network Dec. 6 Coppin State Reynolds Coliseum 7 p.m. RSN Dec. 10 Miami Coral Gables, Fla. 2 p.m. RSN Dec. 13 Furman PNC Arena 6 p.m. ACC Network Dec. 17 Vanderbilt^ Chicago, Ill. 10:30 p.m. TBD Dec. 22 Louisville PNC Arena 7 p.m. ACC Network Dec. 30/31 Clemson Clemson, S.C. TBD ACC Network Jan. 4 Duke PNC Arena 7 p.m. ACC Network Jan. 7 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 7:30 p.m. RSN Jan. 14 Miami PNC Arena Noon RSN Jan. 17 Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. 7 p.m. ACC Network Jan. 21 North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. 5 p.m. ACC Network Jan. 24 Notre Dame PNC Arena 7 p.m. ACC Network Jan. 28 Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. 1 p.m. ACC Network Feb. 1 Florida State PNC Arena 9 p.m. ACC Network Feb. 4 Georgia Tech PNC Arena 1 p.m. ACC Network Feb. 7 Virginia Charlottesville, Va. 9 p.m. ACC Network Feb. 11 Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass. Noon RSN Feb. 14 Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y. 7 p.m. ACC Network Feb. 19 North Carolina PNC Arena 1 p.m. ESPN Feb. 22 Wake Forest PNC Arena 9 p.m. RSN Feb. 25 Clemson PNC Arena Noon RSN Feb. 28 Duke Durham, N.C. 7 p.m. ESPN2 * Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis ^ Legends of Basketball Showcase Senior guard Casey Morsell averaged 7.2 points per game in his first season at NC State after transferring from Virginia. He averaged 12.3 points through the first eight games of the season before suffering an ankle sprain. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS