The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1497827
MAY/JUNE 2023 ■ 39 turnover ratio and making 64 of 70 free throw attempts (91.4 percent). He also led the Pack with 25 steals and played a team-high 37.4 minutes per contest. Smith led NC State in scoring for the entire season at 17.9 points, compared to 17.0 for Joiner, and Smith also had a team-best 140 assists and 49 steals. But Joiner highlighted his value in the all-important conference games, and additionally added the intangible ben- efit of his leadership, which NC State head coach Kevin Keatts consistently raved about throughout the course of the season. At one point, Keatts noted that every college coach should have the experi- ence of working with a player like Joiner. Best Three Wins 1. Feb. 19 vs. North Carolina: Noth- ing is finer than beating Carolina, and what made this game particularly sweet was that the victory may well have been the decisive moment that put the Pack in the NCAA Tournament and kept UNC out. There was also the thrilling nature of the win. North Carolina led 54-48 with 10 minutes left and appeared poised to continue having NC State's number. But led by super senior guard Jarkel Joiner, the Wolfpack clawed back. The Pack scored the next 7 points to take the lead. When UNC retook a 59-57 advantage, NC State answered with a 12-1 run, to the delight of a frenzied Wolfpack crowd at PNC Arena in Raleigh. The Pack extended the lead to as much as 12 points and prevailed 77-69. 2. Jan. 14 vs. Miami: When they were healthy, the Hurricanes were the best team in the ACC this season. Miami shared the conference regular-season title and reached the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. An injury to star post player Norchad Omier early in an ACC Tournament semifinal loss to Duke likely prevented a chance of a league tourney crown for the Canes. NC State played Miami as well as any team in the league. In the ACC opener for both squads in Coral Gables, Fla., the Pack led by as many as 12 points in the second half before falling under the pres- sure of a late Miami surge. The rematch in Raleigh nearly saw a similar story unfold. A 10-point NC State halftime lead evaporated, and the final 10 minutes was a back-and-forth affair. A three-pointer from Miami star forward Jordan Miller tied the score with 27 seconds left and forced overtime. With NC State up 83-81, Joiner was able to force ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong into a turnover to end the game. 3. Jan. 4 vs. Duke: NC State has had the Blue Devils' number in Raleigh through the years, but few could have foreseen the butt-whooping that came on this evening. NC State jumped out to a 15-0 lead a little over 7 minutes into the game be- fore Duke finally scored. Joiner's three- Super senior guard Jarkel Joiner was NC State's top scorer during the ACC season, averaging 17.3 points per game in conference play. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP