The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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TRACKING THE PACK MARCH/APRIL 2024 ■ 11 around college athletics, Avent's re- cruiting approach has not changed. He still wants to focus on bringing in tal- ented high school players, which was evident by the team's top-five class this season. While the freshmen likely will not all play key roles in 2024, Avent is excited about what the Wolfpack is building through the traditional recruiting pro- cess. "At NC State, we're still trying to build our roster and our team through the old days of recruiting high school players," he said. "That's how we still build our team. We use the portal just like we used to use junior college in the old days." But while the elite freshman class the Wolfpack signed will help keep the foundation of the program rising, Avent continued to stress the importance of merging the youth with proven colle- giate talent, such as junior catcher Ja- cob Cozart, a first-team preseason All- American according to Perfect Game. "It's a great freshman class, but they're still freshmen," Avent said. "You can win with freshmen, but it's nice to blend freshmen in with experience and veterans. It's hard your first year of col- lege, and for those guys to relax and let their talents play, it's nice to surround them with the veterans. That's what we've done here." Although the Wolfpack roster fea- tures an abundance of new players this spring, the team was ranked in five national polls heading into its season opener Feb. 16 against visiting Virginia Commonwealth. D1 Baseball slotted the Pack at No. 13, while USA Today had it 16th. NC State is also ranked 18th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, 19th by Perfect Game and 22nd by Baseball America. Avent was excited about the various additions to his roster, from the long list of freshman pitchers to the portal sign- ees. While it may be challenging to build chemistry on a team featuring newcom- ers in key spots, Avent was pleased with how the Pack was coming together. "We have a lot of new faces, and to get those guys to become a team, there's a big process," he said. "I've been really impressed with how the guys have got- ten to know one another and how the guys have handled things." ■ Date Opponent Time/TV Feb. 16 VCU 3 p.m. Feb. 17 VCU 2 p.m. Feb. 18 VCU 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Hawai'i 11:35 p.m. ET Feb. 24 at Hawai'i 11:35 p.m. ET Feb. 25 at Hawai'i 6:05 p.m. ET Feb. 28 QUEENS 3 p.m. Mar. 1 TOWSON 3 p.m. Mar. 2 TOWSON Noon Mar. 2 TOWSON 4:30 p.m. Mar. 3 TOWSON 1 p.m. Mar. 5 WINTHROP 3 p.m. Mar. 8 BOSTON COLLEGE 3 p.m. Mar. 9 BOSTON COLLEGE 3 p.m. Mar. 10 BOSTON COLLEGE 1 p.m. Mar. 12 UNC GREENSBORO 6 p.m. Mar. 15 at Georgia Tech 6 p.m. Mar. 16 at Georgia Tech 4 p.m. Mar. 17 at Georgia Tech 1 p.m. Mar. 19 COASTAL CAROLINA 6 p.m. Mar. 22 DUKE 6 p.m. Mar. 23 DUKE 3 p.m./ACC Network Mar. 24 DUKE 1 p.m. Mar. 26 at UNC Greensboro 6 p.m. Mar. 28 NOTRE DAME 7 p.m. Mar. 29 NOTRE DAME 8 p.m./ACC Network Mar. 30 NOTRE DAME 3 p.m. Apr. 2 EAST CAROLINA 6 p.m. Date Opponent Time/TV Apr. 5 at Louisville 6 p.m. Apr. 6 at Louisville 1 p.m. Apr. 7 at Louisville 1 p.m. Apr. 9 at UNC Wilmington 6 p.m. Apr. 12 at Clemson 7 p.m. Apr. 13 at Clemson 8 p.m./ACC Network Apr. 14 at Clemson 1 p.m. Apr. 16 CAMPBELL 6 p.m. Apr. 18 NORTH CAROLINA 7 p.m./ACC Network Apr. 19 NORTH CAROLINA 6 p.m. Apr. 20 NORTH CAROLINA 3 p.m. Apr. 23 at East Carolina 6 p.m. Apr. 26 BALL STATE 6 p.m. Apr. 27 BALL STATE 3 p.m. Apr. 28 BALL STATE 1 p.m. Apr. 30 UNC Wilmington 5 p.m. May 3 at Florida State 6 p.m. May 4 at Florida State 7 p.m./ACC Network May 5 at Florida State 1 p.m. May 7 NORFOLK STATE 6 p.m. May 10 at Virginia 7 p.m./ACC Network May 11 at Virginia 4 p.m. May 12 at Virginia 1 p.m. May 16 WAKE FOREST 7 p.m. May 17 WAKE FOREST 7 p.m./ACC Network May 18 WAKE FOREST 3 p.m. May 21 ACC Tournament* TBD * at Truist Field, Charlotte, N.C. 2024 Wolfpack Baseball Schedule A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY HOME SALE GOES TO SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH AND CARE. McKeeHomesNC.com | 910-672-7296 PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NC STATE WOLFPACK Faye eville | Raleigh | Pinehurst | Wilmington