The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
TRACKING THE PACK 12 ■ THE WOLFPACKER NC State Planning Nonconference Matchup Against Tar Heels NC State and North Carolina have one of the more intriguing college basketball rivalries in the nation. Even though the two teams met just once last season under the ACC's new scheduling model and are set to do the same in conference play this year, the programs were nearing a deal in late June to change that. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack were final- izing plans for a neutral-site matchup to be held at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It would be a nonconference matchup at a date to be determined, the first such meeting between the two sto- ried rivals since the 1977-78 season when they played in Greensboro on Dec. 3. The Wolfpack and Tar Heels played each other three times that year, with UNC winning the nonconference clash, 87-82. When NC State and UNC met last sea- son, the Pack rolled to an 82-58 victory at Lenovo Center on Feb. 17. The 2025-26 campaign was the first since 1919 in which the teams didn't play in Chapel Hill. Their next ACC meeting will take place at the Smith Center, making the upcoming sea- son the first since 1947 in which the teams won't square off in Raleigh. The upcoming games between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels will be historic in that they will pit two first-year coaches against each other — NC State's Justin Gainey and his UNC counterpart, Michael Malone. That hasn't happened since the 1946-47 season, when Everett Case led the Wolfpack to a 48-46 win in Chapel Hill against Tom Scott's Tar Heels. North Carolina is the latest high-profile addition to the Wolfpack's nonconference schedule. In November, NC State will travel to Nassau to play in the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship, which is set to feature Seton Hall, Wisconsin and a yet-to-be-announced fourth team. The Wolfpack also has neutral-site match- ups planned with Tennessee (Dec. 6 in Nashville, Tenn.) and Ole Miss (Dec. 19 in either Tupelo, Miss., or South Haven, Miss.). The Pack's only known home noncon- ference game as of early July was against South Carolina in the ACC-SEC Chal- lenge on Dec. 1. NC State was originally scheduled to complete a home-and-home series with Virginia Commonwealth, making a road trip to the Siegel Center in Richmond, but it bought out that contest. The Wolfpack is due to pay the Rams $190,000 for back- ing out of the game. The ACC has not yet unveiled its full schedule, but NC State knows who and where it will play. The Pack's home-only opponents are Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt and SMU. In addition to North Carolina, its away-only foes will be Duke, Geor- gia Tech, Miami, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The two conference oppo- nents it will play home and away are Cal and Wake Forest. Brittany Morris Rejoins Women's Hoops Staff After spending one season away from NC State, women's basketball assistant Brittany Morris will return to the Wolf- pack, the team announced June 12. Mor- ris, who previously served as a gradu- ate assistant from 2015-17 and then as a full-time assistant under head coach Wes Moore from 2021-25, was at Louisville last season. She will fill the role vacated by Simon Harris, who left for Illinois earlier this offseason. "We're excited to bring Brittany back home," Moore said in a statement. "She was instrumental to our Final Four run a couple of years ago, both from a recruiting and player development standpoint. With her prior knowledge and experience, it should be a seamless transition, allowing us to hit the court running." During her one season away from Ra- leigh, Morris helped Louisville to a 29-8 record, including a 15-3 mark in ACC play, en route to an appearance in the league championship game and a trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. For Morris, a Raleigh native, returning to the Pack appears to have been an easy decision. "NC State has always had a special place in my heart," she said. "I'm excited to return to a place where we achieved championships and reached a Final Four. The opportunity to help grow and mentor young women while continuing to foster a championship culture is something I'm truly passionate about." In her first four seasons with the Wolf- pack, Morris helped the team to a 111-30 overall record, including a 55-17 mark against ACC competition. NC State fin- ished in the Associated Press top 10 three times during that span, including the team's run to the 2024 Final Four. — Noah Fleischman ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK With NC State and North Carolina set to meet only once in ACC play, the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro is expected to host a nonconference game between the rivals during the 2026-27 season. PHOTO COURTESY GREENSBORO COMPLEX