This has been the year for Atlantic Coast Conference schools from the Tar Heel State to get their comeuppance against Virginia and coach Tony Bennett.
Two Saturdays ago, North Carolina ended its seven-game losing streak against Virginia. Last Saturday, Wake Forest snapped its nine-game skid against the Cavaliers. Now it’s NC State with a chance to vanquish a dubious hex.
When NC State (9-10, 2-6) plays host to Virginia (11-7, 5-3) on Saturday afternoon, the Wolfpack will try to beat Bennett for the first time in Raleigh. All seven times the Cavaliers coach has come to PNC Arena, he’s walked out a winner.
And he’s not done it by beating up on weaklings. Three of those wins came over Wolfpack teams on their way to the NCAA Tournament. Two more came against teams that would finish with 20 or more victories.
On Saturday, with the Wolfpack having lost eight of their last 10 and under .500 for the first time this season, there will be urgency to get their season back on course and settle the score with Bennett.
“We’re playing well enough to win,” NC State coach Kevin Keats said after Wednesday’s 62-59 loss to Virginia Tech. “We just have to clean some stuff up.”
Dereon Seabron does everything for the Wolfpack, leading the team in points (19.3 per game), rebounds (9.5), assists (3.5) and steals (1.6).
In a season of fits and starts for the offense of Virginia, Wednesday’s 66-61 victory at Pitt was encouraging as defensive wizard Reece Beekman continued his emergence as an offensive threat with 19 points and eight assists.
“Reece is a tremendous two-way player. He’s confident with his shot. He’s got his 3-ball down. He can get to the paint. He’s a great assist man. And he defends at an elite level,” said Virginia’s top scorer and rebounder Jayden Gardner. “The sky’s the limit for Reece and he just continues to get better, as we can see in ACC play.”
–Field Level Media
