5 Things NC State Wolfpack Must Do to Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Justin Patrick

5 Things NC State Must Do To Get Into March Madness

NC State March Madness Bubble — Teams with 11 losses usually find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to getting an at-large bid, and NC State is currently 16-11 (7-7 in ACC). But the Wolfpack are firmly in the bubble discussion right now, however improbable that may seem. ESPN’s bracketologist Joe Lunardi has them playing Oregon to be the 12th seed in the East region in his latest bracket. What must NC State do to get into the NCAA tournament? Let's find out.

5. Hope Other Bubble Teams Lose

NC State March Madness Bubble

5. Hope Other Bubble Teams Lose

NC State March Madness Bubble — If you ask any NC State player or coach, they would probably disregard this notion and say that they are only worried about what they can control. But let’s be honest, there are a myriad of teams working to get an at-large bid if they don't win their conference’s automatic bid. The Wolfpack are aware of this, and if you were to catch them in a moment of true honesty, they would admit that they are following how the other bubble teams are faring.

4. Play More Consistently Down the Stretch

NC State March Madness Bubble

4. Play More Consistently Down the Stretch

NC State March Madness Bubble — They have some quality wins this season, including Duke and Louisville, and the latter win may have put NC State back into the middle of the bubble conversation. NC State has four top-50 wins this season, but they have also suffered some bad losses. When a team is on the bubble, it helps to show the Selection Committee some consistently positive play and to finish the season strong. That is what the Wolfpack should be focused on right now.

3. Win Their Last Four Games

NC State March Madness Bubble

3. Win Their Last Four Games

NC State March Madness Bubble — They have won two straight games, and it’s important that they finish the season on an uptick by winning their last four games. Doing so would mean another quality win (UNC on the road), along with wins over Syracuse and a road win over Clemson (a kind of, sort of fringe bubble team). Clemson probably won't get into the Big Dance, but they can be tough to beat at Littlejohn Coliseum, and they have one of the better defenses in the ACC.

2. Make A Deep Run In the ACC Tournament

NC State March Madness Bubble

2. Make A Deep Run In the ACC Tournament

NC State March Madness Bubble — If they win their last four games and then make a deep run in the ACC tournament, they should have no issues getting into the NCAA tournament. It may be possible (depending on the other bubble teams) for NC State to get into the NCAA tourney by winning three of their last games (close loss at UNC) and then making a deep run in the ACC tourney. A deep run would help make their case that they belong in the NCAA tourney.

1. Win the ACC Tournament

NC State March Madness Bubble

1. Win the ACC Tournament

NC State March Madness Bubble — Technically, they do not have to win the ACC tournament to get into the NCAA tournament field. The previous slides showed how the Wolfpack can help themselves get off the bubble and into the tournament without being crowned the champions of the ACC. But if NC State does slip up down the stretch and their bubble bursts, they can still get into the March Madness fun by winning the ACC tournament, and therefore securing the ACC’s automatic bid.

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NC State Wolfpack

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