$5 Reasons Why NC State Wolfpack Won\'t Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament$

5 Reasons Why NC State Wolfpack Won't Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Ed Morgans

NC State Wolfpack Set To Miss NCAA Tournament

Cover — On first glance, the idea of the North Carolina State Wolfpack not making the NCAA Tournament actually sounds kind of crazy. More than likely, the first thing you think of when you think of the Wolfpack this season is all their big wins. NC State has beaten Duke, North Carolina and Louisville in 2014-15, so why won't they make the Big Dance? Here are five reasons why.

5. Perception of the ACC

ACC

5. Perception of the ACC

ACC — Through no fault of their own really, the Wolfpack have found themselves in a bad spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference. For most of the season, the focus on the ACC has been on the four or five teams at the top, depending on if you include North Carolina or not. Even though the Wolfpack have beaten three teams from that top tier, they still are in the next rung down fighting with Miami, Pittsburgh and others for a bid.

4. The Bubble is Packed This Year

Bubble

4. The Bubble is Packed This Year

Bubble — Again, this one is out of NC State's control, but 2014-15 is a very bad season to be a bubble team. For whatever reason, this year doesn't feature the so-called weak bubble that we have seen in recent seasons. Teams like Texas, St. John's, Xavier, UCLA, etc. are all on the bubble in some form which makes it that much more difficult for the Wolfpack to get noticed.

3. NC State Doesn't Value the Basketball

Turnovers

3. NC State Doesn't Value the Basketball

Turnovers — For a team that is a respectable 93rd in the nation in points per game at 70.6, the Wolfpack don't actually do a great job from an efficiency standpoint. NC State is a mediocre 256th in the country in assists per game at a paltry 11.4, only about 44 percent of their made field goals. Couple that with 11 turnovers per game, and the Wolfpack's melancholy handling of the ball could keep them out of the tourney.

2. State Wastes Chances At the Line

2. State Wastes Chances At the Line

Another thing North Carolina State hasn't done well this season is shoot free throws. The Wolfpack are a weak 68 percent from the line in 2014-15, which checks in at 226th in the country. That, combined with not being exceptional on the ball, makes their offense far worse than it seems and not good enough to be an NCAA Tournament team.

1. The Wolfpack Have Too Many Bad Losses

Losses

1. The Wolfpack Have Too Many Bad Losses

Losses — For all of North Carolina State's big wins this season, the fact that can't be ignored about the Wolfpack in 2014-15 is that they have several bad losses as well. Most recently, State was routed by 16 points at ACC bottom-feeder Boston College -- an inexcusable result for a Bubble Watch team. Also, the Wolfpack lost at home to Wofford, were blown out at home by Cincinnati, lost at home to Clemson and at Wake Forest.

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NC State Wolfpack

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