Freshman Omer Yurtseven makes first start

The 7-footer from Istanbul, Turkey had come off the bench after becoming free of suspension Dec. 15 against Appalachian State. Yurtseven responded with a career-high 16 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes in his fourth game played.

“I just tell him he’s a super talent and he just has to take his time, and he’s unstoppable,” NC State junior power forward Abdul-Malik Abu said.

NCSU had been starting senior center BeeJay Anya, but it appeared it would be just a matter of time before the former prized recruit would take over the role. Getting in a start just prior to the ACC schedule beginning should help at Miami at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I just think over the last two-three weeks he has been playing, he’s earned that,” NCSU coach Mark Gottfried said. “I don’t know if anything is set in granite. I felt like that was something he had earned.”

NC State has rotated four big men when the roster has stabilized, which should help combat foul trouble. Yurtseven was limited by having four fouls against Rider, but that opened the door for freshman post player Ted Kapita to have seven points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes played.

Gottfried knew it was time for him to start.

“He [Yurtseven] has a lot to learn and foul trouble again tonight got him a little bit,” Gottfried said. “He has to be a little better there. I felt that was the right thing to do [starting him].

“BeeJay still gives us a good lift with a great attitude and great energy. Ted gives us great energy off the bench.”

The freshmen duo of Yurtseven and point guard Dennis Smith Jr. flashed their immense potential. Smith had a game-high 19 points to go with 16 assists — most since Chris Corchiani Sr. had 20 against Maryland on Feb. 27, 1991. The assists also set a new PNC Arena record, eclipsing the 13 assists Lorenzo Brown had against then No. 1-ranked Duke in a 84-76 win on Jan. 12, 2013. UNC point guard Kendall Marshall also had 13 assists the previous year in a 86-74 Tar Heels win on Feb. 22, 2012.

The Wolfpack has 26 assists on 40 made field goals.

“The guys are really interested in finding the open man and passing the ball,” Gottfried said.

Freshman Markell Johnson Disciplined

One player who didn’t get to enjoy the fun on the court was freshman point guard Markell Johnson.

The 6-foot-1, 164-pounder from Cleveland was disciplined by Gottfried and didn’t play against the Broncs. The head coach had been talking of late of getting Johnson more playing time, but with Smith logging heavy minutes, it became a secondary topic on what could be going on with Johnson.

Johnson entered the game playing at least 12 minutes in every game, with a season-high 35 against Loyola University Chicago. He’s averaging 4.2 points and 2.8 assists per game and shooting 34.5 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three-point land (6 of 22).

“That was my decision and I fully expect Markell to be back in the rotation playing Saturday,” Gottfried said. “Sometimes young people have to learn a little bit.”

The return of Johnson will help against Miami star junior point guard Ja’Quan Newton, who is one of the top penetrators in the ACC. The tough Philly native leads the Hurricanes with 14.7 points and 4.2 assists per game, and has scored in double figures in every game but one this season.

Miami Up Next

The Miami game at 4:30 p.m. Saturday will give NC State a chance to achieve a pair of early-season goals. NCSU has yet to defeat a power-five conference opponent (or Elite Six if including Big East). The Wolfpack also don’t have a road win this season.

The lone opportunity to win on the road came in the 88-74 loss at Illinois on Nov. 29 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Creighton was NC State’s other chance to defeat an opponent from one of the top six conferences, but the Bluejays ran away for a 112-94 win at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Nov. 20. NC State didn’t have a full roster in either loss.

“If you roll the clock back, our game with Creighton, I think they were better than we were at that point,” Gottfried said. “I’d like to play them again and our players would, but you might never get that chance. They are a really good team.”

NC State has played nine games in the comforts of Raleigh this season.

“We went to Illinois and played like a young panicky un-poised team,” Gottfried said. “I think we are a lot better now than then.”

Gottfried and the players understand that playing at 10-2 Miami is a little bit different level of competition compared to the Wolfpack’s recent stretch of opponents.

“I do think we have improved and gotten better,” Gottfried said. “We put ourselves in the best possible place to start ACC play.”

NC State veterans Anya, Abu, Maverick Rowan and Shaun Kirk are the lone Wolfpack players who played in an ACC game before. Abu half-joked that he’s looking forward to the warmer temperatures in Coral Gables, Fla.

“I’m really excited and I’m trying to get these young guys excited to play these top tier teams,” said Abu, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds against Rider.