NC State building NCAA Tournament résumé

NC State’s big overtime road win against North Carolina on Saturday has not only brought the Wolfpack national attention, but strong debate on where they stand in the NCAA Tournament field.

NC State athletics director Debbie Yow has always said the standard is top 25 in the country, and first-year head coach Kevin Keatts has sped up that expectation.

The 15-7 Wolfpack received five votes in the Associated Press poll, ranking the Wolfpack tied for 36th in the country with New Mexico State. NC State’s wins over both Arizona and Duke, which were rated No. 2 in the country at the time, plus victories over ranked UNC and Clemson, could help overcome a non-conference slate with just key wins over the Wildcats and Penn State to show for it.

National basketball expert Andy Katz, who now works for the NCAA, had NC State ranked No. 16 in his power 36 poll, one spot ahead of North Carolina.

Bracketology expert Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com has NC State as one of his last four in and going to Dayton for a First Four game. The same for Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com. Sports Illustrated has NC State solidly in the top field of 64, and The Athletic listed the Pack as a No. 10 seed.

RPI has the Wolfpack outside the top 60 at No. 64 in the country.

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