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NC State basketball playing with different combinations

NC State sophomore small forward Maverick Rowan is day-to-day after suffering concussion-like symptoms last Friday.
NC State sophomore small forward Maverick Rowan is day-to-day after suffering concussion-like symptoms last Friday. (USA Today Sports)

The NC State basketball team expects to face some solid competition at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, starting with their tournament opener against Montana at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Wolfpack flew out at 2 p.m. Wednesday, but are still unsure on the status of sophomore small forward Maverick Rowan, who suffered concussion-like symptoms after last Friday’s season opener against Georgia Southern and missed the St. Francis Brooklyn game Sunday.

Freshman power forward Ted Kapita was cleared by the NCAA prior to the season opener, but was held out Friday. He exploded for 17 points and eight rebounds in his debut against the Terriers, but the native of the Congo did not make the trip due to immigration paperwork that awaits completion.

Freshman center Omer Yurtseven will sit out the three games, but is able to make the trip.

NC State head coach Mark Gottfried said he was taking a day-to-day approach with Rowan, who made the trip regardless.

“I think we are going to keep evaluating him,” Gottfried said. “We obviously won’t let him participate until he is 100 percent.”

Gottfried was happy for Kapita to get off to a good start and expects him to always be able to rebound and play with a high motor.

“He has a pep in his step, and he’s ready to go,” Gottfried said. “He’s like that every day."

NCSU started senior center BeeJay Anya and reshuffled the lineup against St. Francis Brooklyn. The team scored 86 points, but had only one three-pointer, which was a trickle-down effect of missing Rowan’s perimeter firepower. Gottfried took it as a good sign.

“I watched the tape, and we did a lot of things well offensively,” Gottfried said. “Hopefully, we are a team that makes more three-point shots each and every game.”

Gottfried also expects freshman point guard Dennis Smith to emerge, even with defenses stacked against him. Smith entered the season with high expectations and the dream of being a potential top NBA Draft pick. He has been slowed through the first two contests, shooting 6 of 22 from the field and 0 of 7 on three-pointers.

“He likes winning, but he feels like he can play better,” Gottfried said. “He has such a great competitive spirit, I’m sure he’ll be dying to play Friday night.

"I think teams are loading up on him defensively, trying to eliminate his penetration."

Montana is experienced on the perimeter and welcomes point guard Ahmaad Rorie, who was originally headed to California and then spent a year at Oregon. Rivals.com ranked him the No. 116 overall player in the class of 2014.

Montana has opened the season with back-to-back losses against USC and Wyoming. Rorie poured in five three-pointers and 21 points against the Trojans. Freshman wing Sayeed Pridgett had 20 points against the Cowboys.

“The last two years in the league, Montana has gone 14-4 in the league back-to-back,” Gottfried said. “They have a lot of the same players back and have added a really good player in Ahmaad Rorie, who I have watched in high school.”

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