For the second straight game, NC State will be without their staring Junior Point Guard Markell Johnson.
Junior guard Markell Johnson will not play today for @PackMensBball at Notre Dame.
— Craig Hammel (@Hammel_Craig) January 19, 2019
Johnson hurt his back in the Pittsburgh game with 10 minutes left in the first half, and didn’t return. The Wolfpack found a way to win without him against Pitt, but desperately needed him on the road in a loss against Wake Forest.
NC State is only a 2-point favorite on the road against Notre Dame, but that line was set without the knowledge of Johnson’s absence.