NC State took a more confident approach to its non-conference scheduling in Kevin Keatts’ second season, which is worth lauding. The Wolfpack actively sought multiple games against power-five opponents, including Auburn, which will be really good this year.
That’s a welcome change from last season, when State worked around its obligations (Battle 4 Atlantis, B1G/ACC Challenge) by inserting a bunch of tomato cans. It was an understandable approach given that State had a brand new coach, mind you, but if a few a few things had gone differently, that schedule would have zapped NC State’s NCAA tournament at-large hopes.