Where would N.C. State be without Nyheim Hines?
For the Wolfpack and its fans, the answer isn’t pretty. By any standard, Hines was the play-breaking difference in wins over Pittsburgh, Boston College and, as of Saturday, North Carolina. His loss to injury left the Wolfpack offense foundering in the loss at Wake Forest.
And even if 8-4 isn’t the season N.C. State aspired to or hoped for – especially when 10 wins was so easily within reach and an Atlantic Division title shot not much farther off – it could have been worse, so much worse, without Hines, a player so fast he watches his long runs on the scoreboard to make sure no one’s catching up to him.