Dennis Smith Jr. peeled off his N.C. State jersey seconds after going through the postgame handshake line with Virginia.
Walking two steps ahead of coach Mark Gottfried, with his head down, Smith walked off the court and dragged his home white No. 4 jersey, like a little kid with a blanket, through the tunnel and into the N.C. State locker room after a 70-55 loss to the Cavaliers in the home finale.
Saturday’s game was typical of Smith’s first, and likely only, season in Raleigh. The supremely talented 6-3, 195-pound guard from Fayetteville led the Wolfpack in scoring (13 points) and had some good moments.