When Troy visits Lenovo Center tonight, the man on the other bench won’t be a stranger to NC State.
Adam Howard spent last season in Raleigh running the Wolfpack offense, and that group was as productive as any in school history. Now he’s back in a different role, leading Troy and trying to slow down the same program he helped power.
Howard came to NC State from Nebraska, where he had spent three seasons working under Fred Hoiberg, and Will Wade gave him the keys on offense. That trust paid off immediately. The Pack ranked 32nd nationally in offense and 29th in scoring, while the defense - 224th nationally - ended up being the real issue.
The numbers on that offense were hard to miss. NC State hit 348 three-pointers, a school record by a wide margin, topping the previous mark by 54. The Pack also launched a school-record 897 threes and still connected on 38.8% of them, which ranked ninth nationally.
That firepower helped NC State average 83.2 points per game, good for 29th in the country and the program’s highest scoring average since 1988-89. The offense also posted the highest efficiency rating in program history at 123.1, the lowest turnover rate in program history at 13.1, the highest 3-point percentage rank in program history at No. 6, and five of the 10 most efficient games in program history.
Howard’s work at NC State helped him land the Troy job, and this wasn’t a random leap. He had already coached there from 2016 to 2018 and helped the Trojans reach the NCAA Tournament.
He takes over a Troy program that has won both the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships in back-to-back seasons, but this version of the roster is still coming together. Only three players returned, and Howard’s first team includes seven transfers and five players who are in their first season of college basketball.
That group is 1-2 entering Friday, though Howard picked up his first win Tuesday with an overtime victory over Loyola Marymount. Jacoi Hutchinson scored 18 points, and Donovan Oday finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
So Howard returns to Raleigh with that first win in hand and a chance to see how his new team stacks up against the one he used to run.
NC State should be expected to handle Troy, but Howard deserves his share of credit for what happened here last season. The offense was the bright spot, and it was his offense.
In Other News...
NC States Coaching Search Suddenly Feels Like A Program Defining Bet
NC States coaching search has taken a turn that would have sounded far-fetched not long ago, with Philip Rivers emerging as a serious possibility to lead the program after Dave Doerens firing. The former Wolfpack quarterback is being considered despite having no college coaching experience, though he does bring a long track record as a player and some background coaching at the high school level.
The fact that Rivers appears to be the leading candidate says plenty about how bold this hire could become for the university. NC State has also spoken with other names, including Russell Wilson, but the direction of the search now feels bigger than a standard coaching change. It is turning into a defining decision about what kind of program the Wolfpack want to be, and how much they are willing to bet on a familiar face with a very different rsum. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Wrestling Is Starting To Look Like A March Threat
NC States home opener against the Naval Academy offered an early look at a wrestling lineup that is starting to settle in. The Wolfpack won eight of 10 bouts in a 24-12 result, and the night featured a mix of veteran presence and youthful energy, with three freshmen getting mat time, two in the starting lineup and one finishing the match. Fifth-year Jackson Arrington helped set the tone, while freshmen Dom Deputy and Sean Willcox gave the kind of early-season boost that can matter later.
For Pat Popolizio, the bigger picture is already in view. The head coach has stressed that the point of these early duals is to build toward March, when the NCAA tournament becomes the real measuring stick. If NC State keeps getting this kind of balance from its upperclassmen and newcomers alike, it is easy to see why the Wolfpack can start to look like a team with more than just regular-season upside. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Is Closing In On A Stunning NC State Return
A familiar face is on the verge of taking over the Wolfpack sideline, with N.C. State reaching an agreement with former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers to become its next head football coach. The move would bring back one of the programs most recognizable alumni, and it comes as the school turns the page after firing Dave Doeren during his 14th season.
Rivers would arrive with a coaching rsum that is unusual for a Power Four job, having spent the past six years coaching high school football and never having coached at the college or professional level. The deal still needs approval from the universitys board of trustees, but if it goes through, it would mark a remarkable homecoming for a program looking for a fresh start. [Read more 🡒]