Preston Edmead wasted no time making his mark at NC State.
In the Wolfpack’s 77-63 win over East Tennessee State last night, the sophomore guard turned in the kind of line that jumps straight into program lore: 20 points, 10 assists, zero turnovers. He added two steals, shot 5-for-10 from the field and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, and did it all in 38 minutes.
For a player in only his second game wearing red and white, that’s about as loud a statement as you can make.
Edmead’s night landed him in rare company in the NC State record book. It was just the 17th time in school history that a player finished with at least 10 assists and no turnovers, and Edmead became only the 11th Wolfpack player to do it. He also joined a list that includes Sidney Lowe and Jarkel Joiner.
The most assists without a turnover in NC State men’s basketball history still belongs to Quadir Copeland, who had 16 against SMU on 2/3/26. Ishua Benjamin is next with 15 against Sam Houston St. on 12/18/97.
Sidney Lowe shows up all over the list, including 13 assists against Clemson on 2/9/83 and 2/4/81, 12 against Virginia on 1/12/83, and 11 against Campbell on 11/28/82, Clemson on 1/2/82, Duke on 2/16/82 and Georgia Tech on 1/10/81. Chris Corchiani also appears twice with 13 against Georgia Tech on 1/13/91 and 11 against Louisville on 12/29/88, while Tyler Lewis had 11 against Virginia Tech on 2/22/14.
Quentin Jackson reached 11 against Creighton on 12/28/88, and Cliff Crawford, Terry Gannon and Jarkel Joiner each had 10 in their respective games.
Edmead’s performance also pushed him into an even smaller club. By pairing 20 points with 10 assists and no turnovers, he became just the third player in school history to post that combination.
Sidney Lowe did it on February 9th, 1983, with 21 points, 13 assists and 0 turnovers. Jarkel Joiner matched the 20-point, 10-assist, zero-turnover line on March 8th, 2023.
That’s elite territory for anyone. For a player with only two games in an NC State uniform, it’s a heck of a start.
In Other News...
NC States First Big Test Exposed A Problem Beyond Khamil Pierre
NC States first real measuring-stick game of the season came with a reminder that one hot scorer can only carry a team so far. In a 93-78 loss to No. 14 Kentucky at the Ally Tipoff, the Wolfpack got a huge night from Khamil Pierre, but Kentucky answered with balanced shot-making and a barrage from deep, hitting 18 three-pointers and finishing at 53 percent from the field.
The more troubling part for NC State was how little help Pierre got from the perimeter. The Wolfpack made only 3 of 11 shots from beyond the arc and did not hit a three in the second half, leaving them too easy to defend once Kentucky settled in. Aja Sivkas 32 points gave the Wildcats another offensive weapon, and the game offered NC State an early look at the kind of spacing issue it may need to solve against high-level competition. [Read more 🡒]
Preston Edmead May Be Solving A Bigger NC State Problem
Preston Edmead gave NC State a much-needed lift in its win over East Tennessee State, and he did it with the kind of control the Wolfpack has been searching for. The Hofstra transfer posted a career-high 20 points and 10 assists without a turnover, a clean, efficient line that stood out even before you get to the final score. It was his first career double-double, and it put him in a small group of NC State players to reach that mark in that fashion.
More than the numbers, Edmead looked like a point guard who could steady the offense and keep possessions moving in the right direction. He created scoring chances for teammates, protected the ball and gave NC State a clearer answer at a position that has been a question early. Whether this becomes a one-night burst or something bigger is the part worth watching, but the Wolfpack at least saw what it can look like when the offense has a true organizer at the controls. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Could Bring Back A Familiar Wolfpack Name To Raleigh
Philip Rivers arrival at NC State has already stirred up plenty of familiar names around Raleigh, and Jerricho Cotchery is one that naturally fits the conversation. The former Wolfpack wide receiver and longtime NFL player has built a coaching rsum since his playing days, moving through the pro ranks and then into the college game at Limestone University and North Greenville University.
Cotchery also brings something harder to measure than experience: a direct connection to Rivers from their days together at NC State. With staff decisions still to come, his name has surfaced as one to watch if the new era starts leaning on people who know the program, know the quarterback, and know what it means to wear the Wolfpack uniform. [Read more 🡒]