Terrance Arceneaux’s season didn’t exactly start with fireworks. In fact, for a long stretch early on, it looked like he might be on the outside looking in when it came to NC State’s rotation.
After a rough outing against Seton Hall, head coach Will Wade pulled Arceneaux aside for what was clearly a pivotal conversation. Whatever was said in that meeting, it clicked-because the very next game, Arceneaux delivered his best performance of the season.
Against Boise State, he filled the stat sheet: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 2 assists. More importantly, he logged a season-high 23 minutes in what turned out to be NC State’s first Top-50 win of the season.
It was a performance that hinted at the kind of impact he could have. But even with that breakout showing, consistent minutes didn’t immediately follow.
Arceneaux didn’t see another 23-minute night until the Liberty game. Again, he responded.
He scored 8 points, grabbed 3 boards, and helped the Wolfpack post their highest adjusted offensive/defensive (AdjO/AdjD) efficiency differential of the season at +57.7. For context, that number represents the difference between how efficiently a team scores and how efficiently it defends-so the higher the number, the more dominant the performance.
And +57.7? That’s not just good-it’s elite.
Then came the Florida State game. Arceneaux played 29 minutes-his most all season-and set a new season-high with 13 points.
He added 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, and a block. Once again, the efficiency numbers told the story: NC State posted a +58.8 differential, their best of the year.
Here’s the trend: In the three games where Arceneaux has played 23 or more minutes, NC State’s average efficiency differential is +47.7. In the 18 games where he’s played fewer minutes?
That number drops to +18. That’s not just a blip.
That’s a pattern.
Now, small sample sizes always warrant some caution. But when you dig into the advanced metrics, the case for Arceneaux only gets stronger.
In conference play, he’s leading the team-or tied for the lead-in nearly every key efficiency category:
- Steal Percentage: 4.7% - tied for 1st
- Offensive Rating (ORtG): 150 - 1st
- Box Plus/Minus: +10.2 - 1st
- 2-point FG%: 63.6% - 1st
- 3-point FG%: 54% - 1st
- Usage Rate: 10.6% - lowest on the team
Translation? He’s not just efficient-he’s hyper-efficient.
He’s producing at an elite level without dominating the ball, without forcing shots, and without turning it over. He’s defending at a high level, stretching the floor, and making smart, winning plays.
For a team that leans heavily on analytics, those numbers are hard to ignore.
Arceneaux is essentially the prototype of what every coach wants from a role player: low usage, high impact. He doesn’t need the offense to run through him to make a difference-he just needs minutes. And when he gets them, the results speak for themselves.
With Darrion Williams finding a rhythm offensively, there may finally be room for Arceneaux to carve out a consistent spot in the rotation. If the coaching staff is paying attention to the numbers-and all signs suggest they are-then it might be time to start penciling in more minutes for No. 23.
The numbers don’t lie. When Terrance Arceneaux plays big minutes, NC State plays its best basketball.
It might just be Terrance Time.