3 Observations Proving NC State Can Win the National Championship
By Joe Summers
The magical run for the NC State Wolfpack marches onto the Final Four after a thrilling 76-64 Elite Eight victory over ACC rival Duke.
DJ Burns led the way with 29 points, though the whole team is firing on all cylinders before a matchup against Zach Edey and Purdue on Saturday, April 6 at 6:09 PM ET. This will be the most difficult game of the season but I think NC State is up for the challenge.
As the Wolfpack hope to continue one of the most improbable runs in NCAA Tournament history, I've got three observations from the Duke win that prove NC State can win the whole darned thing.
3 Observations Proving NC State Can Win NCAA Title
1. DJ Burns Is One of the Tournament's Best Players
DJ Burns is not only one of the most endearing players in March Madness, he's also one of the best. Fresh off a 29-point effort against Kyle Filipowski and Duke, Burns proved he can beat teams in a variety of ways and is one of the few players with the sheer mass to slow down Zach Edey.
He had 20 points and seven points in the ACC Tournament championship against UNC, 24 points and 11 rebounds in the NCAA second-round win over Oakland, and a team-leading seven assists against Marquette before his masterpiece in the Elite Eight.
Whether he's scoring on you with his patented lefty jump-hook or dishing to cutting teammates, Burns' versatility makes him an impossible guard. He's slayed several dragons in this stretch, what's a couple more?
DJ Burns said their entire season turned around when everyone:
— Team Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 🏀 (@TeamRHJAZ) April 1, 2024
1) Bought in.
2) Started showing up on time.
3) Stopped causing distractions on/off court. pic.twitter.com/IBEEDtsJsK
Purdue naturally has a strong interior defense, as does potential finals opponent Connecticut, but neither team ranks inside the top 240 in defensive turnover percentage. That means Burns can use his ball-handling to find teammates if necessary, averaging nearly five assists per game in the last three rounds.
If Burns utilizes his post moves and size to continually frustrate opponents like he has thus far, the Wolfpack can finish the job they've started.
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