March Madness 2024: Oakland-N.C. State predictions
James Hawkins, Madeline Kenney, John Niyo, Tony Paul, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Saturday’s NCAA Tournament game between Oakland and N.C. State in Pittsburgh (7:10 p.m., TBS and TruTV, 1270).
▶ James Hawkins: Talk about an unlikely pairing and two incredible stories colliding. N.C. State’s season looked to be over two weeks ago before the Wolfpack went on a stunning run. Oakland pulled off the biggest upset on the first day of the Big Dance. If the Golden Grizzlies can hit enough 3s, take care of the ball and keep N.C. State off balance with their zone, there’s no reason they can’t write another unforgettable chapter that would deliver Greg Kampe his 700th win and first trip to the Sweet 16. Pick: Oakland, 71-70
▶ Madeline Kenney: This matchup is what makes the NCAA Tournament arguably the best sporting event of the year. N.C. State lost its last four regular-season games only to plow through the ACC Tournament, upsetting North Carolina along the way, before beating Texas Tech in the first round. Meanwhile, Oakland was a team that has been sneakily good all season, but most people wrote Greg Kampe's team off before the bracket was even unveiled since it's a mid-major program. Hot shooting from Jack Gohlke powered Oakland to a thrilling win over a youthful Kentucky squad on Thursday. Can he keep it going? Or will the Wolfpack's DJ Horne and DJ Burns take over? The game could swing either way, but there's one thing is for certain: The winner of this exciting pairing will be this year's tournament darling. Pick: N.C. State, 77-73
More: March Madness 2024: Oakland vs. N.C. State scouting report
▶ John Niyo: At some point, the Wolfpack will run out of gas. North Carolina State won five games in five days just to earn an invite to the NCAA Tournament. Despite a banged-up roster and a short bench, they looked like the more physical and aggressive team in Thursday’s nightcap, upsetting No. 6 seed Texas Tech to set up this don’t-call-us-Cinderella matchup with Oakland. Greg Kampe’s team knows how to control the tempo of a game, and the Grizzlies’ matchup zone won’t be easy to prepare for on a short turnaround. That defense won’t be easy to beat, either, given the Wolfpack's limited perimeter threats: North Carolina State ranked 252nd in the nation in 3-point attempts this season. Pick: Oakland, 69-66
▶ Tony Paul: March is a funny thing. Here's a matchup of the No. 14 seed, Oakland, and the No. 11 seed, N.C. State, playing for the right to go to a Sweet 16 that few would've believed was possible just days ago. The Wolfpack, who finished under .500 during ACC play, are riding the hottest of hot hands right now, winning five games in five days to claim the ACC tournament title, beating North Carolina, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, in the final to move off the bubble. Then there's little-known Oakland, which is coming off the biggest upset of this NCAA Tournament so far, stunning Kentucky. Who most wants this magical ride to continue? Pick: Oakland, 72-65
▶ Bob Wojnowski: Nothing looks too imposing for the Golden Grizzlies after their impassioned performance against Kentucky. They played their zone defense with discipline and flustered the more talented opponent. They can do the same against the Wolfpack, who have won six straight and are 5½-point favorites here. That doesn’t mean squat if Jack Gohlke unleashes another shooting clinic, although you can’t count on 10-for-20 on 3s (at least I don’t think you can). Senior forward Trey Townsend draws the toughest task, battling North Carolina State’s bruising DJ Burns, a 6-9, 275-pound behemoth. Greg Kampe will have his zone ready to go, and the Wolfpack won’t have the shooting or patience to solve it. Kampe’s Krew finds another way. Pick: Oakland, 70-68