North Carolina State Wolfpack Upset North Carolina Tar Heels 82-58 Behind Copeland's 20 Points

The North Carolina State Wolfpack, ranked 29th in the NET rankings, pulled off a stunning 82-58 upset over the 25th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, a team that was considered a lock for the NCAA tournament with a 20-6 record. This 24-point blowout was a far cry from the 0.8-point margin predicted by CHD Scout, and it has real consequences for both teams' seed lines. The Wolfpack, now 19-8, dominated from the opening tip, outscoring the Tar Heels 42-26 in the first quarter, with Quadir Copeland scoring 10 of his 20 points in the first 10 minutes. This blistering start set the tone for the rest of the game, as NC State's defense held North Carolina to just 26% shooting from the field in the first half, including 1-7 from three-point range.

As the game wore on, it became clear that North Carolina was in trouble, unable to muster any sort of offense against the Wolfpack's stifling defense. The Tar Heels, who had been averaging 78.8 points per game over their last five, were held to just 58 points, their lowest total of the season. Meanwhile, NC State was clicking on all cylinders, with Matt Able adding 19 points and 6 rebounds to Copeland's 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Wolfpack's 42 points in the first quarter were a season high, and they never looked back, cruising to a 24-point victory. This win was a significant departure from NC State's recent trend, in which they had been allowing 85.8 points per game over their last five, but it was a welcome change for a team that had been struggling to find consistency.

The star performers for NC State were undoubtedly Copeland and Able, who combined for 39 points and 12 rebounds. However, it was Copeland's ability to hit big shots and control the tempo of the game that really made the difference. He had 7 assists, many of which came on crucial possessions, and his 20 points were scored with incredible efficiency, including 3-5 from three-point range. On the other hand, North Carolina's Zayden High and Jarin Stevenson, who had been averaging 15.6 and 12.8 points per game, respectively, over the Tar Heels' last five, were held to just 13 points each, and were unable to get anything going against the Wolfpack's defense. High did manage to grab 10 rebounds, but it was a quiet 13 points, with many of his baskets coming in garbage time.

The CHD Scout prediction of an NC State win by 0.8 points was correct, but the margin was far greater than expected.

The reason for this disparity was the Wolfpack's ability to shut down North Carolina's offense, holding them to just 32% shooting from the field, including 3-14 from three-point range. The Tar Heels had been averaging 6.8 points more than their opponents over their last five games, but were outscored by 24 here. This was a significant departure from their recent trend, in which they had been outscoring their opponents by an average of 6.8 points per game. The Wolfpack's defense was the key factor, as they were able to limit North Carolina's scoring opportunities and capitalize on their own. NC State's recent trend of allowing 85.8 points per game over their last five was a major concern, but they were able to flip the script and hold the Tar Heels to their lowest total of the season.

The first quarter was a disaster for North Carolina, as they were outscored 42-26 and never recovered. The Tar Heels had been averaging 78.8 points per game over their last five, but were held to just 26 in the first quarter, and 58 for the game. This was a significant departure from their recent trend, in which they had been scoring at least 65 points in every game. The Wolfpack, on the other hand, were able to build on their strong start, and never looked back. They outscored the Tar Heels 40-32 in the second quarter, and cruised to a 24-point victory. This win was a major statement for NC State, who had been struggling to find consistency over their last five games, with a record of 3-2.

The loss was a major setback for North Carolina, who had been playing well over their last five games, with a record of 4-1. The Tar Heels had been averaging 78.8 points per game over this stretch, but were held to just 58 points here. This was a significant departure from their recent trend, and raises concerns about their ability to score against tough defenses. The Wolfpack's defense was the key factor, as they were able to limit North Carolina's scoring opportunities and capitalize on their own. NC State's recent trend of allowing 85.8 points per game over their last five was a major concern, but they were able to flip the script and hold the Tar Heels to their lowest total of the season.

This win was a major boost to NC State's tournament resume, as they moved to 19-8 on the season. The Wolfpack's NET ranking of 29 is still a bit of a concern, but this win over a top-25 team will certainly help their cause. On the other hand, the loss was a major setback for North Carolina, who fell to 20-6 on the season. The Tar Heels' NET ranking of 25 is still strong, but this loss will certainly drop them a few spots. The Wolfpack's win over the Tar Heels was a Quadrant 1 win, which will help their tournament chances. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus after this disappointing loss. With 24 points, NC State's margin of victory was significant, and it will be interesting to see how the selection committee views this game when it comes time to seed the tournament.

The implications of this game are significant, as NC State has now played themselves into the tournament conversation. The Wolfpack's win over North Carolina was a major statement, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up. With a record of 19-8, NC State is now in a good position to make a run at the tournament. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus after this disappointing loss. They had been playing well over their last five games, but this loss will certainly drop them a few spots in the rankings. The Wolfpack's defense was the key factor in this game, as they were able to limit North Carolina's scoring opportunities and capitalize on their own. This was a significant departure from their recent trend, and it will be interesting to see if they can sustain this level of play over their final few games.

In the end, this game was a major upset, as NC State dominated North Carolina from start to finish. The Wolfpack's 82-58 win was a statement, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up. With a record of 19-8, NC State is now in a good position to make a run at the tournament. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus after this disappointing loss. They had been playing well over their last five games, but this loss will certainly drop them a few spots in the rankings. The Wolfpack's win over the Tar Heels was a Quadrant 1 win, which will help their tournament chances. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus after this disappointing loss, and they must do it quickly, as they have just a few games left to make a statement before the tournament.

HEADLINE: North Carolina State Wolfpack Upset North Carolina Tar Heels 82-58 Behind Copeland's 20 Points SUBHEADLINE: The Wolfpack's 24-point win over the 25th-ranked Tar Heels has real consequences for both teams' seed lines, with NC State improving to 19-8 and North Carolina falling to 20-6, and the Wolfpack's NET ranking of 29 could see a significant boost after this Quadrant 1 win.