The loudest fans in the Triangle often make the worst predictions before the season even starts. A recent piece on KeepingItHeel.After Darrion Williams declared his transfer back to Texas Tech, com stated the NC State Wolfpack experienced a total collapse. This narrative ignores the cold reality that Williams never intended to stay in Raleigh. He entered the NBA Draft earlier this spring but was not selected by any team. When a new court decision granted the entire class of 2022 a fifth year of eligibility, Williams immediately took advantage of the ruling. He returned to Lubbock, where he has a clear path to play, rather than staying with a scattered Wolfpack roster.
The Coach Who Left a Hole
Will Wade put NC State in a terrible spot before his departure, but the current situation falls squarely on new head coach Justin Gainey. Since Rick Barnes adopted the defensive scheme Gainey created, the Vols have achieved deep tournament runs under his staff presence. Everyone respects his instinct for defense, yet the team he inherited is broken. The coach who originally recruited Williams to Raleigh is gone, and the players he brought in have scattered to the winds. There is nothing holding this team together right now. The writer at KeepingItHeel.com takes glee in calling it a collapse, but the team simply lacks a foundation to build upon.
Carolina’s Desperate Gamble
While NC State struggles, UNC fans are ecstatic about securing a commitment from a player who used to play for South Dakota. This new recruit might turn out to be great, but no one knows for sure yet. Florida backup center Micah Handlogten created complications so complex that Michael Malone resorted to this player only afterward. It is a risky move to bet on a player from South Dakota when the program needs stability. The writer at KeepingItHeel.According to com, UNC will likely surpass NC State in quality next year. However, nothing in college basketball is written in stone. A single bad game or injury can change the entire landscape of the conference.
The Real Lesson on Rivalry
The common element in this Triangle rivalry is that Duke and NC State historically hate UNC, while Carolina hates Duke and likes to condescend to State fans. This dynamic usually leads to trash talk that gets out of hand. The article from Duke Basketball Report notes that the best strategy is to wait until after the games are played before you start woofing. Darrion Williams left because the team he was recruited to is gone, not because he lacked loyalty. Justin Gainey should do a better job of rebuilding the roster, but he cannot fix a mess created by years of turnover. The Wolfpack fans should stop mocking their own team and focus on the hard work ahead. All things considered, it is generally better to woof after the fact. Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions or drop a line to the editors for more updates.
