March Madness kicks off with the First Four round, with the second game featuring the Texas Longhorns taking on the NC State Wolfpack. While Texas has long been considered a basketball powerhouse, the Longhorns have struggled this season and barely made it to March Madness. Now, they take on the Wolfpack, which had its own ups and downs this season and is looking for the win to advance to the first round.
Both teams have been feeling the pressure to live up to high expectations, and a win to enter the first round would be vindication, but only one of them could advance to the actual tournament itself. So which team will it be?
Texas vs NC State First Four Round Projected Starting Lineups
Texas Longhorns
- F Camden Heide
- C Matas Vokietaitis
- G Jordan Pope
- G Dailyn Swain
- G Tramon Mark
NC State Wolfpack
- F Darrion Williams
- F Ven-Allen Lubin
- G Tre Holloman
- G Paul McNeil Jr.
- G Quadir Copeland
It is no secret that Texas is in the middle of a late-season collapse, but Jordan Pope and Dailyn Swain have been holding it on for the embattled Longhorns.
Meanwhile, NC State has been quite successful late into the season, only to lose to No. 10 Virginia in the ACC Tournament. They are aiming to bounce back with a win over Texas, and they have the stars in Ven-Allen Lubin and Paul McNeil Jr. to do it, as they lifted the Wolfpack in that close loss to the Cavs.
Texas vs NC State First Four Round Injury Report
Texas Longhorns
- Lassina Traore: Out
NC State Wolfpack
- Alyn Breed: Questionable
- Jerry Deng: Out
- Colt Langdon: Questionable
Texas forward Lassina Traore was originally listed as questionable coming in, but he was soon downgraded to ‘Out’ due to an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, Alyn Breed and Colt Langdon might play for NC State, but Jerry Deng, who has been redshirted earlier this season, will not be playing.
Texas vs NC State First Four Round Prediction
NC State has actually been playing very well late in the season, while Texas has been collapsing. With momentum on NC State’s side, this one should result in a Wolfpack win, but also expect the Longhorns to put up a fight.
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