What time of year do flailing teams suddenly become well-oiled machines? When do mediocre players become elite? Well, the answer to that is in March, during March Madness. Led by the warmhearted but fierce DJ Burns and his pals DJ Horne, Mohammed Diarra, Casey Morsell, and Micheal O’Connell, the NC State Wolfpack stormed into this year’s tournament with extreme levels of energy, camaraderie, smiles, and a hint of madness.
More than a month ago, with a regular season record of 17-14, the Wolfpack were not expecting an NCAA tournament slot. An ACC tournament victory would give them a chance, but it housed some of the most dominant teams in college basketball. Through a combination of good timing and unrivaled energy, the Wolfpack stupefied critics by winning five games… in five consecutive days. But, securing the ACC title wasn’t contrived by luck.
The Wolfpack’s intensity and cohesiveness was as dazzling as it was unanticipated. In the final, they destroyed the #7 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, who went on to be the #1 ranked team in the West region of the NCAA tournament. An unforeseen style of play introduced in the first game had rooted itself as a permanent characteristic by the final. Shooting the lights out, attacking the rim, out-hustling the opponent, and playing lockdown defense were its parameters. Their ACC victory warranted a bid in the NCAA tournament. They entered as the #11 seed in the South region.
DJ Burns Jr, the 6-9, 275-pound center from Rock Hill, South Carolina, may have been the force behind this change. Charismatic and animated, he rules the court with his massive frame and nimble feet. If he’s double-teamed, he flings a beautiful pass out toward his unguarded teammate. When he is not looking daggers at his matchup after dunking on or blocking them, his smile is as wide as the basketball court. This includes mid-play. Did I mention he has quick feet? He is a ballerina in the box, flipping and twirling around his defender before falling back for a hook shot.
He is not the only changemaker, however, Mohammed Diarra, who played most of the tournament fasting for Ramadan, snatches rebounds for the Wolfpack. DJ Horne, a transfer from Arizona State, scores bundles of points by driving to the rim. Micheal O’Connell drains threes while bringing his team together with graduate student leadership and sharp passes.
It was unexpected for the Wolfpack to get into the tournament, much less compete, but they fought their way past a skilled Texas Tech in the first round, extending their win streak to six. Next came a fellow “Cinderella” team, the Oakland Grizzlies, whose electric first round posed a threat. The Wolfpack quickly shut them down. The Sweet Sixteen served them a big dog #2 ranked Marquette, who they slaughtered while grinning ear to ear. Finally, a battle against Duke delivered them to the Final Four, a place the Wolfpack hadn’t seen since 1983. The self-fulfilling prophecy created by the Wolfpack during the ACC tournament, “Why Not Us?” had become a reality. This “Cinderella” team had proved themselves a formidable opponent, so when a reporter asked Horne, “You’re not a Cinderella are you?,” he responded calmly, “NAH…….”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA ~ The 2024 NCAA tournament’s Final Four housed two powerhouses, UConn and Purdue, a lengthy and athletic Alabama, and NC State. The Wolfpack had to face Purdue and their towering 7-4, 300-pound center, Zach Edey, who turned out to be a handful for Burns. Edey and Burns battled it out in the paint, but Burns could not penetrate the mountainous Edey. He delivered dimes to teammates like Dj Horne who walked away with 20 points. NC State came within six points at the 1:25 min mark but was defeated 63-50 at the 40-minute mark.
NC State’s roster is filled with mostly graduate students, rendering a comeback next year unlikely. This spectacular single run won’t soon be forgotten and may bode well for NC State’s recruiting potential. So who knows, maybe next year the Wolfpack will make another run. Remember, March Madness always delivers.
