North Carolina State basketball started the season hot in 2026, and they were riding high after starting the year 18-6, which already included a 102-97 loss to Texas in the Southwest Maui Invitational in November.
As the season went on, the Wolfpack weren't able to keep up the success as they finished the year going 2-8. Despite the failure over the back half of the season, the Wolfpack seemingly had an attitude about them that wasn't very flattering for the program. The whole "bully" mentality often hurts sports teams more than it helps them, especially when they don't have anything to back it up.
Nail in the coffin for Will Wade an Co.
It's safe to say that Sean Miller and Co. beating the "big bad Wolfpack" last night (for the second time) really killed whatever momentum or morale that NC State had, and put the final nail in the coffin of Will Wade's up and down first season in Raleigh.
NC State was 18-6 on the morning of Feb. 9.
â Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 18, 2026
The Wolfpack finished the season 2-8.
Remember when one of the sports teams that you were on in high school pulled off either an upset or a big win over a team that sort of rubbed everyone the wrong way? That's how Texas basketball feels right now.
The added pleasure of defeating a team like that in the postseason makes it so much better, and knowing that your team was the one who sent them home is incredible.
The Longhorns are set to face BYU tomorrow night (3/19) in the Round of 64, and if Jay Bilas' bracket prediction continues to ring true, Longhorns fans could be in for another treat.