2012/13 Preseason NCAA Top 25: #3 North Carolina State Wolfpack

(photo courtesy of whateyesee13)

Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season!  To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel.  Next up #3 North Carolina State Wolfpack

Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs, and Alex Gallant (@SeaTownSports) from SeaTown Sports.

#3 – North Carolina State Wolfpack

2011/12: 24-13, lost NCAA Sweet Sixteen

Key Returning Players:

Lorenzo Brown – Point Guard – Junior

12.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.8 spg

Scott Wood – Shooting Guard/Small Forward – Senior

12.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg

C.J. Leslie – Small Forward/Power Forward – Junior

14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.6 bpg

Richard Howell – Power Forward – Senior

10.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 spg

Top Newcomers:

Rodney Purvis – Shooting Guard – #12 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)

T.J. Warren – Small Forward – #17 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)

Tyler Lewis – Point Guard – #48 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)

Top NBA Prospect:

C.J. Leslie – projected lottery pick in 2013 draft


Outlook:

You have to go back decades and decades to find a college basketball season where North Carolina State had more hype surrounding their team than the neighbourhood bullies, Duke and North Carolina.  But the hype is real and the hype is deserved this season – the Wolfpack are a legitimate title contender.  Just based on the returning players on their roster – led by studs Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie – the ‘Pack would be a scary team to face this year.  But coach Mark Gottfried has also added one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, with three McDonald’s All-Americans joining the roster.  There’s a new bully on the block.

Preseason Top 25

#4 – Kentucky Wildcats
#5 – Michigan Wolverines
#6 – UCLA Bruins
#7 – Kansas Jayhawks
#8 – Ohio State Buckeyes
#9 – North Carolina Tar Heels
#10 – Duke Blue Devils
#11 – Missouri Tigers
#12 – Gonzaga Bulldogs
#13 – Syracuse Orange
#14 – UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
#15 – Arizona Wildcats
#16 – Wisconsin Badgers
#17 – Baylor Bears
#18 – Creighton Bluejays
#19 – Florida Gators
#20 – Kansas State Wildcats
#21 – San Diego State Aztecs
#22 – Saint Louis Billikens
#23 – Memphis Tigers
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#25 – Texas Wildcats

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