The #1 independent NC State sports news & recruiting site. Now owned & operated by the @Packinsider team (all alumni). 100% FREE. No paywalls or subscriptions.
Raleigh, NC
Joined June 2009
- Tweets178K
- Following757
- Followers82.7K
- Likes16.5K
OUR TAKE: NC State gave us almost everything we wanted to see in a 130-66 rout of Lenoir-Rhyne. 🐺
We graded the 7 things we were watching:
1️⃣ The Kyle Evans bounce-back
2️⃣ Darius Adams as a playmaker
3️⃣ Preston Edmead staying on the floor
4️⃣ More Mikey Wilkins
5️⃣ Dominating the glass
6️⃣ Taking care of the ball
7️⃣ A new era of NC State defense
Five passed. Two didn't. See our grades 👇
packinsider.com/2026/10/25/o…
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
NC State scored 130 against Lenoir-Rhyne, but what did the numbers actually tell us?
27 five-man lineups, the Four Factors, efficiency ratings, Game Scores & more.
Lubin was the overall MVP, & Hammond was the bench MVP.
packinsider.com/2026/10/25/n…
"𝐍𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥."
🤔 Interestingly enough, ESPN's @MoveTheSticks (Daniel Jeremiah) hosted Rivers a few weeks ago to talk about coaching at the next level.
Today, Rivers is being listed at a top option for the now-open NC State job, and Jeremiah is urging NC State to give Phil a call.
Read about it: packinsider.com/2026/10/25/w…
Philip Rivers on what he'd need as a head coach:
"I have to surround myself with guys that have done it."
🎙️ Inside his 4-hour Bills interview
🧠 The staff he says he'd need around him
🏈 Does high school coaching prepare you for the next level?
Watch + transcript.
packinsider.com/2026/10/25/w…
NC State's football shakeup isn't stopping with Dave Doeren.
According to ABC11, the Wolfpack has also fired General Manager Andy Vaughn.
Also, Steve Keim is campaigning for the job on his Instagram stories.
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/n…
Philip Rivers as NC State's next head football coach?
This isn't just a fanbase dreaming anymore.
ESPN's Pete Thamel and On3's Pete Nakos are both reporting that Rivers is expected to be in the mix.
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/p…
Probably a good time to check this out if you haven't.
We talked a lot about the coming end of the Doeren era and the Philip Rivers rumors that have been flying around.
packinsider.com/2026/10/21/c…
NC State owes Dave Doeren roughly $10.3 million.
But that doesn't mean he'll collect all of it.
Pack Pride obtained his actual 21-page contract and here's what we found.
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/d…
The Dave Doeren era is over.
NC State fired Doeren on Saturday, less than 24 hours after a 31-28 loss at Stanford dropped the Pack to 3-4.
14 seasons. The winningest coach in program history. And he leaves one game short of a record that's stood for 50+ years.
Here's how it ended and what comes next...
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/b…
"I think we're the most connected team in the country." — Darius Adams
NC State racked up 29 assists in a 130-66 rout of Lenoir-Rhyne. Afterward, Adams, Ven-Allen Lubin and Kingston Whitty talked about where this team stands.
🤝 The one thing they fixed after Mississippi State
👊 Lubin's "punch first" message for the bigs
🔁 Adams vs. Quadir Copeland: Lubin answers the comparison
🛠️ What Lubin says still has to be cleaned up
Full video + transcript
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/w…
NC State 130, Lenoir-Rhyne 66 🐺
Gainey's first home game didn't count, but it sure looked good.
🔥 67% from the field, 14 threes, 34-of-38 at the line
🎯 Adams + Edmead: 17 assists, 1 turnover combined
🩺 Gainey's update on why Shaw Hall didn't play
🗣️ The "winning plays" Mikey makes
Full press conference: video + transcript
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/g…
The Brewers won Game 1 of the 2026 World Series last night.
44 years ago, former NC State P Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout in Game 1 in the Brewers first trip to the Fall Classic.
One of the best to ever do it at NC State.
packinsider.com/2026/10/24/n…
NC State wins 130 to 66 they shot 67% from the floor 50% from 3pt range and 90% from the FT line.
They held the Bears to 38% field-goal percentage 9% from three.
Great performances all around. Paul McNeil did his thing, Lubin did his.
But you have to be really happy with how your guards played. Low volume shooting and elite assist numbers. Many times they had a chance to score and instead we’re kicking it out for open shots.
Justin Gainey ALMOST CERTAINLY emphasized that in the film session after the Mississippi State win.
Inside NC State still looked a little thin on the boards but you have to be excited about Mikey Wilkins, who put up 14 points and secured five rebounds. His high motor interior play was the highlight of the game for me.
State had 10 turnovers in this game that makes a total of 15 turnovers between the two exhibition games.
Justin Gainey has to be happy coming out of these two games and heading into the season.
NC State leading 69 to 30 at the half.
Just as you’d like to see Lubin is leading and scoring. McNeil is right up there as well.
Only three total shot attempts from Adams and Edmead. NC State is playing smart and burying the Bears in the paint.
Evans came on midway through the first half and we started to see what he’s capable of.
Edmead and Adam’s combined for nine assists in the first half.
Hammond, looking like he looked in the first game with great efficiency and no mistakes. EY another great showing early on with seven points.
Nc state defense held the Bears to 30 points and 7 turnovers. Nc state turned the ball over four times. Maybe one or two clean looks from three from the bears too early were trying to get that going.
