NC State Climbs NET Rankings After Narrow Win Over Notre Dame

NC State edged out Notre Dame 66-65 in a thrilling home game Wednesday night, propelling the Wolfpack one spot higher to No. 113 in the NCAA‘s NET Rankings. The victory, classified as a Quad 3 win, improved NC State’s season record to 9-6 overall.

The Wolfpack’s performance in quadrant games remains mixed. They are now 0-3 in Quad 1 matchups, 1-3 in Quad 2, 1-0 in Quad 3, and a perfect 7-0 in Quad 4 contests. Head coach Kevin Keatts emphasized the importance of the win, stating, ‘Every game matters, and this was a step in the right direction for our team.’

NC State’s next challenge comes Saturday against archrival UNC at the Lenovo Center, presenting an opportunity for their first Quad 1 victory of the season. The Tar Heels currently sit at No. 12 in the NET Rankings, making this a crucial game for the Wolfpack’s postseason aspirations.

The NET Rankings, introduced in 2018, have become the primary sorting tool for NCAA tournament selection. Teams are evaluated based on game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, and net offensive and defensive efficiency. Quadrant classifications help contextualize wins and losses based on opponent strength and game location.

Despite their recent success, NC State remains 12th in the ACC NET Rankings, highlighting the conference’s depth this season. The Wolfpack will need to secure more Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins to improve their tournament resume as conference play continues.