NC State is an 8-point underdog in ACC tournament. 3 things it must do to upset Duke

N.C. State gets a third shot at Duke on Thursday in the ACC tournament.

The Wolfpack beat the Blue Devils 88-66 in Raleigh on Feb. 19 and lost at Duke 88-69 on March 2.

It’s Kevin Keatts third season with the Wolfpack but this is the first time he will face an ACC team three times in a single year. In three seasons at UNCW, Keatts went 7-1 third-time matchups.

Here’s how N.C. State, a 8-point underdog, can upset Duke on Thursday:

Solve the zone

Duke was struggling in the first half of the game in Durham when coach Mike Krzyzewski decided to switch to a 2-3 zone. The Blue Devils were able to overcome their slow start and take a two-point lead at the half before blowing the game open in the second.

Krzyzewski called N.C. State point guard Markell Johnson “magical” in ball-screen situations and said he had to switch defenses to slow him down. Johnson had a career-high 28 points in the first matchup.

Duke’s zone was partly effective because N.C. State missed open shots and rushed other shots early in the possession. Duke was able to turn the long rebounds into fastbreak opportunities.

“I think one of the things that hurt us when they went to the zone, we didn’t make shots, like wide-open shots,” Keatts said of the loss at Duke. “When I went back and watched the tape, we didn’t make shots.”

N.C. State made 37.5 percent of its shots in the second half at Duke, after a 50 percent start in the first half.

“Good Markell”

When Johnson is at his best, N.C. State is at its best. Johnson had 28 points and four assists in the first matchup and 11 points and seven assists in the second.

No matter what defense Krzyzewski chooses, Johnson has to be aggressive. He didn’t try to do too much in Wednesday’s win over Pitt and turned in an effective performance. He had seven points (on six shots) and 11 assists.

Embrace the opportunity

N.C. State was helpless on Selection Sunday last year and then disappointed. It doesn’t want to be in the same position this year.

A second win over Duke would push the Wolfpack squarely into the tournament. A second loss will leave them in a similarly precarious position like last year where it might need help to make the field.

NC State vs. Duke

When: Thursday, 3 p.m.

Where: Greensboro Coliseum

Watch: ESPN

Listen: WRAL-101.5