NC State Basketball Riding Four-Game ACC Win Streak

Wolfpack's NCAA Tournament Hopes Boosted Midway Through Conference Play

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:47am

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NC State men's basketball is on a four-game winning streak in ACC play, including a recent 96-78 victory over Wake Forest. The Wolfpack's record and NET ranking have improved significantly under first-year head coach Will Wade, putting the team in good position for an NCAA Tournament bid as the season reaches its midpoint.

Why it matters

After going winless in ACC road games last season, NC State has flipped the script this year, winning all five of its league games away from Raleigh. The team's strong performance on the road, combined with a pair of Quad 1 wins, has boosted its NCAA Tournament resume as the selection committee evaluates teams for at-large bids.

The details

NC State currently sits at No. 26 in the NET rankings, its highest mark of the season, and has been in the top-30 for the past two-and-a-half weeks. The Wolfpack have nine ACC games remaining, more than half of which represent crucial opportunities to further improve their tournament standing.

  • NC State beat Wake Forest 96-78 on Saturday, January 28, 2026.
  • The Wolfpack are currently on a four-game winning streak in ACC play.

The players

Will Wade

NC State's first-year head basketball coach who has led the team's turnaround this season.

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What’s next

The next month of games will be critical for NC State's NCAA Tournament at-large resume, as the team looks to continue its strong conference play and solidify its position for Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

NC State's dramatic improvement under new head coach Will Wade, including a perfect 5-0 record in ACC road games, has the Wolfpack in strong position for an NCAA Tournament bid as the season reaches its midpoint.