RALEIGH, N.C. — In the wake of the big win over North Carolina, with the 1983 champions in town, against Wake Forest, with an ACC tournament double-bye suddenly within reach, and a 9 p.m. start, even Kevin Keatts knew the score.
This was the kind of game, historically, when N.C. State has struggled. Keatts knew it. The fans knew it. Everybody knew it. Some programs have trap games. N.C. State has these.
All of which only makes the fact that the Wolfpack pulled away to a comfortable win in the second half, despite all those headwinds, all the more impressive.