Richmond vs. NC State Odds
| Richmond Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
Richmond opens as slight favorites as it travels to face North Carolina State on Friday night.
Richmond is 6-4 on the season, with all six wins coming against opponents that rank outside the top 100 in the country. All four losses have come against quality opponents and were close contests down to the wire.
The Spiders are one of the most experienced groups in the nation and will lean on that veteran leadership against an ACC opponent.
North Carolina State opened the season 6-1, with its only loss coming to Oklahoma State. Since then, the Wolfpack have dropped two of three, including a loss to Louisville and an overtime defeat to Purdue.
After mounting 20-win seasons in the first three years of Kevin Keatts' tenure, the Wolfpack finished just 14-11 last year. The group looks to get back on track and jump back to the top-tier of the ACC this season.
Both programs are potential bubble teams come March and it could be games like this that could help tip the committee toward one of these squads.
Richmond Spiders
The program moved on from a terrific shooter in Blake Francis, but got Nick Sherod, who missed last season with a torn ACL, back. Sherod has been working his way back into the lineup, gradually seeing his role increase in each game.
The Spiders are a veteran-led squad that features four redshirt seniors in the starting lineup, along with junior Tyler Burton.
Burton is a potential future NBA player who can score in a plethora of ways with his 6-foot-7 frame. He’s hitting 45% of his 3-point attempts while converting on nearly 60% of his two-point field goals.
Four of the five starters are shooting above 36% from behind the arc, which has led Richmond to the 20th ranking in 3-point percentage. The Spiders own a top-50 offensive efficiency ranking and have hit 55% of their overall field goal attempts.
The experienced group does all the little things right, such as taking care of the basketball — where they rank 13th in the nation. The unit also plays with incredible chemistry, as they have assisted on 62.3% of its made field goals this season (14th nationally).
NC State Wolfpack
North Carolina State is led by Dereon Seabron, who is averaging a double-double with 19.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest. He exploded against Nebraska, scoring 39 points — to go along with 19 rebounds — while hitting 17-of-20 free throw attempts.
Seabron has been a consistent source for buckets, as he’s scored in double digits in every game this season.
His right-hand man is senior guard Jericole Hellems, who is averaging 17.8 points over the last five games.
The NC State offense averages 77 points per game and has done a strong job of taking care of the basketball, ranking 15th in the nation in turnover percentage.
The Wolfpack have also thrived at hitting the offensive glass, extending possessions on 31.2% of their misses.
Much of that is thanks to 6-foot-11 forward Ebenezer Dowuona, who has been a beast in the paint defensively for the Wolfpack. Dowuona has accumulated 22 blocks over the last five games and is the defensive glue for the program.
The Wolfpack’s main struggles have been shooting the basketball, as they’re hitting just 30.3% from behind the arc, which ranks 270th in the nation.
Much of the woes can be contributed to Cam Hayes, who has hit 9-of-39 attempts this season after connecting on 36% of attempts last season. The group hasn’t been much better on two-point field goal attempts, hitting 48.6%, which ranks 194th in the country.
NC State hasn’t been terrific at sharing the basketball, either, as the offense has assisted on 42.9% of its 266 made field goals this season. That ranks outside the top 300 and is an indicator of Keatts' isolation offense.
Richmond vs. NC State Betting Pick
This Richmond core has been playing together for four seasons and has developed tremendous chemistry. It’s tough to quantify the cohesion that this group has, but it is proven in the fact that they’ve assisted on 62% of their made field goals this season.
They match up against a North Carolina State program that runs an isolation-based offense, ranking 312th in assist rate. The shooting woes for the Wolfpack have not been detrimental in the win-loss column, as they have had six cake walk opponents. That will finally come to an end Friday night.
Grant Golden is one of the senior big men for Richmond and is very crafty with the basketball. He can shoot it if left open and is a terrific passer in the post. He and Burton together will provide issues for the NC State defense.
Jacob Gilyard is giving up six inches to Hayes, which is nothing new for him defensively. Gilyard will dare him to hit the outside shot, something Hayes has struggled with all season. Burton is a strong defender and will be able to slow down Seabron.
Richmond takes 45% of its shot attempts from behind the arc and converts 38% of the time. The Spiders have outside shooting threats at all positions on the court and will own a significant edge on the offensive end of the floor.
