The 2025–26 NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball season was a rollercoaster of high-energy offense and defensive struggles, marking a transition into a new era under the first-year head coach Will Wade. Wade took over a program with high expectations. He implemented a fast-paced system that saw the Wolfpack consistently rank among the top scoring teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. While the season was defined by flashes of brilliance and significant wins, it was also poisoned by a late slide that tested the resilience of the Raleigh team in the latter half of the season.
Statistically, the Wolfpack were an offensive powerhouse, finishing the season with a 20–14 overall record and a 10–8 mark in ACC play. According to ESPN, NC State averaged 83.2 points per game, ranking 29th nationally. This was fueled by an ACC best 38.8% from three point range. The roster featured an attack led by Darrion Williams (14.0 PPG), Quadir Copeland (13.9 PPG, 6.5 APG), and Ven-Allen Lubin (13.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG). The highs of the season included a dominant 82–58 blowout of rival North Carolina in February, a reviving win against Clemson in South Carolina, and a high-scoring 113-point outburst against Florida State. However, the lows were felt during a grueling five-game losing streak to end the regular season. This included a saddening 118–77 loss to Louisville.
The ACC Tournament in Charlotte provided a short resurgence for the Pack. Entering as the No. 7 seed. NC State snapped their losing streak with a historic 98–88 victory over Pitt in the second round. The game saw six players score in the double digits, with Quadir Copeland leading the way with 24 points. The run was cut short in the quarterfinals by the No. 2 seed Virginia Cavaliers.
As the season drew to a close with a narrow 66–68 loss to Texas in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four, the conversation in Raleigh shifted from the court to the possible coaching change. Rumors began to swirl regarding Will Wade’s future with several high-profile coaching openings at larger programs reportedly eyeing the Wolfpack leader. Despite the season struggles, Wade’s ability to modernize the NC State offense and secure 20 wins in his debut season made him a hot commodity. While Wade remained publicly committed to the Red and White during the season, the speculation created uncertainty heading into the 2026 offseason. Wade first made a name for himself as the head coach at Chattanooga and VCU. He led both to 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances by his early 30s. This success earned him the top job at LSU in 2017, where he instantly turned the Tigers into an SEC powerhouse. However, he is remembered there by a 2019 FBI wiretap. Will Wade was caught on a federal recording discussing a “strong offer” made to a recruit, Javonte Smart. He was expressing frustration that the deal was “tilted toward the family.” While he initially survived the scandal with a modified contract, the NCAA eventually charged him with six Level I violations. LSU fired him in March 2022, just days before the NCAA Tournament. He then went to McNeese and had success with Quadir Copelend, leading the team, who he brought to NC State. On March 26th, 2026, Will Wade officially left the NC State Wolfpack to join the LSU Tigers in this upcoming season.
Green Hope’s own Richard Howell had strong opinions about the season’s end and Will Wade’s insecurity before he confirmed his leave. As a former leader of the NC State Wolfpack Basketball team, he knows the intricacies and difficulties of college ball. Howell played for the Wolfpack from 2009 to 2013. He now attends every home game. When asked about the NC State Basketball season as a whole, he said, “I think it was successful. We made it to the tournament, but didn’t have the outcome that we wanted.” He believed that Will Wade did a great job in his first year and hoped that the rumors of his leaving weren’t true. He spoke on the importance of NIL money and how NC State is not giving Will Wade the amount that he believes is fair. He knows Wade has looked to go back to LSU because that is simply home to him and his family, “just like Raleigh is to me.”
Ultimately, the 2026 season was one of the seasons that followed the line “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.” Overall, the team proved it could score with any program in the country, but defensive inconsistencies prevented them from climbing into the top tier of the ACC standings. As the program looks toward 2027, the focus will be on retaining the core of their high-scoring roster, finding new coaching, and stabilizing their defense. Although Wade has moved on to a new challenge, the 2026 season serves as a reminder that Wolfpack basketball remains one of the most entertaining and unpredictable teams in the country. Go Pack.
