PackWBB Gameday: NC State Heads to Cassell Coliseum for Huge ACC Road Test vs Virginia Tech
Sunday, February 8, 2026 12:00 PM ET
Cassell Coliseum – Blacksburg, VA
TV/Stream: ACC Network
The Wolfpack (16-7, 9-3 ACC) travel to face Virginia Tech (18-6, 8-4 ACC) in what could be the most important road game of the regular season so far.
Cassell Coliseum has been a tough place for visitors all year (VT is 13-2 at home overall, 4-2 in ACC play), but NC State arrives riding a bounce-back win over Florida State and with possible momentum in the ACC standings. The Pack are tied for 3rd/4th and know that a win here would be massive for seeding, resume building, and keeping that double-bye in the ACC tournament firmly in sight.
What to Watch
- Virginia Tech’s Big Three: Carys Baker (14.8 ppg), Carleigh Wenzel (14.2 ppg), and Kilah Freelon (9.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg) are the engine. Baker and Wenzel stretch the floor, Freelon dominates the glass and blocks shots. The Hokies lead the ACC in assists (16.3 per game) and rank top-5 in steals (8.3) and blocks (4.9).
- NC State’s Keys: Khamil Pierre must control the paint and limit Freelon’s second-chance opportunities. Zam Jones needs to get hot from three early. Tilda Trygger continues to play at an All-American level inside. And the bench (Lunan, Quigley, Cox, Collier) has to give the starters real rest without the energy dropping off — something we’ve seen improve lately.
Game Prediction
This is a classic trap game on the road in a loud building against a hungry VT team coming off a loss. But NC State has the better overall record, the hotter recent form, and are developing depth right now.
Pack 72, Virginia Tech 68
NC State grinds out a hard-fought road win and improves to 10-3 in the ACC.
The next three weeks will define the season, and it starts right there in Blacksburg.
A win would be huge. A loss would be understandable — but the Pack have shown they’re capable of stealing these.
Let’s go get one on the road.
Go Pack!
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