NC State basketball coach Will Wade summer press conference
N.C. State basketball coach Will Wade covered several topics during a summer press conference on July 9, including the roster, NIL and schedule.
N.C. State basketball has dates for most of its 31 games on the 2025-26 schedule.Â
The ACC has yet to determine when the Wolfpack will play seven of their 18 conference games, with two-date options that will be announced at a later time. Following its a losing season that caused it to miss the ACC Tournament after winning the league title in 2024, N.C. State is starting fresh with fiery first-year coach Will Wade, who is promising a “red reckoning” as the Wolfpack tries to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore returner Paul McNeil is surrounded by 12 newcomers, including several big-time additions via the transfer portal: Darrion Williams (Texas Tech), Tre Holloman (Michigan State), Terrance Arceneaux (Houston) and Ven-Allen Lubin (UNC). Matt Able headlines the Wolfpack’s latest recruiting class.
Breaking down the Wolfpack’s 2025-26 schedule, here’s a look at the key nonconference games, toughest ACC stretch and dates with Duke and UNC:
Will Wade, NC State basketball get shot at early statement in Maui Invitational
For the first time in program history, N.C. State will head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Of the teams participating, only Arizona State (1994) and Texas (2020 in Asheville) have previously raised a Maui Invitational trophy. Wolfpack rivals Duke (5) and UNC (4) have won multiple Maui titles, so this is an opportunity for N.C. State to earn its spot at that table.
Wade isn’t hiding from anyone in his debut season, with a nonconference schedule that includes Maui, Auburn (Dec. 3), Kansas (Dec. 13) and Ole Miss (Dec. 21). Those games are important for N.C. State’s NCAA Tournament résumé, but winning in Hawaii would earn the program a trophy and send a statement to the rest of the nation.
Wolfpack has rough road stretch on 2025-26 scheduleÂ
N.C. State hasn’t posted a winning record on the road in nearly 13 years (7-4 in 2011-12). The Wolfpack was 0-11 in road games last season and 11-31 over the last four seasons. With a revamped roster under Wade, N.C. State is positioned for more success away from Raleigh this season. But the Wolfpack won’t get to ease into its first ACC slate with its first-year coach.
Following home games against Wake Forest (Dec. 30/31) and Virginia (Jan. 3), the Wolfpack continues its start to 2026 with seven road games over a 10-game stretch. Those trips include Boston College (Jan. 6/7), Florida State (Jan. 10), Clemson (Jan. 20/21), Pitt (Jan. 24), Wake Forest (Jan. 31), SMU (Feb. 3/4) and Louisville (Feb. 9).
NC State basketball gets Duke, UNC in Raleigh this season
While the road schedule out of the gate is unkind, N.C. State does get the benefit of facing rivals Duke and UNC in Raleigh this season. For the first time since 1919, the Wolfpack won’t play in Chapel Hill. Lubin gets to face his former squad on Feb. 17/18 at the Lenovo Center before the Blue Devils come to town on March 2 for the penultimate game of the regular season.
If each team lives up to its preseason projections, these games will provide an opportunity to add some quality wins ahead of Selection Sunday. Either way, with bragging rights on the line, the Lenovo Center will be rocking in Wade’s first games against N.C. State’s top Tobacco Road rivals. The Wolfpack hasn’t beaten the Tar Heels and Blue Devils at home since 2023.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.