Dontrez Styles says ‘it’s time to go to war’ as NC State basketball prepares for UNC game

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RALEIGH — The time has come for Dontrez Styles to make history as part of the North Carolina-N.C. State basketball rivalry.

Believed to be the first college basketball player to go from the Tar Heels to the Wolfpack, Styles and N.C. State will host UNC on Saturday (4 p.m., ACC Network) at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

The Kinston native played his first two seasons for Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill, helping UNC get to the Final Four and national championship game in 2022. After one season at Georgetown, Styles joined the Wolfpack following the program’s ACC Tournament title and Final Four run.

“I’m ready to go out there and compete against (UNC),” Styles said Wednesday after the Wolfpack’s 66-65 win against Notre Dame, a victory in which he finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time now and the time is here.”

WHY STYLES CHOSE STATE: NC State basketball’s Dontrez Styles reflects on ‘crazy’ journey that started at UNC

N.C. State and UNC haven’t played since meeting in the championship game of the 2024 ACC Tournament, where the Pack won five games in five days, capping its title run with an 84-76 victory against the Heels. 

The ACC championship banner, N.C. State’s first since winning the 1987 ACC Tournament, hangs from the rafters inside the Lenovo Center. But it’s a new-look Wolfpack (9-6, 2-2 ACC) this season. Styles is one of eight newcomers in Kevin Keatts’ eighth season as head coach of the program.

“I’ve been through it all, so nothing can faze me. I’ve done seen a lot. I’ve been to the Final Four, so just coming here trying to bring that to the scene,” Styles said. “Even when we’re struggling, I try to talk to the guys and let ‘em know it’s a long season and anything can happen.”

Styles has averaged 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds through 15 games at N.C. State, but those averages have increased to 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the last two games.

After N.C. State got a stop on…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/dontrez-styles-says-time-war-090428158.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2025-01-09 09:04:00

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