State Now is your place for Wolfpack sports. Beat writer Joe Giglio has up-to-the-minute news and analysis. Columnist Luke DeCock also contributes. Follow us on Twitter at @jwgiglio or @accnow.
RALEIGH There was more thinking than doing on Saturday and more mistakes than big plays, but after his first Kay Yow spring game, new N.C. State coach Dave Doeren kept his wits about him.
"Well, we won," Doeren said on the field in his post-game interview.
Officially, the Red beat the White, 20-10 in a game played at Carter-Finley Stadium before a crowd of 27,500.
Three points to watch in today's Kay Yow Spring Game, the first under coach Dave Doeren:
1) Tempo and variety
N.C. State will move faster between plays and huddle less. The actual plays will also develop more quickly, to get the ball out of quarterback's hands and give the offensive line a break.
Doeren and coordinator Matt Canada have been clear that they won't always go fast, but they want the ability to push tempo and take advantage of a tired defense (and limit personnel substitutions.)
Notre Dame's unique partnership with the ACC won't bring the Fighting Irish's football team to the state of North Carolina until 2016.
North Carolina and Wake Forest will both go to South Bend, Ind., in 2014, the first year of Notre Dame's abbreviated ACC schedule.
The Fighting Irish will be in the ACC in all sports, except football, starting this fall. The traditional national power will remain independent in football but will play five ACC teams each year.
There are wholesale changes on the first depth chart of the spring released by new coach Dave Doeren. In all, the Wolfpack needs to replace seven regular starters on both offense and defense.
With a new coaching staff, and new players coming in the fall, the depth chart promises to be fluid after Saturday's Kay Yow Spring Game and up to the Aug. 31 opener against Louisiana Tech.
Rodney Purvis has decided to transfer to Connecticut, he said Friday.
Purvis, a McDonald's All-American from Raleigh, averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds this past season at N.C. State. He made the decision to leave N.C. State on Monday.
UConn is coming off of a 20-10 season in coach Kevin Ollie's first season. The Huskies were banned from postseason play by the NCAA for previous academic issues under former coach Jim Calhoun.
T.J. Warren considered a jump to the NBA after one season at N.C. State. The way his dad figures, Warren's pro stock will be even better after two seasons.
"He's coming back," Tony Warren said Wednesday. "He'll be able to show what he can do."
Warren, a versatile 6-8 forward, will be the Wolfpack's leading returning scorer, after averaging 12.1 points as a freshman. His role will expand next season with N.C. State losing five of its top six scorers from a 24-11 team.
Freshman guard Rodney Purvis has decided to transfer from N.C. State.
Purvis, a McDonald's All-American from Raleigh, averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds this season and started 23 games. He provided scoring in transition and often an emotional lift for the Wolfpack with his dunks and energy.
He confirmed the decision on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon.
"Tears won't stop falling," Purvis wrote. "I enjoyed every moment here. I still love you guys, no matter how you may feel towards me. Thank y'all !"
With a stamp of approval from his coach and his mom, N.C. State junior Lorenzo Brown is headed to the NBA.
Brown, who led the ACC in assists, will skip his final college season and enter the NBA draft, Kim Banks, Brown's mother, said Thursday. Banks said she spoke with her son and Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried on Wednesday.
"Coach said he's ready for the NBA," Banks said. See photos from Brown's career at N.C. State.
Mark Gottfried spent eight seasons at UCLA but apparently that's not enough to get him to leave N.C. State.
Gottfried, who has led N.C. State to the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons, confirmed his commitment to the Wolfpack on Wednesday night on Twitter.
"#WPN I am committed to being at @NCState for a long time Still as dedicated to rebuilding the program as I was 2 yrs ago when I arrived," Gottfried wrote on his account.
N.C. State could lose as many as three starters early to the NBA draft. The Wolfpack could also get C.J. Leslie, Lorenzo Brown or T.J. Warren back for another season.
The parents of Brown and Warren said Tuesday that no decision has been made about their sons' respective futures.
CBSSports.com reported Tuesday that both Brown and Leslie, both juniors, were expected to leave for the NBA.
