5 Reasons Why No. 8 NC State Will Upset No. 4 Louisville In the Sweet 16

By Trevor Lowry

Reasons Why No. 8 NC State Will Upset No. 4 Louisville In the Sweet 16

NC State Basketball
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

When NC State is on top of its game, it can beat anyone in the country. Look no further than the Wolfpack's win in the round of 32 against No. 1 seed Villanova to figure that one out. However, when they are not on top of their game, they lose to teams like Wake Forest and Boston College. NC State is playing great ball right now, so there is plenty of reason to believe it will knock off No. 4 seed Louisville in the Sweet 16.

5. NC State Is 1-0 Against Louisville In 2014-15

NC State
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

5. NC State Is 1-0 Against Louisville In 2014-15

NC State
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did NC State beat the Cardinals earlier in the year, but it did so on the road ... when Chris Jones was in the lineup. Jones also had 20 points in that game.

4. Two Solid Wins In the Dance

NC State
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

4. Two Solid Wins In the Dance

NC State
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Being the No. 8 seed is not easy. After all, the No. 8 seed has to take on the No. 9 seed (in this case LSU) in the round of 64. Typically, the No. 8 seed vs. the No. 9 seed is what I like to call a coin-toss matchup because both teams are so evenly matched. If the No. 8 seed makes it past that round, it then has to play the No. 1 seed (in this case Villanova), which should explain itself. Still, here the Wolfpack are, playing in the Sweet 16.

3. Guard Play

NC State
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

3. Guard Play

NC State
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

When a team has a scorer like Trevor Lacey (15.8 PPG) and players like Ralston Turner and Anthony Barber playing alongside him, it makes being a No. 8 seed that much easier. This guard trio is deadly -- to say the least.

2. What Happens If Terry Rozier Is Cold?

Terry Rozier
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. What Happens If Terry Rozier Is Cold?

Terry Rozier
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Rozier is scoring a boatload of points in the dance. As a team, Louisville has scored 123 points. Rozier has 37 of those points. What happens if Rozier's shots just aren't going in? Hopefully for the Cardinals' sake, and if that happens, the defense will continue to play well.

1. Why Not the Wolfpack?

NC State
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. Why Not the Wolfpack?

NC State
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Seriously, why not the Wolfpack? They just got done knocking off the No. 1 seed, Louisville hasn't been dominant and seeds get thrown out the window this late in the game, especially when two ACC members are set to play one another.

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