Burns, NC State win ‘boxing match’ over Oakland
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Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff WriterMar 23, 2024, 10:11 PM ET
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- Formerly covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.PITTSBURGH– After defeating March’s latest folk heroes, NC State’s DJ Burns Jr., a Paul Bunyan figure in his own right, stood in the locker room wearing a silver chain around his neck.At the end of the chain, a pendant of a gleaming yellow sunshine peeking from behind a storm cloud brushed the red”N.C. State” screen-printed throughout his chest. Burns purchased the chain and the gem-encrusted medallion from a store in Raleigh, North Carolina, this year. It’s a reminder, Burns said earlier today, to always stay favorable in the face of adversity.And it’s a mantra that Burns duplicated to himself typically throughout his 24-point, 11-rebound efficiency in the 79-73 overtime win versus Oakland on Saturday night that sent NC State to its first Sugary food 16 considering that 2015. Later, Burns grinned and nodded at the postgame dais as his coach called the game a”boxing match.””It’s one of those games where I had the option to get in my sensations about getting fouled or continue to play hard,” Burns stated. “I simply struck a point where I was like, I simply got ta neglect it due to the fact that it’s not disappearing. So I simply wished to attempt my finest to keep opting for my guys. “The big guy, who transferred to NC State from Winthrop before the 2022 season, banged in the post all night with Oakland’s Trey Townsend, the Horizon League’s Player of the Year, and Chris Conway, battling against double and triple groups as the Golden Grizzlies tried to claw to a second upset success. As a team, NC State outscored Oakland in the paint 36-24. And Burns, with a significant size benefit at 6-foot-9, 275-pounds, fought through the contact for NC State’s very first NCAA tournament 20-point double-double given that 1991– and
just the second of his season. He likewise added four assists, frequently passing the ball out to a shooter maximized by the defensive crush around him in the post.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Burns also ended up being the very first NC State player to score at least 20 points and 10 rebounds with over 40 minutes played in an NCAA tournament game considering that David Thompson and Tom Burleson in the NC State’s double-overtime 1974
national semifinals victory over UCLA, according to ESPN Statistics & Information research study.” It’s so tough to referee him, and he probably gets fouled more than anybody, and I’m not stating these authorities or any other officials,”Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said.”He’s got no option. Very seldom do you see him get to the free toss line when you can make a case that every other possession that he touches the basketball he gets fouled. And so we’ve discussed the maturity of it. It’s like, what are you going to do? I suggest, you do not like it, you get a technical nasty. Simply move on and simply play through contact, and I think that’s where he’s grown.”Tied with the No. 14 seed midway through the second half, Burns bullied his method to the rim to take a two-point lead– and he was fouled on the shot by Conway, establishing his very first trip to the totally free throw line. As the main blew the whistle and indicated the nasty, Burns stared down the camera at the base of the basket as NC State fans roared around him and the Wolfpack cheerleaders to his ideal exploded.It was a minute of relief, validation and supremacy all rolled into one– a microcosm of the whirlwind journey his group has been on considering that coming back to beat Louisville in the first round of the ACC tournament to kick-start the Wolfpack’s postseason tear of 7 wins in 12 days.And after that seventh win Saturday night, Burns was asked if he had a message for the people who questioned him and his team. As he considered his response, his coach warned him with a grin and a word of advice: “Be nice, Burns.””I’m simply saying welcome back,”Burns stated.” They didn’t really think in us. They most likely still do not but that doesn’t matter to us.
We’re just going to remain together. If you’re supporting us, thank you. If not, that’s what it is. “
- Formerly covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.PITTSBURGH– After defeating March’s latest folk heroes, NC State’s DJ Burns Jr., a Paul Bunyan figure in his own right, stood in the locker room wearing a silver chain around his neck.At the end of the chain, a pendant of a gleaming yellow sunshine peeking from behind a storm cloud brushed the red”N.C. State” screen-printed throughout his chest. Burns purchased the chain and the gem-encrusted medallion from a store in Raleigh, North Carolina, this year. It’s a reminder, Burns said earlier today, to always stay favorable in the face of adversity.And it’s a mantra that Burns duplicated to himself typically throughout his 24-point, 11-rebound efficiency in the 79-73 overtime win versus Oakland on Saturday night that sent NC State to its first Sugary food 16 considering that 2015. Later, Burns grinned and nodded at the postgame dais as his coach called the game a”boxing match.””It’s one of those games where I had the option to get in my sensations about getting fouled or continue to play hard,” Burns stated. “I simply struck a point where I was like, I simply got ta neglect it due to the fact that it’s not disappearing. So I simply wished to attempt my finest to keep opting for my guys. “The big guy, who transferred to NC State from Winthrop before the 2022 season, banged in the post all night with Oakland’s Trey Townsend, the Horizon League’s Player of the Year, and Chris Conway, battling against double and triple groups as the Golden Grizzlies tried to claw to a second upset success. As a team, NC State outscored Oakland in the paint 36-24. And Burns, with a significant size benefit at 6-foot-9, 275-pounds, fought through the contact for NC State’s very first NCAA tournament 20-point double-double given that 1991– and