What we know about NC State’s 2026-27 scheduling approach under Justin Gainey

The Wolfpacker BasketballNC State coach Justin Gainey is close to filling out roster. (Photo credit: NC State Athletics)Shortly after NC State backed out of a previously scheduled road trip to VCU last month, Rams coach Phil Martelli Jr. made waves with his public response to losing the second half of the home-and-home that started last year. “We won’t duck smoke; other people will clearly duck smoke,” he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a sit-down interview to explain the change. Although it appeared to be a shot across the bow at the Wolfpack, the very program that knocked off the Rams 85-79 in November last season, NC State coach Justin Gainey didn’t wade into the waters of responding to Martelli’s comments in his second offseason media availability of the summer. He brushed off the mention of VCU in a question posed by a media member. Instead, the Pack’s first-year coach gave a look at his non-conference scheduling philosophy.