NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- There is no doubt that the NC State basketball team got March Madness started early by doing the unimaginable to get into the 2024 men's NCAA tournament.
The team understood its assignment -- win every game in the ACC Tournament, including the championship and you're in the big dance. Saturday night, the Wolfpack beat its Tobacco Road nemeses North Carolina to accomplish the mission and silence the doubters. The Wolfpack won five games in five days to get this win --only the second time a team has done that (UConn 2011).
"Like I said from the jump, man, why not us?" Wolfpack guard DJ Horne said.
Even though the Wolfpack needed this win to make it to the big dance this year, it was the second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament for Kevin Keatts' team. The Tar Heels did not make the field last year and declined an invitation to play in the NIT but bounced back despite their ACC Tournament final loss to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Get your brackets ready, Selection Sunday reveals the seeds and destinations of the Triangle teams who are dancing in the tournament:
No other teams from North Carolina made the tournament this year.
Look at the full 2024 Men's NCAA Bracket
WATCH | NC State Wolfpack fans elated after ACC Tournament win