RALEIGH — While it might feel like yesterday for many NC State fans, it's now been over a month since the administration hired alumnus Justin Gainey to be the next men's basketball coach for the program. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of roster construction, building out a staff and establishing a new programmatic identity to continue the upward trajectory of Wolfpack basketball.

The transfer portal proved to be particularly lucrative for the first-year coach, as he largely built out his first roster with talented mid-major and high-upside players, in hopes of competing right away, while also planning for the future. Gainey also retained one critical piece of the puzzle in Paul McNeil . Now, his task is to fit the new pieces together, making the Pack competitive right away.

Breaking down the rotation

Jan 27, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Jr. Paul McNeil (2) dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the Syracuse Orange at Lenovo Center.…