During Will Wade’s introductory press conference at NC State last March, he spoke more boldly, optimistically and unapologetically than any Wolfpack basketball coach since the program won its two NCAA titles more than 40 years ago, under Norm Sloan (1974) and Jim Valvano (1983).

“Our time is right now,” Wade said. “This is the first time in a while, I think, the fans, the administration and the program are all on one accord. Everybody’s on the same accord, everybody’s singing from the same sheet of music. When that happens, there’s going to be a reckoning for the ACC, there’s going to be a reckoning for college basketball. It’s coming, and it’s coming soon.

“I want to be very clear. This is not a rebuild. We’re going to be in the top part of the ACC (in 2025-26), and we’re going to the NCAA Tournament. Make sure you got that on camera. This is going to be done the right way, and it’s going to be done quickly. We are here to win.”

Generally speaking, Wolfpack Nation loved the tough talk.

Many fans liked it even more when, last spring, Wade took a provocative poke at hated rival North Carolina. He didn’t merely lure UNC forward Ven-Allen Lubin to NC State via the transfer portal; he mocked the Tar Heels’ “too dumb” misuse of Lubin, promised to give him more playing time and even predicted he’d average 15 points and eight rebounds per game for the Pack.

Almost a year later, it’s already clear that — although there have been plenty of frustrating bumps in the road — Wade got more right than he got wrong, especially if you assume that his over-the-top “reckoning” forecast was meant to describe his longer-term future with the Wolfpack.

Wade’s first team in Raleigh is, indeed, an NCAA Tournament-worthy squad, despite losing seven of its last nine games. Although everyone remembers State’s sensational run to the 2024 ACC championship and then the Final Four under coach Kevin Keatts, the Wolfpack had missed four of the past six editions of the Big Dance overall.

The Pack finished seventh in the ACC standings, which probably qualifies as close enough the “top part” of the league. Meanwhile, with his increased playing time (from 19.6 to 28.3 minutes per game), Lubin has averaged about 14 points and seven rebounds per game — extremely close to Wade’s bold preseason projections — and made a good case for All-ACC recognition, although that didn’t come via the official voting.

Overall, though, the 2026 Wolfpack has proven to be a mixed bag.

On the one hand, the Pack is often an elite team offensively, with few turnovers and fantastic shooting from 3-point territory and the free throw line. On the other hand, the Pack can be hit-or-miss defensively, and it’s especially vulnerable to teams that can crash the offensive boards and/or convert threes efficiently.

There’s always a chance that State’s offensive diversity will provide the backbone for another March Madness run. Seven of the Pack’s top eight players rank somewhere between capable and elite (e.g., Paul McNeil Jr.) from 3-point land, and State is among a relatively small group of NCAA teams with six active players averaging at least nine points per game.

Otherwise, college basketball’s “reckoning” will have to wait at least a bit longer.