NC State basketball’s Casey Morsell excited about return to Virginia for ACC game

Casey Morsell has played a lot of games in Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, but never with N.C. State, and never as a visitor.

Morsell left the Virginia program after his sophomore year in 2021 believing the Wolfpack program and system would be a better fit for his style of play. A year ago, in his first season with the Pack, he was a part of a 77-63 win over the Cavaliers in the teams’ only matchup.

That game was at PNC Arena, and a rare ACC victory for the Wolfpack in a very rough season. But Morsell’s return to John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday will come with an N.C. State team that is ranked N0. 22, 9-4 in the ACC and 19-5 overall after winning eight of its past nine games.

Morsell said he’s not anxious about going back to Virginia, nor does the senior guard have any ill will toward Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett.

“He definitely gets the best out of his players,” Morsell said. “I have nothing but great things to say about coach Bennett and his staff.”

After the Pack’s 72-64 win Saturday over Georgia Tech, after scoring 17 points in the victory, after analyzing the Yellow Jackets’ play, Morsell touched on the upcoming Virginia game.

“It’s a great Quad-1 opportunity for this team,” he said. “We need a major resume builder.”

Quad-1? Resume builder for the NCAA tournament?

Reminded that it will be Virginia, his former team, his first time back, Morsell chuckled.

“It’s definitely more than a Quad-1, for sure,” he said. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been there since I transferred. It’s been a while but it’s going to be fun. I’m expecting this group to be ready.”

Morsell meant the Wolfpack, but the Cavaliers (17-4, 9-3 ACC) figure to be in an ornery mood and ready after their 74-68 loss Saturday at Virginia Tech.

Morsell said he stays in touch with some former teammates, such as Kihei Clark, Reece Beekman and Kadin Shedrick, who played at Holly Springs High. Their bond, he said, remains strong.

“When you play, especially at this level, chemistry is everything,” Morsell said. “That was something I think that made us so good when I was there. So we’re close.”

Morsell, from Fort Washington, Maryland, signed with Virginia after the Cavaliers’ 2019 NCAA championship run. He tried to adapt his style to Bennett’s slower offensive pace and reliance on sound, rugged defense — a proven if laborious winning system.

And with the Pack?

“We play fast and that fits my game,” Morsell said “It’s always been my game.”

Defense has always been a big part of his game, too, and Morsell, at 6-3 and 200 pounds, might be the Pack’s most reliable defender.

But all of Morsell’s offensive numbers have been better this season. He’s shooting 43.9% on 3-pointers (58 of 132), 48.6% overall and 81% at the foul line while averaging 12.6 points a game. In Saturday’s game, he hit four of seven 3-pointers — his 17 points a career high in an ACC game — to go with five rebounds and three steals.

“He’s been really good,” NCSU coach Kevin Keatts said Saturday. “He’s improved so much. I’ve said this before but I think he’s really starting to get comfortable with our program and how we play.”

Against Georgia Tech, Morsell drained a 3-pointer just before the first-half buzzer for a 41-35 halftime lead. In the Pack’s late-game push, he had an offensive putback off a Jarkel Joiner miss, then knocked down a 3 from the right wing for a 65-61 lead with about two minutes left in regulation.

“Morsell hit some tough shots, some pro shots,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said. “We had hands in his face and he was making them like NBA guys.”

Morsell will be counted on again Tuesday against Virginia’s Pack Line defense, which is geared to limit penetration and make teams hit outside shots. It may be crowded inside for Wolfpack center D.J. Burns, who had 24 points against Georgia Tech, but could allow Morsell, Joiner and Terquavion Smith to find 3-point openings.

“It just makes you work a little more on the offensive end in terms of getting a good shot,” Morsell said. “I think the Pack Line fits them because they really just want you to shoot bad shots. So we can’t fall for it. We’ve just got to play our game.”

The Virginia game is the first of three straight on the road for the Wolfpack. In a season during which it has learned much about itself, the Pack should learn even more.

“One of the things that has made us good is our chemistry,” Morsell said. “We know where we’re going to be on the offensive end, talk on defense and close out these tough games we’re in. We’ve just to to keep rolling.”

NC State at Virginia

When: Tuesday, 9 pm.

Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Va.

TV: ACC Network.