The so-called “secret scrimmage” of yore is no secret at all anymore in college basketball—Jeff Goodman routinely announces all of the matchups each year—but the NCAA’s rules insist no one is to cover these games or watch them. Never discuss the preseason scrimmages!
This year, NC State will match up with East Carolina on Oct. 21, according to Goodman. This is the opportunity the NCAA provides schools to get some work in under real game conditions, but again, nobody’s supposed to talk about it or pretend it exists for some dumb reason.
The Pirates are coming off a dreary 10-20 season and a 307 finish in the Pomeroy Ratings, but still there’s value in playing somebody else rather than practicing against your own guys one more time.