Will Wade is tearing the Wolfpack apart amid a disappointing start

The NC State Wolfpack defeated the Texas Southern Tigers 108-72 on Wednesday night at Reynolds Coliseum, but the scoreboard did little to help alleviate the growing frustration of head coach Will Wade with his team.

While the Wolfpack dominated on the floor, Wade used his postgame press conference to deliver one of the harshest criticisms of his roster since taking over the program.

Wade made it clear early on that the lopsided win didn’t mask the deeper problems he sees behind the scenes. His dull tone was reflected increasing concern about effort and focus as NC State prepares to enter a demanding stretch.

“We run a daycare … We run a competitive basketball program,” Wade said, setting the stage for his comments. “And honestly, I was trying to get some urgency and some internal leadership. … We have a lot of casual personalities on our team. We don’t have people who are wrapped up and ready to go.”

He explained that his concern stems from a lack of urgency and accountability in the dressing room, noting that too many players are relying on “occasional personalities” rather than embracing leadership roles.

Wade’s frustration boiled over when he discussed toughness, a trait he believes his current roster lacks.

“I had one of the kids come up to me, ‘oh, I’m tough,’ you’re not tough … You wouldn’t have made the top 25 in the last five years I’ve coached,” Wade said, before drawing a stark comparison to past teams.

The coach then detailed a stunning example from the scrimmage earlier in the day, highlighting how preparation issues persist.

Wade explained, breaking down mistakes in offensive execution, defensive coverage and attention to detail. For Wade, numbers symbolized habits that cannot survive when competition intensifies.

“We committed 88 fouls in our shooting,” Wade added. “We made 23 defensive errors, 13 offensive errors. 36 errors on them. Our first team made 14, our second team made 22. How can you be on the second team and watch the first team do that and make eight more mistakes? You’re doing the same things, casually, lack of attention to detail, lack of focus.”

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As the Wolfpack fully transitions into high-major play, Wade stressed that patience is running out. “Kindergarten is over,” he said, stressing that the margin for error is shrinking. He characterized the situation as more than just a concern, calling it a “major concern” given NC State’s upcoming schedule.

Ironically, Wade’s remarks came on a night when sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr. held a historic performancescoring 47 points and setting a school record with 11 3-pointers.

While McNeil’s breakthrough showed the program’s potential, Wade’s comments highlighted a belief that individual brilliance won’t be enough, and with the Ole Miss Rebels looming, Wade’s message was unmistakable — NC State must quickly translate talent into discipline, toughness and consistency.