Grad Students and Longtime AAU Alumni: The Duo Powering N.C. State's NCAA Tournament Run
03/26/2024
The N.C. State Wolfpack Men's Basketball Team has been unstoppable the past two weeks thanks to a couple of longtime AAU Alumni
by Alexander Gagnon
The N.C. State Wolfpack Men’s Basketball team had been written off by many entering the ACC tournament a couple weeks ago. They entered as the 10-seed with very few expecting them to advance far enough to even qualify for the NCAA tournament. But after a miraculous run highlighted by talent, teamwork, and a bit of luck, the Wolfpack won their first ACC tournament since 1987 and now advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2015.
They’ve been the underdog in almost every game they’ve played the past two weeks, but the wins keep piling up. And leading the way for the squad are two longtime AAU alumni who are making big contributions on both ends of the court: Michael O’Connell and DJ Burns.
But to even get to this point, N.C. State needed a miraculous shot to fall in the ACC Tournament Semifinals to force overtime against Virginia. That shot came from graduate student guard Michael O’Connell from Mineola, New York. O’Connell already has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford but is using his NCAA eligibility to pursue a master’s degree at NC State. O’Connell has come up big multiple times for NC State, including his game tying prayer of a shot forcing overtime against Virginia. Leading the team this season in assists and free throw percentage, he netted 12 points and had a team leading 8 assists in the victory over Oakland to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. O’Connell was an AAU athlete for nine years with the New York Metropolitan District during the period of 2010-2020.
“Michael comes from a great family who has worked for decades to help children in sports,” said Jim Fox, Governor of the AAU New York Metropolitan District. “We’re so proud of his accomplishments and national recognition, as well as all the AAU alumni currently shining during March Madness.”
And down low, NC State graduate student center DJ Burns has been dominant in the paint. The 6’9” center from Rock Hill, South Carolina is averaging 20 ppg through the Wolfpack’s first two NCAA tournament games. Burns has battled hard each game of the ACC and NCAA tournament, and he looks to keep the momentum rolling against 2-seed Marquette in just a few days. His double-double against Oakland was the first for an NC State player in the NCAA tournament since 1985. Burns was an AAU athlete for six years from 2011 through 2017.
They’ve already knocked off 6-seed Texas Tech and followed that up with a gritty OT victory against 14-seed Oakland. The team had played 7 games in 11 days, but the stamina never wavered for the Wolfpack as they’ve gone undefeated in that stretch. Their next opponent, No. 2 seed Marquette, is considered by many as a potential National Champion pick, but they aren’t afraid of the challenge. They’ve played must win basketball for the past two weeks and have risen to the occasion each time.
However long this run lasts for N.C. State, it’s been a phenomenal few weeks for the Wolfpack. And helping lead the way are these two stellar AAU alumni.
The N.C. State Wolfpack Men’s Basketball team had been written off by many entering the ACC tournament a couple weeks ago. They entered as the 10-seed with very few expecting them to advance far enough to even qualify for the NCAA tournament. But after a miraculous run highlighted by talent, teamwork, and a bit of luck, the Wolfpack won their first ACC tournament since 1987 and now advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2015.
They’ve been the underdog in almost every game they’ve played the past two weeks, but the wins keep piling up. And leading the way for the squad are two longtime AAU alumni who are making big contributions on both ends of the court: Michael O’Connell and DJ Burns.
But to even get to this point, N.C. State needed a miraculous shot to fall in the ACC Tournament Semifinals to force overtime against Virginia. That shot came from graduate student guard Michael O’Connell from Mineola, New York. O’Connell already has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford but is using his NCAA eligibility to pursue a master’s degree at NC State. O’Connell has come up big multiple times for NC State, including his game tying prayer of a shot forcing overtime against Virginia. Leading the team this season in assists and free throw percentage, he netted 12 points and had a team leading 8 assists in the victory over Oakland to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. O’Connell was an AAU athlete for nine years with the New York Metropolitan District during the period of 2010-2020.
“Michael comes from a great family who has worked for decades to help children in sports,” said Jim Fox, Governor of the AAU New York Metropolitan District. “We’re so proud of his accomplishments and national recognition, as well as all the AAU alumni currently shining during March Madness.”
And down low, NC State graduate student center DJ Burns has been dominant in the paint. The 6’9” center from Rock Hill, South Carolina is averaging 20 ppg through the Wolfpack’s first two NCAA tournament games. Burns has battled hard each game of the ACC and NCAA tournament, and he looks to keep the momentum rolling against 2-seed Marquette in just a few days. His double-double against Oakland was the first for an NC State player in the NCAA tournament since 1985. Burns was an AAU athlete for six years from 2011 through 2017.
They’ve already knocked off 6-seed Texas Tech and followed that up with a gritty OT victory against 14-seed Oakland. The team had played 7 games in 11 days, but the stamina never wavered for the Wolfpack as they’ve gone undefeated in that stretch. Their next opponent, No. 2 seed Marquette, is considered by many as a potential National Champion pick, but they aren’t afraid of the challenge. They’ve played must win basketball for the past two weeks and have risen to the occasion each time.
However long this run lasts for N.C. State, it’s been a phenomenal few weeks for the Wolfpack. And helping lead the way are these two stellar AAU alumni.
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