The Big Fella was dominant again, putting up 29 points to beat Duke and send NC State to the Final Four.
Three weeks ago, NC State was 17-14, the 10-seed in the ACC Tournament and staring down the potential of a horrific first round loss to lowly Louisville as they trailed the Cardinals at the half.
However, since then they have done nothing but win, rattling off eight straight wins to earn an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Men’s Tournament and reach the Elite Eight in Dallas, facing a familiar foe in the form of their in-state rival Duke. The Wolfpack have become America’s Team in this run, not just because they’re an 11-seed making a run (coming from a power conference, it’s hard to have a true Cinderella tag), but because they have the Big Fella, DJ Burns Jr., leading the charge.
Burns has become everyone’s favorite player during March Madness, as the man built like a left tackle is absolutely cooking opponents. What makes Burns so enjoyable to watch is that he’s so skilled, both as a passer and finisher, and NC State runs everything through him when he’s on the floor, allowing him to make the decisions on where the ball goes — basically acting as their Nikola Jokic.
