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Steve Victory JOURNAL – Preseason 2025-26
After Coach Victory’s NCT title season at State, programs from all over the country started knocking on his door and offering jobs. North Carolina wanted him. South Carolina wanted him. West Virginia, Ohio State, Tennessee, UMass – even Wofford (for real) – wanted Mr. Victory.
But the coach said no to them all. You’d have to be an utter fool to walk away from a national championship team that returns 11 players, including four of five starters. By late summer 2025, State fans started talking about the ultimate experience in 2025-26 – the magical undefeated season.
“I’ll settle for another NCT title,” Victory quipped when asked about the subject. “We’d have to be mighty fortunate to run the table without stumbling a few times.”
Victory saw another player of his get picked on NBA draft day. PF Jon Henry went 47th to Detroit.
Who will fill his spot in the starting lineup? It looks like SF Jalen Hemphill, who had an incredible summer and could be this year’s team MVP. Of course last year’s, SG Andre Baker, is back for his senior year and may have something to say about it.
Here’s the rest of the lineups for 2025-26:
STARTERS
PG Michael Stokes (junior)
SG Baker (senior)
SF Hemphill (junior)
PF Toni Zupic (junior)
C Jeff Bailey (senior)
BENCH
C Brandon Collins (redshirt junior)
PF Deon Brown (sophomore, lost his starting job at center to improved Bailey)
PG Roy Wrenn (frosh, the heir apparent to Stokes?)
SF Brett Montgomery (redshirt senior, kind of a disappointment)
SF Calvin Carstensen (frosh, looks strong – he’ll be the man in a year or two)
PG Ian Demory (redshirt frosh – year of sitting out didn’t seem to do too much for him)
C Jean Sykes (redshirt frosh – looks OK, wait a few years)
REDSHIRT
SG Marcus Hill (sophomore – glut of frontcourt players this year, but he could be the man next year)
RECRUITING
Victory needs to fill three holes officially. Stokes and Zupic are likely to go pro — and maybe even Hemphill — so the coach will prepare to say goodbye to five or six players after this season…
OUTLOOK
Prestige: 66 (Above average)
Expectations: Make NCT
Freshmen talent: Superior (3rd in nation behind Xavier and Georgetown)
Overall talent: Superior
Challenge: Easy
Preseason rankings: 12th in one poll and 6th in another (Wake is 13th. Duke is 15th. Alabama isn’t ranked – again)
SEASON OPENER
Aloha – The Pack is going to the Hawaii Classic. If all goes according to recent trends, State will finish 2-1… Victory’s team is the #1 seed and opens with Lamar...
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