Sports

NC State Aims ‘No Means No’ Chants At Zayden High Before Lame Jab At Injured Player

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The NC State basketball team took down rival North Carolina in ACC action on Tuesday night in Raleigh. The crowd and players were amped up both before and after the win.

Fans were heard directing vicious chants at one Tar Heel player, in particular, while another became the target of the Wolfpack’s postgame celebration.

The instate matchup had major postseason implications. Both programs are positioned nicely to make an NCAA Tournament run. A win would only improve the outlook.

The Wolfpack entered the night at 18-8 and on the eight-line in ESPN’s latest Bracketology projections. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, came in at 20-5 and were predicted to be a six-seed.

Unfortunately, the game lost a bit of its luster ahead of the opening tip. UNC’s top two scorers did not play in the matchup.

NC State picked up an easy basketball win.

The losses of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar significantly handcuffed the Tar Heels on offense. North Carolina was held to just 58 points. They struggled mightily from the outside, shooting 5-of-33 on three-point attempts.

Wilson and Veesaar are not only the most productive offensive stars, but they are also the team’s top post players. The lack of an inside threat combined with an inability to make jump shots resulted in a 24-point loss.

The struggles only fueled the home crowd, which put a replacement player in its crosshairs. Zayden High, a 6-10 sophomore forward, filled in with the top two players out.

He played well, recording a double-double, but was unable to lead his team to victory.

High has a controversial past in Chapel Hill as he was removed from the roster and suspended by the university amid allegations of misconduct last season. He allegedly filmed another student without consent during an encounter.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, his suspension lasted one semester. He spent another semester on probation. Now, he is back on the floor for the Tar Heels.

That was top of mind for NC State fans in his most recent basketball appearance. A number of chants were heard raining down from the stands, with most aimed at High.

The trolling continued into the postgame.

NC State fans bashed High. The players, however, directed their jabs at Caleb Wilson despite the fact that he didn’t play.

Wilson, a projected top NBA Draft pick, was seen sporting a bedazzled belt during an interview after a win over Duke. In what’s become a growing college sports trend, the wardrobe accessory often makes appearances on the sidelines and in locker rooms.

BTA. Belt to a–.

NC State basketball players saw Wilson’s celebration. They made their own belt before celebrating a win over the Tar Heels.

“It is (a nod to UNC and Caleb Wilson),” said Quadir Copeland. “They were talking, ‘North Carolina schools this and North Carolina schools that.’ It’s crazy how fast them tables turn. We bedazzled our belt, too, for him.”

Copeland also reportedly told Wilson to “lace ’em up next time” during postgame handshakes.

NC State got the win. It deserved to celebrate. Taking aim at an injured player that was unable to make an impact is kind of lame.

Caleb Wilson received some good news on the injury front. He is expected to return before the postseason after breaking his hand.

He was unable to go against NC State this time around. It did not shield him from rivalry trash talk. Maybe he’ll get a chance at revenge in the ACC Tournament.