N.C. State uses balanced attack to keep ACC tourney hopes alive, beating Pitt 71-63
Michael O’Connell scored 15 points and NMARCH 6 • Associated Press
MICHAEL O'CONNELL #12 - GUARD - NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK
6.4 PPG •
2.9 RPG •
3.6Â APGÂ
6.4 PPG
2.9 RPG
3.6 APG
Limited offensive production O'Connell logged nine points (4-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 24 minutes during Monday's 74-64 loss to Duke.
Impact Despite starting every game and serving as the primary point guard for the Wolfpack, the counting stats simply haven't been there for the fifth-year senior. He's averaging 6.6 points and 3.4 assists on the year, which are only slight improvements from his 2023-24 marks. Meanwhile, NC State has gone from a Final Four team in 2023-24 to a sub-.500 squad in 2024-25. It will need a lot more magic to happen in March to even make the NCAA Tournament.
JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE
Offensive struggles continue O'Connell supplied three points (1-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 1-3 FT), six rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 63-59 loss to Texas.
Impact O'Connell couldn't build off his 16-point performance in the 72-61 loss to BYU on Nov. 29, and he's scored in double digits in just two of his eight outings this season. O'Connell is averaging 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season, but there's no question an uptick in his scoring figures would boost his upside considerably.
DECEMBER 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Returns to bench O'Connell is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against Wake Forest, Noah Fleischman of On3.com reports.
Impact O'Connell got a spot start over the weekend against Louisville and had a productive night with 11 points and six assists. The Wolfpack will go back to their usual starting lineup against Wake, however, with DJ Horne gettin the start at point.
JANUARY 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Dishes out six assists in win O'Connell ended Thursday's 83-60 victory over Oregon State with two points (1-3 FG), two rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes.
Impact O'Connell finished with two points and six assists during Thursday's win over Oregon State. The 6-foot-2 junior has appeared in all 30 games this season (25 starts), logging 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.9 steals on 25 minutes per game. O'Connell and the Cardinal will look to close the season out with a win over Oregon on Saturday.
MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Career-high 22 points O'Connell ended Saturday's 88-79 win over Arizona with 22 points (6-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 7-12 FT), three rebounds and one steal over 30 minutes.
Impact O'Connell converted 6-of-10 attempts from the field, finishing with 22 points and three rebounds during Saturday's win over Arizona. The 6-foot-2 junior has appeared in all 25 games this season (20 starts), logging 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.9 steals on 24 minutes per game. O'Connell has reached double figures in just four games this season, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect this level of scoring production on a consistent basis.
FEBRUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Excels in win O'Connell amassed six points (3-8 FG), five rebounds and seven assists across 24 minutes during Saturday's 75-46 victory over California.
Impact O'Connell closed Saturday's win over California with six points, five rebounds, and a season-high seven assists. The 6-foot-2 junior has held a modest role this season, averaging 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.9 steals on 22.9 minutes per game. Across the last six games, O'Connell has received a larger minute allocation, averaging 29.2 minutes per game, and as the result of his recent play he should continue to see an expanded role.
JANUARY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles in win O'Connell notched two points (0-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one steal in 30 minutes during Thursday's 67-46 win over Oregon State.
Impact O'Connell went 0-of-5 from the field, finishing with two points and four assists during Thursday's win over Oregon State. The 6-foot-2 junior has struggled to find his shot this season, averaging 3.9 points on 36.1/11.8/85 shooting splits. O'Connell will look to turn things around when Stanford hosts Oregon on Saturday.
JANUARY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Inefficient scoring again O'Connell accumulated seven points (2-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, three assists and one steal across 29 minutes during Sunday's 68-64 loss to Arizona State.
Impact O'Connell was an unreliable scorer from Nov. 7 to Dec. 4. Despite making about eight of nine free throws he receives, the junior also has a 3.8-point average on 33.3 percent shooting. He and Isa Silva continue competing to be part of Stanford's starting lineup. However, both are unpromising.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Limited in loss O'Connell racked up one point (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one steal over 22 minutes during Tuesday's 74-62 loss to San Diego State.
Impact O'Connell was held to just one point and zero made field goals during Tuesday's loss to San Diego State. The 6-foot-2 junior has struggled to start the season, averaging just 4.3 points (30.8 percent from the field), three rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals on 25.3 minutes per game. O'Connell will look to get back on track on Friday against Cal Poly.
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Scores 11 against Arizona O'Connell notched 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt), three rebounds, four assists and one steal over 23 minutes during Thursday's 84-80 loss to Arizona.
Impact O'Connell was one of three Stanford players to reach double figures in a tough matchup against Arizona, scoring 11 on the strength of three 3-pointers. He also tied a team-high with four assists, but it wasn't enough as the team's NCAA Tournament hopes came to an end. The point guard did a good job of facilitating the offense but only shot 38 percent for the season.
MARCH 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Out against Oregon State O'Connell (ankle) won't play Saturday against Oregon State, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Impact Losing O'Connell is a huge blow for Stanford, as he's a productive player and the team's starting point guard. He averages 7.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game this season.
FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Season-high 16 points O'Connell finished Saturday's 79-76 victory over Arizona State with 16 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound, three assists and three steals in 29 minutes.
Impact O'Connell put up his most efficient game of the season, posting a season-high 16 points on just eight shot attempts as he broke an eight game stretch in single digits. He also contributed on the defensive end with a team-high three steals. Through seven Pac-12 contests, O'Connell is averaging 8.0 points and 3.7 assists per game.
JANUARY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles against Texas O'Connell accumulated three points (1-3 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four rebounds and three assists over 24 minutes during Sunday's 60-53 loss to Texas.
Impact O'Connell was held to just one made field goal against a tough Texas defense and also turned the ball over four times - his sixth straight game with multiple turnovers. He's only reached double figures in two games thus far but is leading the team in assists. Overall, it's been a sophomore slump for Stanford's starting point guard, who is only connecting on only 39 percent of his field goals this season.
DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Contributes across the board O'Connell tallied 17 points (7-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-4 FT), six rebounds and seven assists in 52 minutes during Saturday's 85-76 triple overtime loss to Washington St.
Impact O'Connell played all but three minutes in the triple overtime affair and stuffed the stat-sheet - leading the team in minutes, points, rebounds and assists. He did post a season-high five turnovers, however. O'Connell has mainly served as a distributor while running the point this season but showed he can be an effective shooter when called upon for a bigger role.
FEBRUARY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Starting vs. Huskies O'Connell is in the starting lineup Thursday against Washington.
Impact With Bryce Wills (knee) and Daejon Davis (lower leg) out, O'Connell moves back into the starting five. It will mark his first start since Dec. 15.
JANUARY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Draws start Tuesday O'Connell will start in Tuesday's game against Cal State-Northridge.
Impact O'Connell will make his first start of the season. The freshman is averaging 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds this season, but will get a chance to show what he can do.
DECEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
