NC State’s Will Wade Criticizes UNC’s Use of Ven-Allen Lubin: “They Didn’t Know How to Use Him”

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I’ll be candid: I’m a big fan of chirping in sports. Sure, it’s not as fun when your team’s on the receiving end, but I can’t resist some classic trash talk. From what I’ve seen, NC State’s head coach, Will Wade, doesn’t back down from the heat. In fact, he seems to thrive on it, and I’ve got to say, I respect that. You don’t need to embrace the banter to be a great coach, but I’ll admit, I wouldn’t mind if Hubert Davis threw in a jab or two occasionally to spice things up.

This comes to mind because Wade recently attended an event to introduce some new Wolfpack players. When he presented former Tar Heel Ven-Allen Lubin, he didn’t hold back, dropping comments not only about Lubin but also taking a swipe at his old team:

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Will Wade didn’t hold back when talking about Ven-Allen Lubin’s time at UNC: “The other school was too dumb to play him. When he plays 28+ minutes, he’s done that in 23 games, he’s averaged 15 points and eight rebounds. I don’t know why the hell they didn’t play him. But we’re going to play him, and he’s going to average 15 and eight.”

Let’s be clear: Wade’s not wrong about Lubin’s stats. In games where Lubin logged 28 or more minutes, he indeed averaged 15 points and eight rebounds—though that only happened four times in Carolina blue. But why wasn’t he on the court more? You can point the finger at Hubert Davis, since he sets the lineup. That said, it’s worth noting Lubin’s frequent foul trouble often forced Davis to limit his minutes. I’m not saying Wade’s off-base, but context matters when dissecting last season’s rotation.

Still, I’ve got to hand it to Wade for stirring the pot ahead of the new season. Maybe it’s surprising, but I’m here for it. The Triangle’s coaching scene felt flat last year—Hubert Davis, Jon Scheyer, and Kevin Keatts were all too polite, too tame to play the villain. Honestly, it was a bit dull. I’d rather chew glass than watch UNC lose to Duke or NC State, but losing to Scheyer’s squad doesn’t hit the same as losing to a Coach K-led team. It’s not about coaching skill—it’s about personality. Keatts was a snooze, so Wade’s willingness to jab at UNC is a welcome spark, riling up both Wolfpack and Tar Heel fans.

That said, I’m keeping receipts. If Lubin doesn’t get 28+ minutes or fails to hit that 15-and-eight mark, you bet I’ll be vocal about it. Lubin’s solid, but he didn’t reach those numbers at Vanderbilt, where he averaged 28.2 minutes per game. I wish him well—no bad blood here—but the petty side of me is itching for UNC to not only beat NC State this season but to rub those receipts in Wade’s face when the dust settles.

What’s your take on Wade’s comments? Are you hyped for his trash talk, or does it feel like a cheap shot? Drop your thoughts below.

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