# 1987–88 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team

The 1987–88 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represented North Carolina State University during the 1987–88 men's college basketball season. It was Jim Valvano's 8th season as head coach.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| November 30* | | Vermont | W 108–58 | 1–0 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| December 2* | | Tampa | W 85–60 | 2–0 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| December 19* | | No. 17 Kansas | L 67–74 | 2–1 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| December 21* | | Winthrop | W 93–59 | 3–1 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| December 23* | | at UC Santa Barbara | L 78–96 | 3–2 | The Thunderdome Santa Barbara, CA |
| December 27* | | vs. Creighton Rainbow Classic | W 86–55 | 4–2 | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI |
| December 28* | | vs. Louisville Rainbow Classic | W 80–75 | 5–2 | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI |
| December 29* | | vs. Arizona State Rainbow Classic | W 83–71 | 6–2 | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI |
| January 3* | | Cornell | W 95–72 | 7–2 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| January 6 | | Clemson | W 70–61 | 8–2 (1–0) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| January 12* | | Morgan State | W 103–54 | 9–2 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| January 16 | | Georgia Tech | W 76–74 | 10–2 (2–0) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum Atlanta, GA |
| January 20 | No. 20 | at Wake Forest | L 67–71 | 10–3 (2–1) | Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum Winston-Salem, NC |
| January 24 | No. 20 | No. 2 North Carolina | L 73–77 | 10–4 (2–2) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| January 27 | | at Maryland | W 83–81 | 11–4 (3–2) | Cole Field House College Park, MD |
| January 31 | | DePaul | W 71–66 | 12–4 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 3 | | Virginia | W 75–69 | 13–4 (4–2) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 6 | | at No. 4 Duke | W 77–74 | 14–4 (5–2) | Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC |
| February 8 | | Charleston Southern | W 116–68 | 15–4 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 11 | No. 16 | No. 6 North Carolina | L 73–75 | 15–5 (5–3) | Dean Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC |
| February 13* | No. 16 | Louisville | W 101–89 | 16–5 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 15* | No. 16 | Maryland–Baltimore County | W 99–77 | 17–5 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 18 | No. 14 | at Clemson | W 88–63 | 18–5 (6–3) | Littlejohn Coliseum Clemson, SC |
| February 20 | No. 14 | Georgia Tech | L 84–87 | 18–6 (6–4) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 24 | | No. 5 Duke | W 89–78 | 19–6 (7–4) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| February 27 | | at Virginia | W 64–63 | 20–6 (8–4) | University Hall Charlottesville, VA |
| February 29 | | UNC Asheville | W 87–76 | 21–6 | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| March 3 | No. 16 | Maryland | W 74–68 | 22–6 (9–4) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| March 6 | No. 16 | Wake Forest | W 86–82 | 23–6 (10–4) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| ACC Tournament ||||||
| March 11* | (2) No. 11 | vs. (7) Clemson Quarterfinals | W 79–72 | 24–6 | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| March 12* | (2) No. 11 | vs. (3) No. 8 Duke Semifinals | L 71–73 | 24–7 | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| March 18* CBS | (3 MW) No. 14 | vs. (14 MW) Murray State First Round | L 75–78 | 24–8 | Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, NE |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | 16 | 14 | — | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 |
| Coaches | Not released | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | 14 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 |