A New Chapter for the Wolfpack
North Carolina State’s men’s basketball program is slated to travel to the Bahamas in November 2026 for the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, a four‑team event that will feature a compact bracket and two guaranteed games for each participant.
The Wolfpack will be joined by the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and Seton Hall University, while a fourth opponent remains to be announced, adding an element of anticipation to the field.
A rematch with Seton Hall looms large after the two teams met a year earlier in the Maui Invitational, where NC State fell 74‑85; the upcoming encounter offers a chance for redemption and a boost to the team’s résumé.
Coach Gainey’s Vision
Head coach Justin Gainey, who captured the same tournament with the University of Tennessee in 2024, will aim to replicate that success, bringing his experience and tactical acumen to the early‑season showdown.
The tournament’s structure — two semifinals, a championship game and a third‑place contest — provides a clear path to a title while also delivering high‑profile neutral‑site matchups against Power Conference programs.
For NC State, victories over Wisconsin or any of the other participants could translate into valuable Quad 1 or Quad 2 wins, strengthening its case for an at‑large NCAA tournament bid.
A Look Back and Ahead
The 2026 edition marks the sixth iteration of the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, which has previously showcased champions such as Purdue, Tennessee, Miami, UCF and Louisville, underscoring its growing prestige.
Beyond the Bahamas event, the Wolfpack’s non‑conference slate includes contests against Tennessee, Ole Miss and VCU, offering additional opportunities to accrue quality wins before conference play.