I agree that it's too early to write off NC State as dead. However, I don't know what you've seen to make you think they are rounding into form. They beat a bad Cincy team at home while going to the free throw line more than triple the time than Cincy did.
Also, I don't know about your assertion that "If Degand's solid, then State's solid." That's what I thought headed into the season, but he played decently against New Orleans and Michigan State, and NC State did not look solid in those games. In fact, Michigan State might have been Degand's best game, and State looked awful.
My guess is they'll get better but the returning players have been disappointing overall and they're going to need to develop chemistry with Hickson and show some leadership.