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PREVIEW: #1 NC State Versus #8 South Florida in Second Round

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NC State Wolfpack (#1) vs. South Florida (#8)
Time: 3:00 PM
TV: ESPN2
Line: State -14.5

Sometimes you look at a team’s overall resume and think you have them somewhat figured out. Then you look into the actual numbers and watch some film and realize, NC State is about to lay the hammer to these poor souls.

South Florida is a Poser

South Florida won both the regular season and tournament AAC Championships. They hold 19-3 record and were a NCAAT team nearly the entire season, finishing with an AP ranking of 19.

But they have some serious flaws.

First, their strength of schedule was less than ideal. Opponents hovered around .500 as the conference lost their strongest team in UCONN, last year. While the Bulls beat #6 Miss State early in the year, MSU ended up then going 2-7 to end the season without an invite.

Second, their shooting is ROUGH. Believe it or not, the Bulls shot 37% from the field. Seriously? 19-3 record and they have a shooting percentage that ranks #281 in the nation? From three-point land, they dip even further to 30%. For some perspective, State from three-point shooting alone (36.1%) is equal to the Bull’s from the floor.

Third, so their rebounding must be out of this world…right? Not really. They’re a fairly small team, all sub 6′ 2″ and rebound just inside the top-75 in the nation, overall. Offensively, they get the job done on the boards, so need full team effort grabbing and transitioning. Once setup, South Florida’s defense is definitely solid.

In short, South Florida has the resume, but no where near the statistics to back it up.

 

How the Pack Wins

South Florida tends to get big leads and then hold on. They actually seem like a more physical version of NC A&T on defense, so perfect second game for the Wolfpack. State HAS to get out and run early. Wear them out inside with Cunane and Hobby. Spread the floor and get a hot hands from Crutchfield, Brown-Turner and Boyd. If South Florida falls behind, they don’t have the weapons to climb back.

Pack will need to bring the intensity versus their Forward, Bethy Mununga. She’s a bulldog that at only 6-foot has 30% of South Florida’s boards, while being their third-best scorer. Have faith that Crutchfield will take care of their leading scorer, sophomore Elena Tsineke. Flood gates open if the Pack can get turnovers on those two.

The fact that it was a true team effort for State in round one is huge. Everybody got the rust off and can no focus on taking a good game and making it great. It’s a shame if Kayla Jones can’t go today, because this matchup would have been perfect for her.

State will spread the floor, minimize turnovers and keep the pace up. I don’t see how this isn’t well into a 20+ point blowout, especially if Wolfpack have a solid opening 10 minutes. Two State players with double-doubles, four in double figure scoring. Let’s get to the Sweet Sixteen.

PI Prediction: State Wins 81-55.

 

Passionate State fan that just wants to win...something...like anything...

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Dof87
Dof87
2 years ago

Meanwhile, rumors and rumblings of more transfers away from Roy abound.

Dof87
Dof87
2 years ago
Reply to  Dof87

Guess I posted to wrong story….

I have no doubt our ladies will dominate again. Go Pack

Women's Basketball

VIDEO: NC State women fall 64-63 to Princeton on late three in NCAA 1st Round

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The NC State women were a 7 seed, picked to move on over 10-seeded Princeton, but that’s not how it worked out.

The Pack women were plagued by turnovers (20) and Princeton capitalized with a late 3 to clinch the win. Highlight above.

Sad day for NC State all around.

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Women's Basketball

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: NC State Moves Up to #15 After Win Over Notre Dame

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The NC State Women’s Basketball (16-5) team moved up 5 spots in the Week 13 AP Poll, after defeating Notre Dame 69-65 yesterday, who was ranked 7th then, and ranked 9th now.

(ESPN)

ACC Teams in the Week 13 AP Poll

9. Notre Dame

11. UNC

13. Virginia Tech

15. NC State

16. Duke

23. FSU

The Wolfpack’s next game will be on Thursday night on the road at Georgia Tech at 8pm on ACC Network.

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Women's Basketball

NC State Signee Zoe Brooks is a McDonald’s All-American

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NC State Women’s Basketball 2023 signee Zoe Brooks was named a McDonald’s All-American yesterday.

McDonald’s All American Game East Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Zoe Brooks Saint John Vianney (NJ) G 5-10 NC State
Essence Cody Valdosta (GA) F 6-3 Alabama
Aalyah Del Rosario The Webb School (CA) F 6-5 LSU
Jadyn Donovan Sidwell Friends School (DC) G 6-0 Duke
Milaysia Fulwiley W.J. Keenan (SC) G 5-6 South Carolina
Hannah Hildalgo Paul VI (NJ) G 5-6 Notre Dame
Riley Nelson Bullis School (MD) W 6-0 Maryland
Courtney Ogden Westminster School (GA) W 5-11 Stanford
Laila Reynolds Shabach Christian (FL) F 6-2 Florida
Emma Risch Palm Bay Magnet (FL) G 6-1 Notre Dame
Taliah Scott Saint John’s Country Day (FL) G 5-9 Arkansas
Ashlynn Shade La Lumiere (IN) G 5-9 UConn
McDonald’s All American Game West Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Kamorea Arnold Germantown (WI) G 5-9 UConn
Sofia Bell Jesuit (OR) W 6-1 Oregon
Madison Booker Germantown (MS) W 6-1 Texas
Addyson Brown Derby Senior (KS) W 6-2 Iowa State
Breya Cunningham La Jolla Country Day (CA) F 6-4 Arizona
Kymora Johnson Saint Annes-Belfield (VA) G 5-7 Virginia
Tessa Johnson Saint Michael Albertville (MN) G 5-10 South Carolina
Amanda Muse Heritage (CA) F 6-4 UCLA
Judea Watkins Sierra Canyon (CA) G 6-0 USC
Mikaylah Williams Parkway (LA) G 6-0 LSU
Jada Williams La Jolla Country Day G 5-6 Arizona
Sahara Williams West (IA) W 5-10 Oklahoma

(SN)

Here is what ESPN had to say about Brooks being named a McDonald’s All-American.

Zoe Brooks, G

Signed with: NC State | 2023 ESPNW 100 ranking: 9
St. John Vianney HS (New Jersey)

Brooks is a gifted scorer who can flat out put the ball in the basket. Over the past 18 months, she has really gone to work on her conditioning and it brought her game to another level. She is a true three-level scorer. Defenses must be there on the close out, but containing Brooks is no easy feat as she attacks angles, changes speeds, and has the footwork and handle to counter. Her strength allows her to finish with contact at the rim and her touch provides an array of floaters and usage of the glass for buckets. Brooks sees the floor well and zips passes to teammates for open looks. Defensively, she has fantastic instincts and is good in passing lanes and in the press. Brooks is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. (ESPN)

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Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball: #20 NC State 71 Miami 61: Box Score & Highlights

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#20 NC State picked up a much needed win last night against Miami, defeating the Hurricanes 71-61 in PNC Arena, avoiding a 3-game skid.

Sophomore Guard Saniya Rivers led the pack with 14 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Seniors Camille Hobby and Mimi Collins both had 11 points.

Sophomore Guard Aziaha James had 10 points, and led the Pack with 6 rebounds.

The Wolfpack was without Jada Boyd and Jessica Timmons last night, and River Baldwin went down with an injury, and will have an MRI tomorrow.

NC State is now 14-5 overall, and 4-4 in ACC play, and will play at Louisville on Sunday at 1pm on ABC.

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