NC State begins 'new season' in ACC play

The NC State Wolfpack have had plenty of close calls this season throughout their daunting non-conference slate, including a 59-57 home victory over Davidson on Dec. 11 that went down to the wire. 

But ACC play is an entirely different season, according to head coach Wes Moore, and those adversity-filled games have led them to this moment.

“When you start conference play, it’s a new season,” Moore said following the Wolfpack’s 83-79 victory over Clemson. “I mean, those other wins don’t really matter now. You need those wins on your resume when it comes to time for seeding and brackets, but now, it’s starting all over. All these games are going to be really tough, so you’ve got to raise your level of play up. You’ve got to raise your focus, your intensity and you’ve got to really battle.”

Their narrow win over 8-4 Clemson tested the Tigers as much as any other. 

Clemson was lights out from deep, finishing 15-of-31 from long range. Sophomore guard Hannah Kohn came off the bench and was 6-of-14 from the perimeter. 

“Now, I realize it’s not “horse,” Moore said. “We had a chance to guard them, but I thought they did a great job. I’m proud of our team for overcoming some adversities… We had a hard time guarding them, but they hung in there with that.”

It was a second-half push from the likes of Zoe Brooks, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes that sealed the victory in front of the Wolfpack’s home crowd. That trio combined for 52 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. Four players finished in double figures, showcasing a level of balanced scoring that the Wolfpack have rarely seen this year. 

“We need everybody,” Moore said. “We don’t have quite the depth that we’ve had the last few years, so everybody that’s in that lineup needs to really step up and play well. Today, we had a good balance.”

This season has looked a little different for NC State without its starting frontcourt from a season ago. Mimi Collins and River Baldwin, who both exhausted their eligibility after a Final Four run last season, combined for an average of 21.2 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. 

The Wolfpack has struggled to fill the void, and no post player currently on the roster is averaging more than four points and 3.6 rebounds. The Wolfpack is still averaging 42.7 rebounds, though, which ranks 29th nationally. 

Despite three non-conference falters, NC State has yet to suffer a loss to a team ranked outside of On3’s top 10. According to the NET, the Wolfpack has the eighth best strength of schedule to date. 

While there have been moments of adversity and there are lingering questions, ACC play is a new season for Moore and the Wolfpack – a season that they’ve opened with a 2-0 start.