NC State coach Wes Moore hints at guard-heavy lineups for parts of upcoming season
CHARLTTE — After a Final Four run last season, which was partially propelled by elite front court play from River Baldwin and Mimi Collins, NC State is in a different situation at that position this season.
Baldwin is playing professionally in Germany, while Collins is doing the same in Spain after both players exhausted their eligibility. And the Wolfpack’s potential replacement at center, Boston University transfer Caitlin Weimar, is currently dealing with a hip injury.
If Weimar is held out for a significant amount of time, NC State’s current front court depth will be without many experienced collegiate players.
Graduate Lizzy Williamson, who was the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, played 4.9 minutes across 19 games last season. Sophomores Mallory Collier and Maddie Cox averaged less than seven minutes a night, though the latter did log key minutes in all five NCAA Tournament games last season. Freshmen Lorena Awou and Tilda Trygger are both capable of holding their own in the ACC, but it could come with some growing pains.
While the younger players will have an opportunity to play this season, Moore is looking at all of his options.
“It’s still a work in progress as far as reloading the front court,” Moore said at ACC Media Day on Tuesday. “We have some question marks there. We’ve got to have some players step up. We may play four guards some with the talent that we have at that position.”
The Wolfpack has the talent to play four guards at any given time, featuring graduate Madison Hayes, seniors Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers, and sophomore Zoe Brooks. In the scenario of a four-guard lineup, Brooks and James serve as the point and shooting guards, while Rivers and Hayes will likely slot into the wing and forward spots.
Rivers, who played a significant role at point guard last season, is willing to do all she can to increase the number in the Wolfpack’s win column.
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“I take pride in being a versatile player because I’m very unselfish,” Rivers said. “I want to be able to put my team in a position to win. Whatever I need to do to help contribute to the wins, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Rivers mentioned she could be featured at wing or even a forward spot this season with her ability to defend nearly every player on the court with her 6-foot-1 frame. But if she does slot in against bigger bodies, Rivers noted she will have to change her mindset, but she’s ready for the challenge if it comes her way.
“I definitely have to switch my mentality,” Rivers said. “I think physically I’m there. … I think that’s a big factor, and I’m excited to play different positions this year because I do take pride in my defense.”
While Moore is not sure what his consistent lineups will look like at this point, he did say having Rivers’ ability to play all over the floor is helpful in whatever decision he makes.
“We’re probably going to be playing four guards quite a bit,” Moore said. “Heck, we may play five guards. … With Saniya’s length and athletic ability you can play her about anywhere on the floor. We are definitely looking at a lot of different options. We want to get our best players on the court.”
Moore still has three weeks to figure out what lineups he wants to play with the Wolfpack’s season opener on Nov. 5. But once the season gets rolling, the Pack will not have time to ease into it with a matchup against defending national champion South Carolina set for the second game of the season.
