Previewing NC State women’s basketball’s path in the ACC Tournament

By Noah Fleichman

After finishing the regular season with wins in 20 of its last 22 games, NC State women’s basketball heads to the ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the event. The Wolfpack shared the regular season title with Notre Dame, whom NC State beat in late February on national television. 

While NC State (24-5, 16-2 ACC) is in search of its fourth ACC Tournament title in the last six years, it will not be an easy path to cutting down the nets at First Horizon Arena in Greensboro. Here’s a look at who is in the Wolfpack’s way to kick off tournament time.

Quarterfinals: March 7

NC State has a double bye straight to the quarterfinals. Its first game will take place on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. on ACC Network

Possible NC State opponents
No. 8 seed Virginia Tech (18-11, 9-9)
No. 9 seed Georgia Tech (21-9, 9-9)

Results against possible NC State opponents
Wolfpack 85, Hokies 57 on Jan. 26 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 83, Yellow Jackets 68 on Feb. 20 in Atlanta

The outlook for NC State

The Pack handled business at Reynolds Coliseum against the Hokies, who are in their first season under coach Megan Duffy. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, made the game between the Pack and Yellow Jackets tight, but NC State pulled away with a 14-0 run in the third quarter. While no game is a gimme in the ACC, the Wolfpack will be the clear favorite against either team it sees in its first game at the league tournament. 

Semifinals: March 8

Saturday, Noon, ESPN2

Possible NC State opponents

No. 4 seed Florida State (23-7, 13-5)
No. 5 seed North Carolina (25-6, 13-5)
No. 12 seed Boston College (15-16, 6-12)
No. 13 seed Syracuse (12-17, 6-12)

Results against possible NC State opponents

Wolfpack 97, Seminoles 74 on Feb. 9 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Tar Heels 66, Wolfpack 65 on Feb. 16 in Chapel Hill
Wolfpack 91, Eagles 52 on Jan. 5 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 74, Orange 66 on Jan. 23 in Syracuse, N.Y.

The outlook for NC State

This is when the tournament will get tough for the Pack. It would take a miracle for either Boston College or Syracuse to make it this far. Instead, it’s very likely that NC State will have a top-25 clash with either Florida State or North Carolina in the league semifinals. The Wolfpack hammered the Seminoles on their home floor last month, setting up a revenge game, but Greensboro might feel like Reynolds Coliseum West in that battle. And if the Tar Heels and Pack meet? That will be a big-time matchup. UNC expects its two injured stars, Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly, to be back for the ACC Tournament. NC State, which laid an egg with a 4-point second quarter, will want to correct that on the conference’s biggest stage. A Triangle matchup for the right to go to the title game will be must-watch TV. If it happens, I’d give the edge to NC State to level the score with UNC, its arch rival. 

Championship: March 9

Sunday, 1 p.m., ESPN

Possible NC State opponents

No. 2 seed Notre Dame (25-4, 16-2)
No. 3 seed Duke (23-7, 14-4)
No. 6 seed Louisville (20-9, 13-5)
No. 7 seed Cal (24-7, 12-6)
No. 10 seed Virginia (16-14, 8-10)
No. 11 seed Stanford (16-13, 8-10)
No. 14 seed Clemson (13-16, 6-12)
No. 15 seed Pittsburgh (13-18, 5-13)

Results against possible NC State opponents

Wolfpack 104, Irish 95 (2OT) on Feb. 23 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 89, Blue Devils 83 on Feb. 3 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 72, Cardinals 42 on Dec. 15 in Louisville, Ky.
Golden Bears 78, Wolfpack 71 on Jan. 9 in Berkeley, Calif.
Wolfpack 73, Cavaliers 68 on Jan. 19 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 81, Cardinal 67 on Jan. 12 in Stanford, Calif.
Wolfpack 83, Tigers 79 on Dec. 29 in Raleigh
Wolfpack 83, Panthers 67 on Jan. 16 in Raleigh

The outlook for NC State

It’s likely that this will be a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship game between the Irish and Wolfpack. The two squads played a double-overtime thriller just two weeks ago. NC State knows what it takes to beat Notre Dame in a big-time game, which is helpful if the two teams meet again. If the Irish lose before the final, the Wolfpack has beaten the next two highest-seeded teams, Duke and Louisville, on that side of the bracket. If NC State makes it this far, the expectation is the Wolfpack will play a team it has already beaten this year. And if that’s the case, the Pack will have to be ready to face a revenge-motivated team.