What NC State coach Wes Moore said after losing to South Carolina women's basketball

After a 71-57 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday in Charlotte, NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore spoke to the media.

Here’s what he had to say:

OPENING STATEMENT

“You know, they are who we thought they were. Again, they beat us really bad on the boards, got out rebounded by 15. But I count going and getting offensive rebounds, not team rebounds. They went and got 10, we went and got one. And you can’t beat the number one team in the country and not compete in those areas.

Also, I think nine assists, 21 turnovers. Just a little bit too much one-on-one. You know, it’s early in the year, we got to get better. And I’ve got to do a better job making sure that we share the ball a little bit more, make an extra pass or two, those sorts of things. But again, transition, attacking off the bounce, we didn’t do a really good job defending the ball. And then rebounds. And outscored us 12 to 2 second chance points. So it’s just hard to overcome that. And again, great team, giving them all the credit. They came out and took it to us.”

On what the marquee neutral site this early in the season means for his team…

“Unbelievable experience. First of all, Ally, they do so much for women’s sports, women’s basketball. I mean, they made this a first-class experience. And, obviously, the Charlotte Sports Foundation, it was great.

Obviously, I wish we’d played a little better. But it’s something that this early in the year we can go back, learn from, get better. It was a big-time experience, very similar to a Final Four. So it was nice.”

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On any adjustments that had to be made without Chloe Kitts in the lineup for the Gamecocks and on South Carolina’s depth…

“Again, they got Watkins back. You go in, obviously, with a scouting report, we felt like Watkins would probably play. So we had 10 players on the scouting report. So you take 21 out, you know, she’s a great player and all, but we were already prepared for, you know, Joyce Edwards, for instance.

So yeah, it really doesn’t change that much.”

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On the third quarter deficit and what was different from last year to this season in the game…

“Yeah, I thought even in the second quarter, they really started getting after it. I’ll be honest, like I said, we’re a team in transition right now. We’re still trying to figure a lot of things out. I’m worried about the post. Our post players, I think Mallory Collier was two for three. Lizzy was two for three from the field. They held their own. We’ve got some great guards, but they’ve got to play great for us as a team to be able to win a game like this. So, like I said, I got to look in the mirror. We stood around too much. We tried to run some five out, and I thought we had some success there in the second quarter, spreading the floor out some.

But then we started, instead of setting picks and movement, we started just kind of attacking one-on-one and give them credit. It says they only blocked five shots, but I guarantee you they altered twice as many, if not more. So, they really made it hard for you to get to the rim, and we just didn’t do a good job of making the extra pass.

On South Carolina slowing NC State’s transition defense after a rebound…

“We saw that on film. They do a great job. They send so many offensive boards, and if they don’t get the rebound, they’re still going to swarm you and make it hard for you to make the outlet. So, it was definitely a factor. But I mean, the bigger factor was getting out-rebounded by 15, and again, we only got one offensive rebound. To me, that’s, that’s unbelievable.

I mean, 40 minutes, you’ve got five people out there, and you got one offensive rebound. So, give them credit, but we got to do better.

On playing Zoe Brooks and Lizzy Williamson together more…

“Zoe does a really good job breaking defenses down, and so she is capable of setting our post players up, definitely. And like I said, Lizzy did well. Probably should have played her more.

It’s tough to match up. You know, you go with size, or do you go with speed? And, unfortunately, they have both. So, it’s a big challenge knowing how to match up.”

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On freshman Zamareya Jones and if he foresaw her impact during recruiting…

“Definitely. She’s a McDonald’s All-American. We’re very fortunate she was not too far from us. We knew she’d be a great player. She’s still got a lot to learn, a long way to go. When we watch the film, there’s still going to be a lot of things that need to be cleaned up. But she had some big shots and she’s quick and explosive. So, got to figure out how to use her, and we will together, and still get the ball in Zoe’s hands too, because she does a nice job in those areas as well.

On Tilda Trygger being on the floor during an 11-0 run and in the fourth quarter…

“Didn’t shoot the ball well today. But we felt like we needed the length. She’s a little bit more mobile than a true five-player. Felt like she might can match up a little bit in that regard. She’s got a bright future, and, like I said, she can shoot it better than she shot it today. She’s got a good basketball IQ. Gives us some length that can also step out and do some things on the perimeter.”

What are some positives to build off of from the game…

“I see all the blemishes. We watch the film. Again, they’re a great team. They’re number one in the country. We made a run. We cut it down. But at the end of the day, you know, you got out-rebounded by 15. You turned the ball over 21 times. We got beat off the bounce. You know, there’s just so many areas.

And like I said, as a coach, I got to look in the mirror, too, because on offense, we were standing around just going one-on-one. And I got to make sure that we have some, a little more fluid and better movement, all those things, so.”

What has to change to have long-term success?

“If I knew that, we might not be 1-1. Again, I’m searching some. Last year, we had a pretty well-set lineup, a set rotation. It was easy. Now I’m searching for that. Do we go small and quicker? Do we go big? Do we play four out, one in, which is what I traditionally play? Which is what I traditionally played? Or do we try to get five guards out there and play five out? I’m searching, and I got to find out in a hurry. I’ve got to figure it out in a hurry and try to help these players a little bit more. But yeah, I don’t know if I’ve got anything for you there. Sorry.”

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