The NC State women’s basketball team opens up play Friday in Reynolds Coliseum. After being largely viewed as one of the biggest snubs of the NCAA tournament last season — multiple teams with worse RPI got into the tournament over State — the Wolfpack has a brighter outlook this season than in previous years.
The Pack finished 20-11 (10-6 ACC) last season and made it to the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament before being eliminated by Syracuse.
This year the Pack is expecting to accomplish great things with its senior-laden starting lineup leading the way. Its senior backcourt trio includes Dominique Wilson, Miah Spencer and Ashley Williams, along with forward Jennifer Mathurin. Mathurin, Wilson and Spencer led the team in rebounding, points per game and assists respectively, last season.
Some returners intend to continue last season’s momentum while others aim for a breakout season. After shooting nearly 50 percent from the field a year ago, junior forward Chelsea Nelson is likely to improve upon her 7.2 points per game if her already impressive shooting touch develops. Sophomore DD Rogers will provide rim protection after being second on the team with 15 blocks last year as a key reserve.
The Wolfpack’s incoming recruiting class was ranked 20th in the nation by ESPNW, which included three top-100 players. Star freshman guard Aislinn Konig was ranked as the ninth best guard and the 38th player overall in the ESPNW top-100 players.
Head coach Wes Moore enters his 28th season as a head coach and his fourth with the Wolfpack. Moore has led the Pack to a 63-34 record during his tenure. This year he looks to continue his winning ways and return State to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013-14.
Although NC State has talented first-year and returning players, it is losing some valuable size down low. The Pack lost Carlee Schuhmacher, who tallied 20 blocks along with 120 rebounds last season, to graduation, meaning some of the younger bigs will have to step up. Junior Akela Maize and sophomore Nae Nae Cole are likely to see an uptick in minutes this season as they hope to help State exceed expectations.
However, the team’s small ball lineup may give opponents fits this season. Wilson and Spencer are both known as offensive dynamos, but a look at the stat sheet shows that they can defend at a high level as well. Wilson and Spencer led the team in steals last year with 49 and 47 respectively.
The Wolfpack opens the regular season Nov. 12 against Wofford at Reynolds Coliseum in what is the beginning of a light nonconference schedule. If rankings hold where they are, State plays its first ranked team of the season Dec. 1 against No. 23 Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Pack plays No. 1 Notre Dame to open up ACC play for the season, and takes on Wake Forest in the annual Play4Kay game Feb. 19 with a certain percentage of ticket sales and proceeds going to The Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
All in all this team is predicted by most to go to the NCAA tournament and very well could make a deep run in it. Granted team health is always a factor, but barring injury it should be, at minimum, an NCAA tournament team. If it can get high-level production out of its frontcourt, and the seniors play like seniors, this may be a year to remember in Wolfpack basketball history.
