As men surge, Wolfpack Women deserve attention

Today’s News & Observer featured an article on the fantastic job that first year head coach, Wes Moore is doing with the 2013-2014 Wolfpack Women. The SFN author team felt bad when our Christmas holiday schedule interfered with our ability to post something last weekend celebrating the women’s 10 point defeat of #12 ranked LSU last Friday night, so today’s article gave us the chance for a little redemption!

The Wolfpack, 17-17 last season, was picked to finish 10th in the ACC but is off to its best start in 14 years and knocking on the door of the nation’s top 25.

N.C. State is 8-0 at Reynolds, including a 69-55 win against a good Tulane team Nov. 24. The resume includes a 67-49 win against UCLA at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla., and a 76-61 win at Northwestern in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The only loss was a 99-90 defeat to Wright State on the first day of the three-day Gulf Coast Showcase.

“I think the kids have bought in,” said Moore, a 15-year coach at Chattanooga where he won nine Southern Conference tournaments. “We’ve got five seniors and a couple of juniors who are probably hungry and want to turn things around. They’re unselfish and share the basketball well.”

After a depressing football season, the performance of BOTH the men’s and women’s basketball teams have a been a pleasantly uplifting surprise for WolfpackNation! See this article on the ‘Surging Wolfpack proving doubters wrong’.

Throughout the preseason, N.C. State’s players said that they were being underestimated. Few were listening, however, because when you’re picked to finish 10th in the league, what else are you supposed to say?

There was plenty of reason to have doubts about this Wolfpack team. Of the three players returning from last season’s NCAA tournament team, T.J. Warren was the only one to receive significant playing time on a consistent basis. Tyler Lewis was a back-up point guard and 7-foot center Jordan Vandenberg rarely saw the court in important moments.

The rest of the roster was a collection of freshmen and transfers only one of which, freshman guard Cat Barber, was considered to be an immediate difference maker.

So while the N.C. State players themselves felt they were being slighted, the circle of people agreeing with their line of reasoning was a small one.

It got even smaller when Vandenberg hurt his ankle in the preseason and the Wolfpack started 2-2 with an overtime loss to N.C. Central at home.

But as ACC play nears, those players’ statements back in September are beginning to look prescient.

N.C. State (9-2) has won seven straight, most notably a road win at Tennessee. The Wolfpack’s roster has settled into what appears to be a capable and comfortable rotation and those same players who faced waves of doubt before the season can now talk about a growing confidence.

“I feel like we’re a great team, we’re getting better every day,” Warren said after last week’s 90-79 win against East Carolina. “Everybody’s still learning the offense. We haven’t reached our potential. I’m excited for the year.”

With conference play starting in a little over a week, N.C. State has fewer questions than many of their conference mates.

Keep up the great work!!

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13-14 Basketball Wes Moore

Home Forums As men surge, Wolfpack Women deserve attention

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  • #33973
    StateFans
    Keymaster

    Today’s News & Observer featured an article on the fantastic job that first year head coach, Wes Moore is doing with the 2013-2014 Wolfpack Women. The
    [See the full post at: As men surge, Wolfpack Women deserve attention]

    #33974
    PoppaJohn
    Participant

    I hadn’t noticed that both the men AND women were preseason 10th place picks.
    Congrats to Coach Moore and the team, they are playing great. A great hire by Yow.

    Could this be a season in which both bball teams exceed expectations? Exciting!

    #33975
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    Had I known the womenfolk were ranked 10th, I would have considered that overly optimistic. Very glad to be wrong.

    Huzzah for Coach Moore!

    #33976
    MrPlywood
    Participant

    The women need to hold the fort against KSU, then they have 2 big opportunities against #20 Syracuse at home and #10 UNC at CH. Make some noise Pack!

    #33977
    mak4dpak
    Participant

    Was at the LSU game, and had a great time, and impressed with the team, and performance of their bigs. Plan making some more trips to Reynolds for more of the same, regardless of the opposition. We are tough to beat in Reynolds, just need more support from the fans, and fill the house, with excited fans.

    #33978
    choppack1
    Participant

    Am I a bad person because I would rather have one acc football or men’s basketball championship than 10 women’s national titles?

    I think its great that women’s basketball is doing great, but I won’t watch many games…very frustrating watching them make what I would consider making middle school level mistakes….you see them in the men’s game but not as often.

    #33979
    choppack1
    Participant

    Oh and if you didn’t think that turner and Lee would/could contribute, you’re retarded…. which could mean you are a journalist.

    #33980
    coach13
    Participant

    You should make yourself go to a womens game chppack1. Some good ball. I was at the LSU game and I’d say well above your typical highschool game stuff. Hell they scored bout 90 on LSU. Girls hishschoolers aint reaching 60 in regulation. I challenge you to take one in. I plan to catch some more games this year. They could use the crowd support, and it wasn’t a horrible crowd vs LSU for students to be on break.

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