The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1043000
76 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY BRIAN RAPP W hen women's basketball coach Wes Moore was hired away from a highly successful stint at Chattanooga six years ago, one of his stated goals in coming to Raleigh was to "get NC State back in the national conversation." In the 10 years prior to Moore's arrival in 2013, the Wolfpack — once an annual fixture in the national rankings — had ap- peared in the final Associated Press poll just two times: in 2004-05 (ranked No. 21) and 2006-07 (No. 18). In the ensuing five seasons under Moore, NC State has been ranked three times: No. 21 in 2014, No. 17 in 2017 and No. 16 fol- lowing last season's 26-9 record and first appearance in the Sweet 16 in 11 years. Last year's 26-win effort also was the most for NC State since a 27-6 mark in 1990-91. Now, entering the 2018-19 season, the Pack finds itself in a position it hasn't been in since 2000: picked as a preseason top- BACK IN THE MIX The Wolfpack Have Been Tabbed As A Preseason Top-20 Squad, But Must Replace Frontcourt Production To Fulfill Expectations BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2018-19 Fifth-year senior guard Kiara Leslie is NC State's leading returning scorer (12.7 points per game) and rebounder (5.9 boards an outing). PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN