The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
78 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2019-20 BY BRIAN RAPP N C State's women's basketball team finds itself in an unusual position for the 2019-20 season. For the first time in more than two decades, the Wolfpack is considered one of the top 10 teams in the country in at least one preseason ranking (Athlon listed them No. 9) — a position it hasn't held since 1990. When the annual ACC preseason polls were released in mid-October, the Pack was tabbed to finish second in the league by both the league's head coaches (two first-place votes) and Blue Ribbon Panel (eight). Considering the fact that the Pack has never finished higher than fourth in the six previous ACC preseason polls, and until last year hadn't been ranked in the top 20 nationally since 2014, the program's lofty status is a testament to the culture and at- titude that seventh-year head coach Wes Moore has brought back to Raleigh. The former Kay Yow assistant has successfully rekindled the heady days of the program's MEETING EXPECTATIONS Ranked In The Preseason Top 10 For The First Time In More Than 20 Years, NC State Wants To Prove It Belongs There Elissa Cunane, a 6-5 sophomore and a member of the All-ACC Freshmen Team last season, leads all returning Pack players who played a full season last year in scoring (13.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.3 a contest). PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN