The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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12 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK T.J. Warren Named To NBA All-Bubble Team Indiana Pacers and former NC State forward T.J. Warren was named to the Kia NBA All-Seeding Games first team in August after a breakout performance in the league's bubble this summer. Through six seeding games, which began Aug. 1 for the Pacers, Warren averaged 31.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Despite sitting out the final two seeding games to rest for the playoffs, he ranked third in the league for scoring average in them, behind only Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Houston Rockets guard James Harden. The sixth-year professional went viral on social media following his first seeding game, when he scored a career-high 53 points in a 127-121 win over the Philadel- phia 76ers. "T.J. Warren has been scoring his whole life, since his AAU days to NC State," Pac- ers guard Victor Oladipo told ESPN fol- lowing the career performance. "He's been a scorer as long as I've known him, and I've known him for a long time." The 6-8, 220-pounder sank 22 of 42 three-point attempts in seeding games for a blazing 52.4 shooting percentage beyond the arc. He also scored at least 30 points in four of the six seeding games he played. — Justin H. Williams Women's Soccer Will Sit Out This Fall The NC State women's soccer team announced Aug. 31 that it would not compete in games, but will continue to train this fall. "We were intending to play," head coach Tim Santoro said. "We would love to be play- ing right now. This isn't a choice because we are making a political stand or were worried about the virus. Our protocols have been great, our testing has been great for our team. "We wanted to play. We simply ran into a numbers crunch." NC State had three international signees who decided this spring in the face of uncer- tainty to sign professional contracts instead, and additionally three current international players — All-ACC senior defender Lulu Guttenberger from Germany, junior starting midfielder Toni Starova from Czech Republic and freshman goaltender Maria Eche- zarreta from Spain — faced challenges getting back to campus. Santoro added that two players returning from injuries were still limited, and then two more went down with in- juries during preseason practices, leaving his roster too short-handed to play a condensed ACC schedule. It became the first fall sport at NC State to decide not to play this season. The remain- ing fall sports — football, volleyball, men's soccer, and men's and women's cross coun- try — all intend to compete in the upcoming campaign as of Sept. 2. The women's soccer team went 12-7-4 overall in 2019 and made its third Sweet 16 ap- pearance in the last four years. Nikki West Returns To NC State As An Assistant Women's Basketball Coach NC State head women's basketball coach Wes Moore announced Aug. 26 that Nikki West, a former member of Moore's staff, will be returning as an assistant. The associate head coach for the Wolfpack from 2013-18 spent last season as an assistant for Charlotte. "NC State is like home, a part of my family, and I'm very excited to be returning," West said. "Most importantly, I am grateful to be reunited with my mentor and friend, Coach Moore." Prior to her 20-year coaching career, West helped lead Clemson to four NCAA Tourna- ment appearances as an All-ACC performer. "We're blessed to have Nikki return to NC State," Moore said in a statement. "She brings a wealth of college coaching experience, as well as 16 years of working directly with me at the Division I level. She is very familiar with our system and the high-charac- ter, elite athletes we recruit to play for the Wolfpack. "As a former ACC player herself, Nikki is able to relate to and mentor the young ladies she works with, both on the court and off, and she is instrumental in assisting them in having successful careers and lives." Warren ranked third in the NBA for scoring during its seeding games with 31.0 points per outing, prior to the start of the playoffs. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANA PACERS ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK C.B. Lee & Company Accountants, Consultants & Tax Advisors 4617 Western Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27606 919-851-2640 Fax 919-851-4577 Accounting & Tax Preparation Accounting & Business Managment Services Taxes Individual - Corporate - Partnership - Trusts - LLC's Proud supporter of "The Wolfpack" for over 30 years