The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523120
JULY/AUGUST 2024 ■ 45 NC State handled Syracuse with ease in an 83-65 win before it took down Duke, 74-69, to move into the semifi- nals. It was there where the Wolfpack used more magic, relying on graduate guard Michael O'Connell's buzzer- beating three-pointer to force overtime against Virginia. The Wolfpack defeated the Cavaliers, 73-65, before beating top- seeded North Carolina in the title game to clinch its first ACC title since 1987. The first team in conference history to win five games in the tournament, NC State lifted the league trophy and cut down the nets by the end of its stay at Capital One Arena. Best Female Team Performance The Wolfpack women's cross country team entrenched itself in the NCAA his- tory books last fall when it won its third consecutive national championship. NC State edged out Northern Arizona for the title with a 1-point victory. The Pack persevered despite going into the meet with odds stacked against it. Grad- uate Kelsey Chmiel could not compete in the race due to an injury, and Kate- lyn Tuohy reportedly ran the race while dealing with an illness. "There's just been so much adversity in the past few weeks, and we talk about it a lot, being able to manage your emo- tions and the stress at this time of the season, and they just did it remarkably today," coach Laurie Henes told ESPNU after the race. "I'm overwhelmed with the people that came out here and had amazing races today." The team had a target on its back af- ter winning the previous two titles but stepped up to become the first NC State program to take home three national championships. Tuohy paced the Wolf- pack in the six-kilometer race with a fifth-place finish. NC State is the first pre-2024 expan- sion ACC team to win three consecutive women's cross country titles. Stanford was the most recent program to accom- plish that feat, doing so from 2005-07. Best Male Individual Performance Graduate forward DJ Burns Jr. always wore a smile on his face while he domi- nated the paint for the Wolfpack. But in the biggest game to that point in his career, his grin seemed to grow exponen- tially each time he made a basket. And, well, there were a lot of those in the Wolfpack's 76-64 win over Duke in the Elite Eight. Burns poured in a season- best 29 points on an efficient 13-of-19 shooting performance from the floor to beat the Blue Devils for the second time in 18 days. The 6-foot-9, 275-pound Burns had his way against the Blue Devils. He was able to get nearly every shot he took to fall, including a dazzling layup in the first half. Burns also went to his trademark fadeaway jumper, which Duke appeared incapable of defending. A native of Rock Hill, S.C., Burns en- joyed his best effort of the year in the Wolfpack's ninth consecutive postsea- son win. He was later named the South Regional's Most Outstanding Player. Best Female Individual Performance Aziaha James stepped up when the Wolfpack needed her during the wom- en's basketball team's run to the Final Four. In the Sweet 16 showdown with Stanford, the junior guard took over after the Cardinal jumped out to a 10-point halftime lead. NC State won the third quarter by 18 points. James personally outscored Stan- ford 16-10. The Cardinal held her to 4 points in the first half, but the All-ACC guard finished the game with 29 — her best total of the postseason. James hit 8 of 14 shots, including 3 of 5 threes, and dished out 5 assists. NC State won the game, 77-67. "When you realize the player is on a roll like that, for instance, the shot she hit from the logo, you just have to keep going to her," coach Wes Moore said following the Sweet 16 victory. "That's what we did." She followed that game with an equally electric 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 as- sists against Texas, knocking down her first 5 threes of the contest. The Wolf- pack's superstar guard scored 20 points or more in four consec- utive NCAA Tourna- ment games. ■ 2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR Junior guard Aziaha James put on a dazzling show at the NCAA Tournament. She scored 29 points against Stanford in the Sweet 16 and followed with a 27-point outburst against Texas in the Elite Eight. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS