The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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Ba ketball Preview 2013-14 very quickly, if they haven't figured it out already, that if Markeisha is open, and they don't get her the ball, they're coming out and we'll find someone who will get her the ball. If people double-team her, hopefully we'll have people open to knock down shots — she's not going to do it by herself." Moore is also emphasizing a more balanced approach to shooting from the threepoint arc, moving senior Myisha GoodwinColeman to Kastanek's vacated shooting guard spot from the point and assigning Burke, last year's top returning scorer and rebounder, more of a role on the perimeter as a shooting forward who will be expected to take the open trey when it's available — something Burke did effectively as a sophomore when she hit 20 of 67 threepoint tries. "Moving Myisha to the two will hopefully get her some open shots, get her down the floor quicker in transition and get her spotted up," Moore explained. "Kody will be critical, not only because of her rebounding ability, but as a leader this year. She's capable of knocking down shots, and if we get in a pinch we can even move her inside to the post." Redshirt junior Len'Nique Brown brings a year of experience at the point, which she shared last winter with Goodwin-Coleman, but is in a battle to win the spot with incoming freshman Miah Spencer, whose size (5-8) and aggressiveness could add a new dimension to the position. Senior Breezy Williams and junior Krystal Barrett, a starter at the three position last year, will both be counted on to be more consistent in shooting, defense and ball handling, while fifth-year senior Lakeesa "Kee" Daniel gives Moore an option inside if Gatling needs to come out, or if the Pack wants to "go big" with a pair of posts. Sophomore Ashley Eli, one of the pri- ■ Pack At A Glance 2012-13 Record: 17-17 ACC Record: 7-11 (8th) Home/Away/Neutral Record: 11-6/4-8/2-3 Postseason Results: Lost to Duke, 79-65, in ACC Tournament quarterfinals; lost to James Madison, 72-66, in WNIT second round Starters Lost: 1 (G Marissa Kastanek) Others Lost: 2 (F Kiana Evans, F Therany Dunnigan) Starters Returning: 4 (G Krystal Barrett, F Kody Burke, C Markeisha Gatling, G Myisha GoodwinColeman) Others Returning: 5 (G Len'Nique Brown, F Lakeesa Daniel, G Ashley Eli, G Kaley Moser, G Breezy Williams) Head Coach: Wes Moore (first season; Tennessee, 1986) Record: 558-169 overall (.767) Assistants: Nikki West (first season; Clemson, 2000), Gene Hill (first season; Coker, 1997), Lindsay Edmonds (first season; Appalachian State, 2005) conference in the nation. Moore and the Pack will begin this year's ACC schedule with the Orange and close it March 2 at home against the Irish. "Success this season starts with being the best we can be," NC State's fourth head coach summed up in mid-October, anticipating the season opener Nov. 8 against St. Bonaventure. "I don't want to sit down and say how many games we're shooting to win — I want to win all of them. I want to close the gap between what we are now and what we can be. And that comes with us being fundamentally sound, having effort night in and night out, and being a consistent team that shows up every game. "The goal, always, will be to make the NCAA Tournament and see what we can do once we get in there. But we have to change the mentality and the culture that's here now, convince these kids they can compete at this level — and show them the things you have to do to get there." ■ 2013-14 NC State Women's Basketball Schedule Moore's system is based on the simple concept of limiting opponents to one possession, forcing more turnovers and winning the rebounding battle. photo courtesy nc state media relations mary backups at guard last year, will swing between the three and four positions this year, according to Moore and West, using her speed and athleticism to compensate for her 5-11 stature in what is considered a power forward position. And freshman Jennifer Mathurin, the first native Canadian to play for the Pack, brings added depth to an otherwise thin frontcourt corps. As in recent seasons past, "consistency" will be at the top of Moore's list of priorities — which includes playing every night the way recent Pack teams have played against their rivals in blue to the west. "One of the things I'm most proud of with the program we had at Chattanooga is that we averaged 25 wins over the last 14 years" Moore pointed out. "That shows that you're prepared night in and night out, and you take care of business. I don't want us to get up for three or four games, then have a letdown and give away games we are capable of winning." That will be even more critical in a year that will see Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame — the latter a two-time national runner-up and perennial top-20 member — add to the ACC's reputation of being the most successful and toughest women's basketball DateOpponent.................................. Time Nov. 3 Winston-Salem State*........................ 2 p.m. Nov. 8 St. Bonaventure.................................... 6 p.m. Nov. 11 Towson.................................................. 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Presbyterian.......................................12 p.m. Nov. 18 Morgan State........................................ 7 p.m. Nov. 24 Tulane..................................................... 2 p.m. Nov. 26 Davidson............................................... 6 p.m. Nov. 29 Wright State^.................................2:30 p.m. Nov. 30 Middle Tenn./SW Louisiana^........12/6 p.m. Dec. 1 TBD^........................................................TBA Dec. 5 at Northwestern#.............................. 8 p.m. Dec. 8 Elon........................................................ 2 p.m. Dec. 20 LSU......................................................... 7 p.m. Dec. 28 Kansas State+.................................7:30 p.m. Dec. 30 UC Riverside/ San Diego State+........................ 6:30/9 p.m. Jan. 5 Syracuse................................................ 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at North Carolina............................... 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at Wake Forest.................................... 2 p.m. Jan. 16 Florida State......................................... 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at Miami................................................. 2 p.m. Jan. 23 Boston College.................................... 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Georgia Tech.................................... 2 p.m. Jan. 30 Maryland............................................... 7 p.m. Feb. 6 Wake Forest......................................... 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Virginia Tech..................................... 2 p.m. Feb. 13 at Clemson......................................6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 North Carolina&............................3:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Duke.............................................6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 Virginia................................................... 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at Pittsburgh......................................... 7 p.m. March 2 Notre Dame......................................... 2 p.m. March 5-9 ACC Tournament%.............................TBA * Exhibition; ^ Gulf Coast Showcase at Estero, Fla.; #ACC/Big Ten Challenge; +San Diego Surf n' Slam at San Diego; &Hoops for Hope; % at Greensboro, N.C. 70 ■ the wolfpacker 68-70.Women's BKB Overview.indd 70 10/22/13 2:05 PM