The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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82 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK BASKETBALL PREVIEW "One's been in the U.S. all of a few weeks and is still adapting to a lot of things, in- cluding how the game is played at this level. And you have a kid who's got some experience with JUCO play, but has been playing with her back to the basket, and now has to find other ways to be effective because she's not going to be able to just turn and score. All three have things to learn and get better." "Every year will start off with new obsta- cles and challenges," Brown-Hoskin added. "We just have to face adversity, overcome it and keep rolling. With all the new players we have this year, we just have to get them to buy in just like we did last year." Though neither Moore nor associate head coach Nikki West, or assistant Gene Hill, predicted any major changes in NC State's basic offensive philosophy — the "four-out, one-in" that Moore brought with him from Chattanooga — there may be some "tweaks" to compensate early on for the lack of experience inside. "The four-out has been good to us for a long time, so we won't get completely away from it, by any means," Moore said. "On the other hand, we are prepared, if that isn't working, with some options." Having a post who made two-thirds of her attempts certainly helped the effective- ness of the Pack's offense a year ago. "It was a great comfort having Markei- sha in there," Hill noted. "Any time you had a problem running the offense you could just throw it in there, and she could make something happen. "We don't have that security blanket right now." With all of the returning experience among starters in the Pack's perimeter trio of Barrett, Brown-Hoskin and Spencer, along with junior Ashley Eli and sopho- more Ashley Williams, NC State's attack will have to depend on their ability to shoulder much of the scoring load until — and if — a consistent inside scorer de- velops. A year ago, NC State's perimeter game produced 242 made three-point shots, a single-season school record and the most of any ACC school. That long-range threat could be even more critical this season to the Pack's success, but as Moore pointed out, an inside threat is still key to an effec- tive long-range attack. "When you have someone like a Gatling down on the block, it takes pressure off the three-point shooters," he explained. "We'll always stress the three here, and that's where our veteran guards will hopefully have a good impact on the offense — but you have to have balance with some inside scoring to keep defenses honest. "We may have to do some things to get all five players somewhat on the perime- ter," Moore continued. "We could move our inside players up to the foul line to open up the baseline — it's the type of offense that Michigan runs, and I even met with Coach Beilein [the Wolverines' men's coach John Beilein] over the summer. We're going to try to incorporate some of that action with what we do." If the Pack resorts to more of a spread, motion-type attack, redshirt sophomore Dominique Wilson could prove to be a piv- otal addition. The 6-1 guard will make her Pack debut this season after sitting out last year following her transfer from Arkansas. "She can be a factor," Moore said. "She played in the SEC as a freshman [averaging 22.0 minutes, 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 33 games for the Razorbacks]. She un- derstands the energy and work ethic it takes to succeed at this level. She can be a scor- ing threat with punch for us." At the other end of the floor, the Pack will have to work even harder on defense since much of last year's scheme involved relying on help inside from Gatling's im- posing 6-5 presence. Even with her, the Pack was not as effective as Moore would have liked, allowing opponents 66.3 points a game and 41.8-percent shooting accuracy — both ranking in the bottom half of the conference. "Hopefully, with a year in the system, we'll be better," Hill said. "We're going to do the same basic things: get out, pressure, deny the wings, and press here and there." Looking at a schedule that includes 16 teams that went to postseason play a year ago, and 14 that won 20 or more games (including 2014 ACC regular-season and tournament champ Notre Dame, 37-1 and last year's national runner-up, and ACC newcomer Louisville, 33-5), Pack coaches and players are well aware that the 2014-15 season holds an even bigger challenge than last year's acclimation to a new coach, staff and playing style. But Moore isn't about to lower the bar on what he expects from his squad. "My expectations are the same every year: to make the NCAA Tournament and see what happens," he said. "That won't change — even though I do think it will be more of a challenge this year to accom- plish that. Last year, we were picked to fin- ish 10th in the ACC and that was the pick again this year. We'll use that as motivation again and hope to overachieve again. "I know pretty much everyone outside our locker room doesn't expect too much from us this year, and we're going to have to work hard to overcome that. "Every aspect of our game is going to be critical to our success. We all have to be mentally focused, know our roles, know our job in each thing we do and then actu- ally get it done." ■ 2014-15 NC State Women's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Time Nov. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne (Ex.) 8 p.m. Nov. 14 Tennessee State 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Coppin State 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Charlotte 7 p.m. Nov. 21 High Point 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Tulane 8 p.m. Nov. 28 George Washington^ 1 p.m. Nov. 29 Texas Tech/Purdue^ TBA Dec. 3 Minnesota# 7 p.m. Dec. 7 Elon 2 p.m. Dec. 13 Mount St. Mary's 7 p.m. Dec. 17 Liberty 12 p.m. Dec. 19 Davidson 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at Villanova 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at North Carolina 3 p.m. Jan. 8 Virginia Tech 7 p.m. Jan. 10 Clemson TBA Jan. 14 at Louisville 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Wake Forest 2 p.m. Jan. 22 North Carolina 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at Syracuse 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at Virginia 7 p.m. Feb. 5 Pittsburgh 7 p.m. Feb. 8 Wake Forest 2 p.m. Feb. 12 at Georgia Tech 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Boston College 2 p.m. Feb. 19 Miami 7 p.m. Feb. 22 Duke& 12 p.m. Feb. 26 at Florida State 7 p.m. March 1 Notre Dame 2 p.m. March 4-8 ACC Tournament% TBA ^ Junkanoo Jam, Bahamas; #ACC/Big Ten Challenge; &Hoops for Hope; %at Greensboro, N.C. Last year, Moore guided the Wolfpack to its first 25-win season since 2007 and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN