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NC State women's basketball is chasing a second straight Final Four after ending a 25-year drought with last season's run to the national semifinals.
The Wolfpack (28-6) are Sweet 16 regulars, making their sixth appearance in the last seven NCAA Tournaments. This year, they're meeting 2023 national champion LSU (30-4) in the Tigers' third straight Sweet 16.
This matchup is a showcase of All-American talent and some of the most explosive players in the game. Both have recent Final Four experience and either is capable of going to Tampa this April, where the national champion will be crowned.
Here's what you need to know as NC State faces LSU in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Spokane, Washington.
The Tigers defeated the Wolfpack 82-65 the day before Thanksgiving in a Bahamas tournament championship. Aneesah Morrow was dominant for LSU with 20 points and 15 boards as the Tigers pulled down 20 more rebounds than the Pack.
NC State has tightened up since then and freshmen Tilda Trygger and Lorena Awou have developed their post play dramatically. And you can bet Coach Wes Moore has pulled out that 20-rebound-advantage stat to motivate his crew to do better.
Watch NC State women's basketball on ESPN
LSU loves to run and the Tigers are among the highest-scoring teams in the country at 85 points per game. They have the speed, length and athleticism to wear down opponents, but NC State can match it. The Wolfpack's Saniya Rivers-Aziaha James backcourt is one of the most dangerous in the tournament, and when Zoe Brooks and Madison Hayes are hitting shots like they were in Round 2, State can score with anybody.
Still, look for NC State to tap the brakes on this one. Moore's Wolfpack isn't interested in running with the Tigers, and his senior backcourt has been taking good care of the ball lately. NC State can dictate this game early and easily if its post players get a good start and the offense shows patience.
The reason the Wolfpack's four-guard offense works so well is because Hayes can compete as an undersized four. She's NC State's leading rebounder, averaging 7.3 per game, and she's a sharp-shooting 3-point threat.
She also plays with a "chip-on-her-shoulder" competitiveness, even as the underdog.
"... Going into playing the four and taking that challenge that girls are going to be bigger, but I'm not just going to lay down and be like, oh, I can't bang with them," Hayes said after the win over Vermont. "I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do for my team.
"... You're not going to bully me the whole game. And I'm the type of player that, I'm going to make you [pay] for whatever you're going to get. If you want to keep coming in here, then I'm going to show you why you don't want tokeep coming in here.
'I just take that challenge personally. Because now teams are going to pick on me because I'm smaller. And that's fine. And that's what they're supposed to do. But I just continuously, time and time again show them why you're not just going to keep — you're going to get a couple buckets here and there, but you're not going to get it all day. So I'm just going to give them what they're asking for."
NC State 86, LSU 82: Both teams looked fantastic in their second-round blowouts, and both have recent deep-run tournament history that is rare on most rosters. NC State has the veteran poise it will take to keep this one under control and Rivers' recent play as a facilitator on offense and free safety-style shot-blocker on defense can bump the Wolfpack up to another level. Quickly. ... Between the Pack's four gifted guards, there's plenty of offense to keep up with the Tigers. But NC State needs to disrupt LSU's high-scoring trio of Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams with physical defense — something it will need to reach a second straight Final Four.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State vs LSU prediction, pick for March Madness Sweet 16
Continue reading...
The Wolfpack (28-6) are Sweet 16 regulars, making their sixth appearance in the last seven NCAA Tournaments. This year, they're meeting 2023 national champion LSU (30-4) in the Tigers' third straight Sweet 16.
This matchup is a showcase of All-American talent and some of the most explosive players in the game. Both have recent Final Four experience and either is capable of going to Tampa this April, where the national champion will be crowned.
Here's what you need to know as NC State faces LSU in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Spokane, Washington.
NC State vs LSU rematch
The Tigers defeated the Wolfpack 82-65 the day before Thanksgiving in a Bahamas tournament championship. Aneesah Morrow was dominant for LSU with 20 points and 15 boards as the Tigers pulled down 20 more rebounds than the Pack.
NC State has tightened up since then and freshmen Tilda Trygger and Lorena Awou have developed their post play dramatically. And you can bet Coach Wes Moore has pulled out that 20-rebound-advantage stat to motivate his crew to do better.
Watch NC State women's basketball on ESPN
NC State vs. LSU could be a March Madness shootout
LSU loves to run and the Tigers are among the highest-scoring teams in the country at 85 points per game. They have the speed, length and athleticism to wear down opponents, but NC State can match it. The Wolfpack's Saniya Rivers-Aziaha James backcourt is one of the most dangerous in the tournament, and when Zoe Brooks and Madison Hayes are hitting shots like they were in Round 2, State can score with anybody.
Still, look for NC State to tap the brakes on this one. Moore's Wolfpack isn't interested in running with the Tigers, and his senior backcourt has been taking good care of the ball lately. NC State can dictate this game early and easily if its post players get a good start and the offense shows patience.
Who is Madison Hayes? NC State's unsung hero
The reason the Wolfpack's four-guard offense works so well is because Hayes can compete as an undersized four. She's NC State's leading rebounder, averaging 7.3 per game, and she's a sharp-shooting 3-point threat.
She also plays with a "chip-on-her-shoulder" competitiveness, even as the underdog.
"... Going into playing the four and taking that challenge that girls are going to be bigger, but I'm not just going to lay down and be like, oh, I can't bang with them," Hayes said after the win over Vermont. "I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do for my team.
"... You're not going to bully me the whole game. And I'm the type of player that, I'm going to make you [pay] for whatever you're going to get. If you want to keep coming in here, then I'm going to show you why you don't want tokeep coming in here.
'I just take that challenge personally. Because now teams are going to pick on me because I'm smaller. And that's fine. And that's what they're supposed to do. But I just continuously, time and time again show them why you're not just going to keep — you're going to get a couple buckets here and there, but you're not going to get it all day. So I'm just going to give them what they're asking for."
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NC State vs LSU women's basketball prediction
NC State 86, LSU 82: Both teams looked fantastic in their second-round blowouts, and both have recent deep-run tournament history that is rare on most rosters. NC State has the veteran poise it will take to keep this one under control and Rivers' recent play as a facilitator on offense and free safety-style shot-blocker on defense can bump the Wolfpack up to another level. Quickly. ... Between the Pack's four gifted guards, there's plenty of offense to keep up with the Tigers. But NC State needs to disrupt LSU's high-scoring trio of Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams with physical defense — something it will need to reach a second straight Final Four.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State vs LSU prediction, pick for March Madness Sweet 16
Continue reading...
