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ACC team-by-team previews: Notre Dame, Duke battle for the top

By Arielle Chambers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NC State

Projected finish: 8th

Last year’s record: 23-9, 12-4 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

F- Chelsea Nelson, (Antioch, TN), 6’2, SR- 11.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 21.1 MPG; team’s leading rebounder.

C- Akela Maize, (Greensboro, NC), 6’5, SR- 3.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 11.8 MPG.

G- Aislinn Konig, (Surrey, BC), 5’9, SO-  7.1 PPG 1.5 RPG, 17.1 MPG; missed much of ’16-’17 season due to foot injury.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

G- Miah Spencer, (Decatur, GA), 5’8- All-ACC First Team; 12.8 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.6 RPG, 30.5 MPG

G- Dominique Wilson, (Powder Springs, GA), 5’8- All-ACC First team;  13.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 31.4 MPG

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 26: North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Chelsea Nelson (5)
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 26: North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Chelsea Nelson (5) /

Newcomers

G- Kiara Leslie, (Holly Springs, NC), 6’0, R-JR- Maryland transfer; 4.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 11.3 MPG 2015-16 season at Maryland

G- Kai Crutchfield, 5’8, (Raleigh, NC), FR- four-star guard with scouts grade of 94 by espnW, Cap-8 Player of the Year, Associated Press All-State Team.

F- Kayla Jones, 6’1, (Jamesville, NC), FR– four-star forward with scouts grade of 90 by espnW, All-USA North Carolina First Team,  NCBCA District Player of the Year.  

Head Coach

Wes Moore, 5th season

“I think that [senior leadership] will be very significant,” Moore said. “Both [Chelsea Nelson and Akela Maize] work very hard, and that is why they have improved so much…I know these two will provide the work ethic and the passion you need to compete at this level. Hopefully they will accelerate those qualities in the younger players.

“We don’t have the luxury of easing into things,” Moore said. “Every game matters…We’re going to have to jump in and grow in a hurry.” 

SYRACUSE, NY – JANUARY 12: Head coach Wes Moore of the North Carolina State Wolfpack
SYRACUSE, NY – JANUARY 12: Head coach Wes Moore of the North Carolina State Wolfpack /

Key non-conference games

Nov. 30- @ Rutgers

Dec. 10– Georgetown

Dec. 16- Elon

Outlook

Last season was the confidence boost the Wolfpack needed. They showed multiple times they are more than capable of beating a top-ranked team. The team finished 12-4 in the ACC and went on to the NCAA tournament before getting knocked out by Texas, 84-80.  

This year, NC State will have four new starters. Because they have a young backcourt, there is an urgency to “grow up and toughen up quickly” and “protect the perimeter,” Moore said.

The team will look towards seniors Nelson and Maize for leadership and experience from Maryland-transfer Kiara Leslie. The Pack are still awaiting the fate of Arizona State transfer Armani Hawkins.  If she is cleared, she adds even more depth to the guard position.

NC State will face a considerably tough non-conference schedule, with teams such as mid-major power UNC-Asheville and Alabama, who has beaten Tennessee on multiple occasions. In December, the Pack must matchup against Tulane, Georgetown, East Tennessee State and Elon, all of which combine for an RPI of 71.

Come conference time, it will be a matter of toughness and chemistry with the new starting lineup.

Best case scenario:

Veteran and transfer leadership makes the transition of the two four-star freshmen easier. Because many on the current team have NCAA playoff experience, they know how to prepare. NC State gets an early confidence boost at the end of December to set them up with similar traction as they had last season to be highly competitive in the ACC.

Worst case scenario:

The youth cannot match the experienced backcourt of the top teams in the competitive conference.  The absence of the four starters who graduated last year and combined for an average of 43.5 PPG is too much to replace. 

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