2018 ACC preview: Notre Dame, Louisville battle for top

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Projected finish: 3rd

Last year’s record: 26-9, 11-5 ACC

Key returners (last season’s stats):

G-Kaila Ealey, 5’8, (Raleigh, NC), R-JR-   8.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 33.4 MPG.

G- Kiara Leslie, 6’0, (Raleigh, NC), GR- 12.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG,  30.3 MPG.

G- Aislinn Konig, 5’9, (Surrey, BC), JR- 10.3 PPG, 3.1 APG, 34.2 MPG; broke single-season three-point record (91) last season.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats):

C- Akela Maize, 6’5, (Greensboro, NC)-  All-ACC Defensive Team; Lisa Leslie’s Watch List; 10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 24.7 MPG.

F- Chelsea Nelson, 6’2, (Antioch, TN)- First-Team All-ACC; 12.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 28.2 MPG. set ACC Tournament record in rebounding.

Newcomers:

C- Elissa Cunane, 6’5, (Summerfield, NC), FR – ranked according to No. 21 2018 Prospects Nation; 2016 HSXtra Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

F- Jada Rice, 6’4, (Suwanee, GA)- FR – ranked No. 57 in the nation according to 2018 Prospects Nation.

F- Esra McGoldrick, 6’2, (Christchurch, NZ), FR-ranked No. 11 international player by Prospects Nation.

Head Coach

Wes Moore, 6th season

• 51-29 (.637) in his five seasons at NC State
• Exceeded expectations in each of his years coaching, finishing fourth in the conference on three occasions
• Home record of 28-12 (.700) at home
• Reached Sweet Sixteen in 2017-18 season

Key games:

Nov. 29– Michigan: 7pm ET (ACCN)

Feb. 18– Notre Dame: 7pm ET (ESPN2); Play for Kay game

Outlook:

Every year, North Carolina State gets overlooked, but after finishing fourth the past two seasons and making a strong run in the NCAA Tournament last season, reaching the Sweet Sixteen, it’s no longer possible to doubt the Wolfpack’s potential.

Though the Pack lost two very important pieces of its puzzle in Akela Maize and Chelsea Nelson, Coach Wes Moore seems to always have a handle on his team.  He controls the game and through that, his players produce effective minutes. A couple of years ago, there was great question as to how NC State was going to remain successful in a post-Miah Spencer and Dominique Wilson era, but then, new stars arose. The same thing can happen in this go-round with returning players Aislinn Konig, Kiara Leslie and Kaila Ealey.

The key returners are all guards, so one can expect strong guard play from the Pack; NC State will shift emphasis to the backcourt this year. The real question is if they can fill the spot in the paint that they’re lacking due to last year’s graduates, such as Chelsea Nelson’s record-breaking rebounding performance in the ACC Tournament last season. But, after being in attendance for the Pack’s annual Red and White Scrimmage, it is very clear Leslie’s relentless effort in rebounding and blocking will compensate. Not to mention, NC State has limitless potential in freshman Elissa Cunane. She is a true center that does her job.

Best case scenario:

NC State is the underdog people often underestimate, so best case, they’ll prove people wrong. The Pack reached the Sweet Sixteen last year and depending on the team chemistry, they can make a long postseason run yet again. They will utilize their balanced roster and create opportunity for the next generation of the Wolfpack. NC State has all the pieces to finish top three in the conference if they stay disciplined.

Worst case scenario:

NC State will struggle in the inside, a game which they’re so accustomed to playing through the likes of Nelson and Maize.  They fall lower than usual in a conference which is growing in height by the year. Also, their overall record might be affected due to their strength of non-conference games. Their average opponent in non-conference play has an RPI of 120, and eight of the teams were involved in postseason last year.