NC State Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore talks with media during an NCAA Tournament practice session at Spokane Arena. James Snook James Snook-Imagn Images
Spokane, Wash.
Even before Friday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 match-up materialized, N.C. State coach Wes Moore reviewed the tape and combed through the box score from his team’s last encounter with LSU.
Moore’s findings? The Wolfpack had a decisive edge in the turnover column, forcing the Tigers into 21 while committing just 13 of its own. Guard Saniya Rivers was another bright spot, scoring 21 points on relatively efficient shooting.
As for everything else?
Not quite as positive for N.C. State during an 82-65 loss to LSU at the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in the Bahamas. The Tigers controlled many of the other relevant categories — 44-24 in total rebounds, 28-18 in paint points, 20-13 in free-throw attempts — while handing N.C. State its third loss.
The Wolfpack (28-6) may not have to flip each of those columns, but probably a few to outlast the Tigers (30-5) when the teams tip off Friday at 7:30 p.m. A victory at Spokane Arena would send N.C. State to its second consecutive Elite Eight and the program’s third in the past four years.
NC State Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore talks with media during an NCAA Tournament practice session at Spokane Arena. James Snook James Snook-Imagn Images
“I’ve watched that game a couple of times now and we didn’t — defensively we didn’t have near as much urgency and energy as we needed,” Moore said. “I mean, again, LSU was the aggressor and they usually are. I mean, as I like to say, they’re dogs. They’re going to get after you and play, and you got to be ready, you got to try to slow down their transition, you got to try to keep ‘em off the boards. They have got great scorers.”
Moore and LSU coach Kim Mulkey insisted Thursday their teams have evolved since their matchup in late November. LSU’s won 20 of 25 games since then while N.C. State’s won 24 of its past 27.
The Tigers have throttled both NCAA Tournament opponents, beating San Diego State, 103-48, before handling Florida State, 101-71. LSU is one of six teams to reach the century mark this tournament, but the only one to do so in multiple games.
Handicapping Friday’s game, Mulkey said the lower-seeded Tigers are embracing the role of underdog, despite entering as 3½-point favorites.
LSU Lady Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey talks with media during an NCAA Tournament practice session at Spokane Arena. James Snook James Snook-Imagn Images
“I wouldn’t say the style of play is any different,” Mulkey said. “We’re not going to create new players. I think both teams are obviously better, and we just have a lot of respect. We don’t look at the previous game. We just think that we’re both trying to advance to an Elite Eight, and we don’t really even think about that game.
“We talked about it once or twice. We’ve looked at some film. But they’re better, we’re better, they’re ACC champs, we finished third in the SEC, they’re supposed to win, they’re the two seed, we’re the three seed.”
N.C. State’s suffocating defense limited Vermont to 55 points and Michigan State to 49 in previous NCAA Tournament games. The Wolfpack held both teams under 40% shooting and tied a program tournament record with seven blocked shots against the Spartans.
N.C. State’s Saniya Rivers and Devyn Quigley celebrate following the Wolfpack’s 66-55 win over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer
“Obviously, we had a lot of returners, but I feel like with the freshmen coming in and people playing out of position, we just weren’t very comfortable and confident,” Rivers said. “So as the season went along, and we started putting pieces together, I would say we’re a much different team. So even though we lost to LSU early, I hope people don’t look at that because we’re a different team, and we’re ready to compete tomorrow.”
From N.C. State’s side of things, Friday’s assignment begins and ends with limiting LSU’s trio of All-Americans. Forward Aneesah Morrow, an AP Second Team selection, averages 18.5 points and an NCAA-leading 13.5 rebounds. Third-teamer Flau’jae Johnson leads the Tigers at 18.8 ppg and averages 5.7 rpg. Mikaylah Williams, an Honorable Mention choice, is scoring at a 17.8 point-per-game clip while shooting 40% from the 3-point line.
LSU Lady Tigers guard Mikaylah Williams, LSU Lady Tigers forward Aneesah Morrow and LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau’Jae Johnson talk with the media during an NCAA Tournament practice session at Spokane Arena. James Snook James Snook-Imagn Images
More of a guard-oriented team, N.C. State leaned on 3-point marksmanship from Aziaha James and Madison Hayes to roll past Michigan State. The Wolfpack finished 15 of 30 from the 3-point line, with James and Hayes combining to make 11 threes and score 43 points.
“I feel like N.C. State probably remind us of Tennessee,” Johnson said. “I feel like they play four guards, right? They get up and down, can score the ball really well, has a dominant post. So, yeah, I would say they remind us of Tennessee in the SEC, and Tennessee’s a great team. We only beat them by single digits every time we played ‘em. So you got to have that mindset.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM.
