NC State head coach Wes Moore met with InsidePackSports after the Wolfpack's 68-59 win over Davidson.
Wes, this was a chaotic game. You jumped them early, and then they sort of methodically come back. What did you see from your team during that bridge?
Yeah, I thought the first half of our defense was unbelievable. Held them at 22 points, and that's a great shooting team. Then third quarter, early fourth, they made a big run at us.
Then I thought down the stretch we defended really well. We were switching a lot. People communicated well, got to them, and they got so many great shooters. It's really hard to cover everybody. I thought we did a nice job.
According to the stat sheet, they only had one offensive rebound in the second half, so that was a big factor also.
They were making three-pointers. Your team was not making threes. Do you feel like the threes were in the context of what you wanted, or maybe did they shoot them too much? Where are you at on that?
Well, they were good if they go in. Coaches are fickle. It's a great shot if it goes in. If it doesn't, you're right. We then wanted to try to get it inside some. We got their best player, leading scorer. We got her in some foul trouble there.
We were trying to go inside to maybe get a fourth foul on her there in the third quarter and didn't make it happen.
But, yeah, I mean, again, we got to shoot better from the three. I think we got kids that can shoot it. I see it in practice every day. I see it in workouts.
We just got to make them in a game. And hopefully we see the ball go through. And, we've had a couple of games. I think we were 8 of 18 and maybe the Miami game, something like that. So we are capable. We just got to do it more consistent.
And then I have two more because I know you need to leave. The juxtaposition between the end of this and USC. Now that's where you can look at that ending and then this one, the growth. Where was their growth?
Yeah, like I said, as a coach, you look back on that game, the Oklahoma game, you think, okay, if I would have made one or two decisions differently, maybe we would have won those games.
So it's hard. I'm still not over them. But the players, today, this was about them. Again, they made shots when we had to down the stretch, you know, some big shots, some big buckets when they were making a run at us and we could have wilted with the crowd and all that.
Made some big shots, made some free throws, and then, like I said, got stops on defense. So it's all about them. They stepped up when they had to down the stretch.
And then finally for me, sir, it's been chaotic to get to 9-4, but you're also 2-0 in the ACC.
Yeah.
And you come out of this break, you get your break, you come out, Stanford at home, it's all there for you. It's all there for you. Speak to that if you don't mind.
Yeah, I mean, again, we believe in giving them a good break. So the players are getting six days off. So this will be a great – again, we've been on the road so much, and I look back, probably bad scheduling on my part.
We played an exhibition game in Greensboro. We played another game in Greensboro, a game in Charlotte at Oklahoma. Now this game, Miami. We've been on the road a bunch. So maybe I'll learn something from it for the future.
But, yeah, I mean, we've weathered the storm, and now we get to catch our breath a little bit. So I know everybody's happy for that. And, again, my favorite Christmas song is Noel, Noel. So we were able to sing that today.
Amen to you, and I hope you have a happy holiday, sir, and I hope to see you next year.
Merry Christmas.
Yes, sir.
Go Pack.
