PC: NC State's Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre Discuss Tennessee Matchup

NC State guard Zoe Brooks and forward Khamil Pierre met with the media to discuss their upcoming NCAA Tournament matchup with No. 10 seed Tennessee.

For both of you, share with us how this is an opportunity for your program and specifically how you'll be challenged against Tennessee tomorrow.
ZOE BROOKS: We played Tennessee first game this season, as many may know, and it was a tough game. It was obviously a really hard battle, but we found a way to pull it through towards the end. I think we won by three.

I'm interested to see how tomorrow will go.

KHAMIL PIERRE: I think it just gives us another opportunity to show that we're a better team. I think just playing them before earlier this season gives us a better feel for the game. So I think we're pretty comfortable going into tomorrow.

Since you played Tennessee back in November, how has your team grown and changed?
KHAMIL PIERRE: I think a lot of mistakes that we were making early on in the year we cleaned up. Also just having better team chemistry, a better feel for the game. I think we've just come a long way. Individually, yeah, but also as a team.

Zoe, this is your third year in the tournament, your first year you were in the Final Four, then you went to a Sweet 16. What is your expectations in this tournament as a leader, one of the leaders of the Wolfpack?
ZOE BROOKS: Obviously going to a Final Four my freshman year is something I never really could have imagined. It's going to be hard to top that. Obviously the next best thing is a National Championship.

I'm excited to see where we go my third year round. Obviously, as you said, Sweet 16 and Final Four a big deal. So pretty excited for this year.

This question is for Ms. Pierre. What are your expectations of going into this tournament? You've been off for two weeks, and you had an ACC Tournament recently. Is this a new season for you moving forward in this tournament?
KHAMIL PIERRE: I think it's a new season, but also just like building on the one we already had. I think it is postseason, so just being prepared for a hard fight. It's going to be one team's last game. But overall I think we're more than ready.

This question is for both of you. Tennessee plays a really unique style. Do you feel like it benefits you that you've kind of seen the chaotic style that they play? And how do you think that might play into this matchup?
ZOE BROOKS: First game of the season being pressed for 40 minutes obviously was very tough. I don't think in my three years of college we've been pressed for 40 minutes. So it definitely makes us change our play style a little bit.

But for the bigs, they're going to get layups all day. We're just going to throw the ball at the floor and the goal is to just get layups.

KHAMIL PIERRE: I've played Tennessee probably more than I've played any team in college basketball, so just being familiar with their system and how fast of a pace they have.

Zoe, this one's for you. I wanted to ask you particularly, this is obviously your third time being back in the NCAA Tournament, but this time being more of a leader for this team, you've gotten a chance to do that throughout this season. What does it mean for you and how different is it to be back in this NCAA Tournament as a bigger leader of this team at this point?
ZOE BROOKS: The role is definitely different. We had pretty great leaders in the past like Madison, Aziaha, Saniya, Mimi, River. This year I have to be more vocal. I have to be more of a leader and lead in multiple examples and just kind of follow what the past seniors did to me.