NC State coach Wes Moore was candid about the lingering sting of his team's 2022 Elite Eight loss to UConn, which ended in a double-overtime heartbreaker. The defeat left him just one win away from returning the program to its first Final Four since the legendary Kay Yow led the Wolfpack there in 1998. Fast forward two years, and those ghosts have finally been laid to rest.
Starting the season unranked and predicted to finish eighth in the ACC, NC State defied the odds, securing its first trip to the Final Four in over 25 years. Their 76-66 victory over top-seeded Texas in the Portland 4 Regional final on Sunday was a testament to their resilience and determination.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that NC State became the first team to reach the Final Four after being unranked in the AP preseason poll since Washington did it in the 2015-16 season. Facing another 1-seed in South Carolina for a shot at the national championship game, the third-seeded Wolfpack are ready to continue their Cinderella run.
Before their victory over Texas, the Wolfpack had struggled against No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, boasting a 1-5 record. Their last win against a top seed was in the 1998 Sweet 16. However, junior guard Aziaha James, the regional's MVP, delivered a standout performance with 27 points, showcasing why she's not only one of the most improved players in the country but also one of the hottest players in March.
James' impressive showing included scoring 21 points in the first half, the most by any player in the tournament up to that point. She also set a career-high with seven 3-pointers, sinking all five of her attempts in the first half alone. James' three-point shooting was particularly devastating for Texas, as she made as many 3s as the Longhorns managed total baskets outside the paint.
NC State's success was not solely reliant on James' heroics. The team shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc, going 9-for-18, while Texas struggled, making just 1 of 6 attempts from deep. The Wolfpack also dominated in fast-break scoring, outscoring the Longhorns 16-3 in that category.
Although Texas mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to six in the third quarter, James responded with another timely 3-pointer, extinguishing any hopes of a Longhorns rally. The loss marked Texas' third Elite Eight exit during coach Vic Schaefer's tenure in Austin, as they continue to chase their first Final Four appearance since 2003.
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