North Carolina State coach Wes Moore joked about the upcoming Sweet 16 game against Stanford, which will be a preview of what’s to come next season when Stanford joins the ACC. Stanford, under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer, has been dominant in the Pac-12 with multiple titles and NCAA championships. Moore, who has had success with N.C. State, is focusing on the present rather than looking ahead to next season’s conference changes.
N.C. State, with an impressive 29-6 record, is coming off a second-round win over Tennessee and is looking to erase the disappointment of last year’s early exit from the tournament. Stanford, with a record of 30-5, had a tough overtime victory against Iowa State in the second round. The winner of their Sweet 16 matchup will face the winner of the Gonzaga-Texas game in the Elite Eight. Texas, with a 32-4 record, is led by Aaliyah Moore and has overcome challenges this season to reach this point, including an ACL injury to their starting point guard.
Gonzaga, with a 32-3 record, is looking to make history by advancing past the Sweet 16, a stage they have never reached before. The Zags have had a successful season with only a few losses and are ready to show that they can compete at the highest level despite being considered a mid-major program. The close-knit Pac-12 coaches in the tournament have shared bittersweet sentiments as conference realignment will see Stanford and California leaving the conference for the ACC.
As the tournament progresses, teams like N.C. State, Stanford, Texas, and Gonzaga are focused on making a deep run and ultimately reaching the Final Four. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the season, these teams have shown resilience and determination to succeed on the big stage. The matchup between Stanford and N.C. State will be a highly anticipated game with the winner moving on to face another tough opponent in the Elite Eight. Fans and coaches alike are excited to see how the tournament unfolds and which team will emerge victorious.
