Logan Brumley: Hello and welcome to WKNC's official sports podcast in the Den.
Logan Brumley: Today we're going to be going over Sunday's women's basketball game against tcu.
Logan Brumley: We'll be going over how things are looking like for NC State and the men's NCAA Tournament, which they should be able to make in.
Logan Brumley: And we'll be going over the gymnastics schedule release that should come out this week.
Logan Brumley: I'd also like to clarify that last week was our Miami football preview.
Logan Brumley: I did not realize that there was a bye week, so make sure to check that out on the WKNC website.
Logan Brumley: But regardless, get your headphones on and let's get straight to it.
Logan Brumley: So NC going to open up with a brief recap of the USC game.
Logan Brumley: This previous Sunday, NC State lost to USC by just one point.
Logan Brumley: Despite a strong game overall, NC State just couldn't close it when it mattered as USC was able to lead a comeback down five points with a minute and a half left, including several key missed shots by I think both Jones and Pierre.
Logan Brumley: At the end of the game, NC State should have won, but losing a turnover game and not getting the big come like being able to stave off the comeback like they did against Tennessee was definitely a killer for them in this game.
Logan Brumley: Also, USC's freshman star Jazzy Davidson really showed out so good for her.
Logan Brumley: See, another frustrating thing is that NC State they only dropped in 10 but USC, I mean thinking about it now, it kind of makes sense that USC was jumped over NC State, but I don't know, I feel kind of icky about that.
Logan Brumley: NC State had some decent performers so we broke snatched 24 points and six assists.
Logan Brumley: Tilda Bhatia got herself 11 rebounds, as did Camille Pierre and her 2011 double performance.
Logan Brumley: I like Devin Quigley, our freshman scoring nine off the bench.
Logan Brumley: NC happy with the production so far.
Logan Brumley: I just hope to see things get closed out.
Logan Brumley: I mean it's only been two serious contenders and of course main that was yesterday.
Logan Brumley: I won't really go too deep into that one.
Logan Brumley: I think that this TCU game at Sunday will be more important, but if I had to give a player of the game, probably Zoe Brooks, she's our best player and she's been playing like it so far.
Logan Brumley: So let's do our brief look at TCU.
Logan Brumley: Let's see, while football kicks off Sunday at 1, the Lady PAC would tip off against TCU and potential WNBA lottery pick Olivia Miles.
Logan Brumley: She should have been one last year, but my guess is she probably stayed back for some serious nil money.
Logan Brumley: But this is her last hurrah and it's with the TCU Horned Frogs.
Logan Brumley: The team is sitting on number 17 in the nation.
Logan Brumley: This is their first serious contender and they're hoping to make a big splash with a win.
Logan Brumley: It is still way too early to determine the strengths and weaknesses for this TCU roster and their star players.
Logan Brumley: However, there are some matchups I think will be State to watch.
Logan Brumley: Camille Pierre and Kennedy Basham and in the smaller amount, Toto Bhatia.
Logan Brumley: While against weaker opponents.
Logan Brumley: Basham has been a block producer for the team throughout her four years with the team.
Logan Brumley: She's averaging four blocks a game this year, which is the most among any power forward team player and she can dish out some blocks against big name opponents.
Logan Brumley: Last year having gotten six in her loss against Big 12 opponent Iowa State.
Logan Brumley: They would go on to be the seventh, no the 11th seed in the NCAA tournament and against the number 24 ranked at the time, Oklahoma State, who got upset by the Jackrabbits in the NCAA tournament last year.
Logan Brumley: So to have a really strong defensive center, the big question is can Camille Pierre handle that?
Logan Brumley: I do believe she would, but I think it'll be a fun matchup to see how Pierre is able to work against someone who is a really strong block producer and a smaller sort of sample size.
Logan Brumley: Silva is their lead and rebounder and she's also a pretty big center power forward player.
Logan Brumley: I think the rebound game of Bhatia and Silva will also be something to look out for I think.
Logan Brumley: I mean they're both seeing them both try to reach for the ball would be something that's very State to see and I think whoever can win the paint in the post should be able to win the game overall.
Logan Brumley: However, of course you have to note Olivia Miles.
Logan Brumley: She's shooting a 68% field goal accuracy so far.
Logan Brumley: However, she does have five turnovers a game against lower level competition and whoever matches up against her defensively can have the opportunity to capitalize off of it.
Logan Brumley: They just need to and I haven't really seen a strong performance from our guards defensively.
Logan Brumley: It'll be State to see how that matchup works.
Logan Brumley: NC assuming it's going to be Brooks since I think she's pretty much the lead in stealer among the guards on our roster.
Logan Brumley: However, NC State has never really been a big block, no a steel producing team.
Logan Brumley: I mean losing both Asia James and Sinai Rivers really doesn't help that much.
Logan Brumley: Losing Madison Haynes, I think she was a big steel producer as well.
Logan Brumley: So North Carolina State's Definitely going to have to try to develop a strong defensive identity if they want to stop tcu.
Logan Brumley: Is it likely?
Logan Brumley: I believe it could be.
Logan Brumley: I mean, it would just kind of matter.
Logan Brumley: Even then, if they're able to stop Olivia Miles, they still have to stop her strong number two guard, Donovan Hunter, who shoots just as well as she does.
Logan Brumley: And it's something I have to look out for because I think that Hunter, Miles, whoever has the stronger defensive workload with, they could just pass it to each other.
Logan Brumley: They could pass it in deep and they have a lot of opportunities to create scores.
Logan Brumley: I think NC State's defense really just kind of.
Logan Brumley: They really just need to make sure that they can do just enough that their offense doesn't have to do too much.
Logan Brumley: That makes sense.
Logan Brumley: And I think that would be something very important to watch in that game against.
Logan Brumley: Against tcu, who do I think will win?
Logan Brumley: I will probably say TCU might have the slight advantage just because I have a little bit more faith in what they can do with kicking it out or digging in to create some scoring opportunities.
Logan Brumley: I think if NC State can win a turnover game, they'll have it locked down.
Logan Brumley: But after what happened with usc, NC not super confident about that.
Logan Brumley: And of course we need to see a big step up in the guard performance.
Logan Brumley: Defensively, I really don't have a big player to watch.
Logan Brumley: I expect a 20 plus point game for Donovan Hunter.
Logan Brumley: I would like to see Pierre get some more steals and blocks.
Logan Brumley: I kind of have that as like a little prediction because I mean Basham and Silva are not strong offensive players.
Logan Brumley: So I think that she will be able to eat up defensively which I think will help out big time and see what else.
Logan Brumley: The only like player that NC like really about on this roster right now is Kaden Samuels.
Logan Brumley: In 30 minutes a game, she's scoring like 6, 3, 1.
Logan Brumley: While the sixth woman, Devin, quickly, she is in the amount of time that she has, I feel like she's outdoing Kaden Samuels.
Logan Brumley: And I think unless if she can step up, I think the roles will eventually swap and I think it will be State to see what quickly can do from a starting role.
Logan Brumley: Of course, not right now it's a little early, but that would be something that is worth watching seeing how Westmore utilizes the production kind of comparison that they have.
Logan Brumley: If I had to guess the score, 8380.
Logan Brumley: TCU still watch it.
Logan Brumley: Still roofer NC State as you can.
Logan Brumley: All right, coming up, I will talk about the men's soccer loss to Syracuse and what that could mean for NC State heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Logan Brumley: Alright, so just kind of like a little fun fact.
Logan Brumley: NC State has only given up four goals in the entire regular season against Syracuse they gave up three after knocking the Sox off Louisville in round one.
Logan Brumley: The same thing happened in NC State.
Logan Brumley: We was in 03 to the six seed Syracuse.
Logan Brumley: However, I will say this ACC men's tournament is very upset heavy with about five of the 12 games so far being upsets.
Logan Brumley: If you just purely look at the seed inside having number 12 Cal in the semifinals.
Logan Brumley: So that'll be State against Louisville.
Logan Brumley: All you need to know is that Louisville had three shots compared to NC State's 21 shots which came out to three goals.
Logan Brumley: Bhatia players Carlos Santa Maria and Thomas Lemill notched goals while Drew Wilflace got one too.
Logan Brumley: It's a comfortable feeling.
Logan Brumley: No doubt Def Pieces are able to contribute to the success of the team even in a very small role in a very low tier conference opponent.
Logan Brumley: I wouldn't expect Santa Maria Ramil to show up big time in the tournament.
Logan Brumley: I just think that the future is in good hands if these two come to step up the plate when you know Donovan Phillips goes to the mls Bhatia had a really easy rest game having zero shots on goals to deal with.
Logan Brumley: I think maybe one actually one or zero, which I mean that rest game he really kind of had to wake up with the Syracuse game, which he did not.
Logan Brumley: The last time NC State was blown out like this was actually fun fad against Syracuse two years ago when they went to Syracuse and Syracuse won the national championship that year.
Logan Brumley: NTCA was still able to produce shots but had to deal with a dominant run from Syracuse goalie Thomas Hutt.
Logan Brumley: He had a perfect 100% accuracy and saved 10 shots, four of them coming from Tag Healy.
Logan Brumley: Syracuse's goal producer duo Fomese and Sambo Barno both notched goals and they are expected to churn their way to the conference finals if they can keep up the momentum.
Logan Brumley: I don't think a loss to Syracuse should be as upsetting as it sounds on paper.
Logan Brumley: Yes, it's disappointing, but yes, it's inconsequential.
Logan Brumley: There's no trend or experience that would make me worry about a potential cold.
Logan Brumley: I think this was just an off game, probably looking past the opponent.
Logan Brumley: But now they have a lot of time to get themselves ready for the NCAA Tournament, which they should make in because they've been ranked top 10 pretty much all season at this point and they have about I don't want to say 36 but close to that number.
Logan Brumley: Amount of like what's it called, the opposite of automatic qualifiers like wild card spots.
Logan Brumley: This may have cost NC State the ability to have a buy because how it works it's each regional has like six teams and it'd be like two on by four play and then they kind of like how the NFL used to be when they had six team playoffs.
Logan Brumley: See NC State of course I have plenty of time to rest up.
Logan Brumley: Hopefully NC State will be able to tune up with some practicing.
Logan Brumley: I think.
Logan Brumley: Of course, you know this isn't a game to worry about.
Logan Brumley: I think NC State's defense is very strong.
Logan Brumley: I think their offense is really good.
Logan Brumley: I would say this kind of hurts the optimism of them winning the national championship.
Logan Brumley: However, NC not in freakout mode honestly.
Logan Brumley: I think it's just an ugly loss.
Logan Brumley: They're going to shake it off and they're going to play well.
Logan Brumley: So the official, let's see what's it called.
Logan Brumley: The official bracket reveal is Next Thursday the 20th.
Logan Brumley: I could probably do something for it.
Logan Brumley: Just kind of doing like a reaction to it with a. I don't want to say a blog but I'll figure it out.
Logan Brumley: There'll be.
Logan Brumley: You'll get something from me about it.
Logan Brumley: I'll do some scouting for it and NC State to see when T State can do.
Logan Brumley: I hope them the best.
Logan Brumley: I think they'll do just fine though.
Logan Brumley: All right, that was a sort of kind of a rushed thing.
Logan Brumley: This is going to be kind of a shorter episode but we are going to move on to our final segment for today, the gymnastics preview schedule release and just some of the top players to look out for.
Logan Brumley: All right, time to start the volleyball coverage.
Logan Brumley: This was meant to do a couple months ago but only recently did the schedule actually come out.
Logan Brumley: So at the end of the regular season NC State was ranked 20th with a 1110 record and 4.
Logan Brumley: 2 under conference.
Logan Brumley: The ranking makes them third in the conference behind Cal and Stanford, both of who are gymnastics powerhouse teams.
Logan Brumley: They're also third in the Southeast overall behind Florida and Georgia.
Logan Brumley: You know Cal and Stanford out west so technically they wouldn't be in it.
Logan Brumley: Their team is 19th in fault, 23rd in bars, 29th for beam and 20th for four floor all American.
Logan Brumley: Let's see Chloe Negrete.
Logan Brumley: She has graduated but some of the high scorers and top returners would be Caroline Folk who is our best bar performer and our second best beam producer and Ashley Knight who is the de facto Leader of the vault and floor.
Logan Brumley: They are going to be the ones who are going to carry this roster into next year.
Logan Brumley: It will be exciting to see what we can get from them.
Logan Brumley: And some notable freshmen to look out for.
Logan Brumley: Our top recruits are Emerson Fisk, a freshman from Florida and Autumn Rodin who is also a.
Logan Brumley: Who is from Columbus, Ohio.
Logan Brumley: Let me see what I specialize in actually.
Logan Brumley: Well, I mean I do a little bit of everything but Autumn Roden, she is a two time Ohio State vault champion and Fisk is a bars champion in the regional.
Logan Brumley: So I mean we're kind of building on our strengths with the bar and floor.
Logan Brumley: I would like to see more from the beam produce and I think woos and the gret is going to be a big kind of issue there.
Logan Brumley: However, Catherine, I mean Caroline Volk, she did do pretty well in the beam so I think her having a big step up would be really beneficial.
Logan Brumley: Behind her.
Logan Brumley: Let's see.
Logan Brumley: I mean Brooks Mead could probably do more.
Logan Brumley: She's just behind in this high score and overall score rankings.
Logan Brumley: El Hadrick is another player who sort of a good producer on the floor and bars.
Logan Brumley: NC State is a very productive quality team when it comes to gymnastics, especially as of late where they.
Logan Brumley: They did make the regionals last year but they lost to Florida and Oregon so State don't play them this year.
Logan Brumley: However, they do have an State schedule coming up.
Logan Brumley: They have a couple homes in a ways with UNC and Auburn.
Logan Brumley: Let's see, they also have a road trip with COW and pit late January.
Logan Brumley: The Auburn one spread out throughout the season in the Metroplex Challenge they host unc, Auburn, Boise State.
Logan Brumley: They have one at Ohio State as well.
Logan Brumley: Ohio State sort of good with gymnastics where they play.
Logan Brumley: Penn State too.
Logan Brumley: Their tournament qualifier is with Virginia at the Reynolds Coliseum.
Logan Brumley: The ACC championships.
Logan Brumley: What they should be able to qualify for is in Greensboro, you know, as it usually is, which would be late March, then April would be the regionals and all that would say NC very excited for the home away series with unc.
Logan Brumley: That'll be something to watch out for.
Logan Brumley: The Auburn homeaway will also be State to see.
Logan Brumley: I think this is a good schedule.
Logan Brumley: The toughest opponent will probably be home with Stanford because of course Stanford's a powerhouse.
Logan Brumley: But seeing what they can do with their first All American in a long time with Negrete being gone, having Ashley Knight and Caroline Folk kind of the front load for this team, it's something to definitely watch out for.
Logan Brumley: But I do have faith that this NC State team will be able to get back to what it was, and I have no doubt that they will be able to make a splash in the ACC and regionals.
Logan Brumley: Championship aspirations I wouldn't get too excited for, honestly, but that's really all I had to say.
Logan Brumley: Just make sure to come out and support the women's gymnastics team.
Logan Brumley: Their first event is the exhibition this December 20th.
Logan Brumley: Who do they play?
Logan Brumley: Not sure who they play, but make sure to come for that.
Logan Brumley: Keep an eye on them throughout the season.
Logan Brumley: They are not in Oklahoma, but they can definitely make a splash in the Southeast.
Logan Brumley: And that's all I have for today.
Logan Brumley: Sorry, it's a really short episode, kind of going through some of the smaller teams, smaller opponents, and make sure to come by next episode.
Logan Brumley: Have a good day and go pack.
