How NC State’s Wes Moore is getting his team to take NCAA tourney one step at a time
Now in his ninth year coaching at N.C. State, Wes Moore hasn’t found success — more than 200 wins in Raleigh and more than 700 overall — without knowing how to motivate his players.
You can’t win that many games without some creativity in how you approach young athletes. And creativity is a must when a team finds as much success as the Wolfpack has in recent years.
N.C. State (29-3) is a No. 1 seed for the second straight season and one of the favorites to make it to the Final Four. The Wolfpack won its third straight ACC tournament title earlier this month. All five starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team are back.
There’s depth, there’s experience, there’s expectation.
Many people picking brackets have N.C. State making it to Minnesota, the location of the national championship. First, though, they have to get by Longwood (22-11). The Wolfpack is expected to take care of business in Raleigh the next two games.
Moore, meanwhile, has figured out a way for the Wolfpack to think only about thr next step — literally.
“I got an idea from a good friend who had been very successful,” Moore told the media on Friday. “So we had — I had my neighbor Ron, I had him make — he’s really good (at) woodwork. I had him make a real beautiful step.”
The wooden step has “N.C. State versus” on one plaque of wood, their opponent’s name on the other. This week, the other plaque has Longwood taped on it.
“And we can change the name hopefully — hopefully — but we’re going to make them step on that step, they go in the locker room, they get on the bus, whatever, to remind them one step at a time,” Moore said. “And that’s all we can worry about. Like I said, I tried to convince them, don’t look at the bracket. There’s 68 teams in that bracket. All we have to do is beat four of them to get to the Final Four. Don’t worry about 68 teams, worry about the next game and one step and maybe a little cheesy but just a little reminder every time they enter a room or get on the bus or whatever. One step at a time.”
Moore broke out the step before practice on Friday. He put it in the middle of the court and stepped over it, demonstrating and explaining the mindset he wants his team to take.
Moore added having so many veteran players, that he thinks they’ve been “biding their time” until the tournament started.
They dominated ACC play, winning 20 games (including the conference tournament), and are on a 10-game winning streak.
The Lancers defeated Mount Saint Mary’s, 74-70, during the First Four on Thursday. Winners of the Big South Conference, the Lancers win was their first ever NCAA tournament victory.
Their reward is the top seed in the region, on their home court. On paper, it seems like an easy win for N.C. State. Longwood is 0-3 all-time against N.C. State.
When all five starters announced they were returning this season, they added to already-high expectations.
“Like I said, just don’t look too far ahead,” senior forward Kayla Jones said. “That’s the biggest thing. I feel like Coach Moore has been giving us great pep talks before practice and after the selection show. We’re focusing on our bracket only. We’re not looking ahead. We know what we can do and we have prepared for this moment.”
Jones missed all but one game in the NCAA tournament a year ago after suffering a knee injury. Part of the reason she returned was to end on her own terms, and not watch on the sidelines.
“Last year I was looking forward and looking ahead of things I can’t control,” Jones said. “Right now I try to enjoy the moment with my teammates and have fun and win.”
Jones and company will be playing in front of a capacity crowd in Reynolds on Saturday. If they win, Monday (against Kansas State or Washington State) will be the last time in Reynolds for the four seniors on the roster. But they aren’t looking that far ahead.
“I would say each game — there’s pressure for each game regardless of who you play,” senior guard Kai Crutchfield said. “And I feel like you have to take on each game with that same mentality. This is a championship game. And in this case it’s survive and advance. Going on with what KJ said, just making sure we play every game like it’s our toughest and our last.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2022 at 5:20 AM with the headline "How NC State’s Wes Moore is getting his team to take NCAA tourney one step at a time."
