Sunday, November 9: NC State vs. USC Breakdown
Sunday’s matchup between No. 18 USC and No. 9 NC State is more than an early-season Top 25 clash — it’s a meeting of two contrasting basketball identities. The Wolfpack want to slow the game, control the glass, and play through their posts. The Trojans want to defend, rebound, and run — using tempo, depth, and guard versatility to dictate rhythm.
Even though the pace in NC State’s 80–77 win over Tennessee appeared fast, that was mostly Tennessee’s doing. The Lady Vols don’t emphasize defense; they rely on offensive pressure and hockey-style substitutions to wear teams down. That’s the difference between Tennessee and USC. Tennessee runs because it has to. USC runs because it can — and defends while doing it.
NC State’s Inside Identity
When NC State settles into rhythm, their entire offense runs through the post. Everything begins with Khamil Pierre, one of the best forwards in the country — a composed, powerful scorer who controls space on the block. Alongside her is Tilda Trygger, a 6′6″ center who brings size, rim protection, and experience. Together, Pierre and Trygger give the Wolfpack more experience and physicality inside than USC’s younger frontcourt, and they’ll look to leverage and expose that early.
But beyond those two, the Wolfpack’s frontcourt depth drops off. Once Pierre or Trygger sits, their interior defense and rebounding fade. That’s where USC’s rotation depth can change the game — by keeping fresh defenders on them, limiting paint touches, and forcing NC State into uncomfortable perimeter possessions.
NC State by the Numbers: Opportunistic Tempo, Low Efficiency
At first glance, NC State’s pace of 77.9 possessions per game (80th percentile nationally) suggests a fast-tempo team — but that number is deceiving. The uptick came from Tennessee forcing tempo. The Wolfpack will run when they can, especially off rebounds, but they’re most comfortable in the half court, where they can feed their posts and control the game’s rhythm.
Even at that faster pace, efficiency lagged badly:
Defensive Rating 98.8 (39th percentile) — below-average defensive efficiency for a Top 10 team.
Effective FG % 42.8 (44th percentile) — inefficient finishing despite their size.
Two-point FG % 42 (42nd percentile) — missed interior chances.
Three-point attempt rate 22.4 (10th percentile) — they rarely shoot threes and make only 29.4% (33rd percentile).
Bench scoring ≈ 5 points (4th percentile) — virtually no second-unit impact.
Defensive rebound % 67.3 (45th percentile) — average at best.
Steal % 9.1 (36th percentile) — low defensive disruption.
Offensive rebound % 31.9 (49th percentile) — mediocre second-chance production.
In short, NC State likes to control pace through their half-court sets and punish teams with post play — but when the game speeds up or the defense collapses inside, their efficiency and depth drop quickly.
Their guard trio adds skill but inconsistency: Zoe Brooks (5′10″) attacks downhill and rebounds like a forward. Zamareya Jones, a McDonald’s All-American freshman, adds pace but is still adjusting to college spacing. Qadence Samuels, the 6′0″ transfer from UConn, stretches defenses with her outside shot but remains their lone reliable spacer. Everything still runs through Pierre; when she’s limited, NC State’s offense bogs down.
USC’s Counter: Post Play by Committee
USC doesn’t rely on one dominant post presence — they win by committee. Gerda Raulušaitytė, Yakiya Milton, Dayana Mendes, Vivian Iwuchukwu, and Laura Williams give Coach G multiple options inside, allowing her to adjust based on matchups and flow.
USC’s post play isn’t fully efficient yet on the defensive side of the ball. They’re young and still learning how to read certain actions and coverages. But collectively, they have the length, athleticism, and defensive energy to contain NC State’s post production — if they come ready to play and stick to the game plan.
If Khamil Pierre gets her 25 points, that’s fine — the focus has to be on limiting everything else. No easy dump-offs, no weak-side put-backs, and no rhythm looks for the guards.
As a group, USC’s frontcourt can wear teams down because they can rotate fresh bodies without losing size or physicality. And because of their youth and ongoing development defensively, this could also be a game where zone defense becomes an important part of the plan — using length and help coverage to protect the paint and keep NC State’s posts from getting clean touches.
Even though Pierre and Trygger bring significant individual talent at their positions, USC’s committee of forwards and posts will win — and has to win — by consistency over talent. That’s the formula. It’s not about one dominant performance; it’s about sustained effort, communication, and doing the small things right on every possession.
Packing the lane and forcing outside shots not only limits Pierre’s impact, but also plays to USC’s strength — guard rebounding. With players like Kara Dunn, Kennedy Smith, and Jazzy Davidson crashing down, the Trojans can gang-rebound out of zone looks and still ignite transition offense.
USC’s Offense: Pro-Style, Guard-Driven, Positionless
Gottlieb’s offense mirrors a pro system built on spacing, reads, and timing, but what makes it unique is how guard-driven and positionless it is. While Malia Samuels and Londynn Jones are the primary initiators who control pace and set up the offense, it’s Jazzy Davidson, Kara Dunn, and Kennedy Smith who embody the positionless style.
Those three can handle, screen, cut, post, and rebound, giving USC the flexibility to play inside-out or outside-in depending on matchups. Guards initiate sets, operate from the block, dribble-drive, cut, and stay constantly active — they’re doing everything offensively.
This balance makes USC unpredictable. Offense can start from any position, and when opponents switch, the Trojans have multiple players capable of attacking mismatches or spacing the floor.
Defensive Blueprint: Pack the Paint and Mix Looks
Against NC State’s post-heavy scheme, expect USC to show multiple looks — man early, then 2-3 or matchup zone to clog the paint and prevent deep seals by Pierre. Because the Wolfpack take only 22% of their shots from three, this strategy reduces risk while protecting USC’s bigs from foul trouble.
But it’s not just about the post play. USC’s guards have to set the tone defensively. North Carolina State’s guards are aggressive off the dribble — they like to attack downhill and force help rotations. If USC allows that dribble-drive penetration, it’ll open up everything NC State wants to do inside.
That means the Trojans’ guards must defend and disrupt on the perimeter, stay disciplined in their closeouts, and make the Wolfpack uncomfortable initiating their offense. When the guards contain on the perimeter and stay connected, it becomes much harder for NC State to play inside-out because the initial action is stopped before it even starts.
This is also where zone defense becomes valuable — shrinking driving lanes, controlling rotations, and forcing NC State to beat USC with outside shots. If the guards communicate and rotate as one, and the posts stay vertical and disciplined, USC can completely disrupt NC State’s rhythm on both the perimeter and the block.
Offensive Priorities
Control tempo with discipline. Push off rebounds but make NC State defend longer possessions in the half court.
Attack depth. Force Pierre and Trygger into movement, help rotations, and eventually the bench.
Capitalize at the stripe. USC shot 67% FT vs New Mexico State; physical games are decided there.
Keys to Victory for USC
Control the paint by committee. Keep fresh bodies on Pierre and Trygger, rebound collectively, and contest every touch.
Win the tempo battle. When the game opens up, USC’s guards thrive; when it slows, their depth must grind.
Defend first, run second. Transition only off clean stops to avoid letting NC State reset through the post.
The Bottom Line
NC State will run when they can, but they’re most dangerous when the game slows and the ball lives in Pierre’s hands. USC’s strength is the opposite — depth, speed, and guard versatility that can stretch a short-rotation opponent. The analytics confirm: NC State’s defensive numbers are average, their shooting efficiency low, and their bench production minimal.
If the Trojans rebound by committee, mix defensive coverages, and keep the pace uncomfortable, they can flip NC State’s structure against them — winning not by matching power, but by outlasting it. You can click below and watch video for further Breakdown of this upcoming match up!
