OT: Box Score - NCSU vs High Point (Qadence Samuels)

[Bone Dog]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I’d like to give another shoutout to Q from the game against Tennessee. She played major minutes, was often isolated on Cooper and held her own on defense despite being physically overmatched. And she came up with a strong defensive rebound in the closing minutes that may have decided the game. Her scoring wasn’t in evidence so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she will recover her perimeter shot. Coach Moore seems to rely on her, perhaps a sign of the overall weakness of his roster. But if she starts scoring like we know she can and continues playing defense like this, she’ll deserve all the minutes she gets.

 

[CL82]

Pretty cool that Q transferred to a top 10 team and played 30 minutes in the opening game

 

[FanInNC]

Q shot it well against High Point but then followed it up with a 1-4 vs Md and 1-8 against Tennessee. I will say, she made a pretty key 3 late in the 2nd half for State to help gain some control of the game.

Her calling card so far has been doing some of the things that don't always show up in the box. She was a double digit rebounder vs Maryland and then as you pointed out, she guarded Tennessee's best player all game yesterday. While Cooper still had a fantastic game, Samuels was the best match up on her. She provides some length and athleticism State's team needs on the wing.

Her direct competition for minutes, Devyn Quigley, also had a poor night shooting. Her calling card is her shooting efficiency and last night she was 0-2 in 11 minutes.

The key for Q will be to buy in on being the 3 and D person on this team. Rebound, defend and be a capable 3 point shooter as a floor spacer. That's the role this roster needs filled by someone. She seems to have the tools to do it.

 

[Monte]

She needs to continue to work on her shooting. She finds ways to break free and get open shots, but her shooting needs improvement.
I will say that her defense is much better than it was last year, and she looks like a better rebounder.

 

[EricLA]

Q is an easy kid to root for. I wish it had worked out at UConn. It makes me wonder if she had - would she be part of the core 10? Ahead of Allie? Ice? And yet she goes to a legit top 10 team and is a starter? Says a lot about the quality of depth at UConn this year.

 

[Charliebball]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I’d like to give another shoutout to Q from the game against Tennessee. She played major minutes, was often isolated on Cooper and held her own on defense despite being physically overmatched. And she came up with a strong defensive rebound in the closing minutes that may have decided the game. Her scoring wasn’t in evidence so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she will recover her perimeter shot. Coach Moore seems to rely on her, perhaps a sign of the overall weakness of his roster. But if she starts scoring like we know she can and continues playing defense like this, she’ll deserve all the minutes she gets.

Nothing against Q, but if Wes Moore needs thirty minutes a night from her, then his team must not be very deep....

 

[Geesworld]

Q just needed a chance. It was highly noticeable Every time I watch the NC ST and USC final 8 game from her Freshman season. Glad to see she has landed on her feet in a good program that believes in her.

 

[FanInNC]

Nothing against Q, but if Wes Moore needs thirty minutes a night from her, then his team must not be very deep....

Nope. The team isn’t very deep. Historically Wes runs a very tight rotation, so nothing new. It’s also a very young team (no seniors). So her “experience” is a plus relative to other options at guard or the 3 (2 freshmen and a sophomore who didn’t play much last year).

The most recent deep team I recall Wes having was his worst. The year after that double OT thriller against UConn he had a loaded team, probably his most talented roster he’s had at State - and they flopped. I believe ended up as a 7 seed and lost first round of the NCAA. That team had Saniya rivers, Aziaha James, Diamond Johnson, Jackia brown Turner, Madison Hayes, Mimi Collins, river Baldwin, Camille hobby, Jada Boyd, Jessica Timmons and Sophie hart.

They never could figure out roles, team chemistry was bad. I think everyone thought it was their team and it didn’t mesh. Seems like ever since then Wes has constructed his teams in a way where rotations and roles were obvious, which has also meant slow playing freshmen and not having developed a ton of depth. Maybe it’s pure coincidence, but it seems to me he made an adjustment to roster construction after that season.


I’ll also add I doubt Samuels averages 30 minutes a game. Maybe. But I think this game she was THE defender they wanted on Cooper and her rotational counter part, Quigley, plays better in a less frantic paced game. So I think that played a role in the minutes break down.

 

[MSGRET]

Her two years at UConn helped prepare her for her role at NC State. She was behind some very good players and the chance to practice against them for those years helped her. Geno and CD drill their players in practice so they were in top physical shape and that they work as a tight knit group. I believe that her being at NC State is going to be good for her and State.

 

[Centerstream]

Her two years at UConn helped prepare her for her role at NC State. She was behind some very good players and the chance to practice against them for those years helped her. Geno and CD drill their players in practice so they were in top physical shape and that they work as a tight knit group. I believe that her being at NC State is going to be good for her and State.

I'm pretty sure that Qadence maintained her offseason workouts much like if she was still at UConn but the poor kid got pretty gassed defending Tennessee's top player, the hockey line changes and the overall pace of the Lady Vols. But so were the rest of her teammates and she still played a good defensive game for the Wolfpack. Yup, she should do good in Raleigh.