Has NC State defeated a ranked team (as in, a team that is currently ranked) this season?
I think February 3 will answer a lot of questions.
February 3 will just be one data point. The entire month will define what we think of State.
2/3 #14 Duke
2/9 @FSU (probably ranked after last week)
2/13 Miami
2/16 @ #13 UNC (only game this year in a rivalry of the 2 biggest public schools in the state separated by 20 miles. Stupid expansion)
2/20 @#18 GT
2/23 #3 ND
5 out of 6 games against ranked teams coming up. That’s a pretty brutal stretch. I’d take 3-2 against those 5.
State’s SOS is 7th currently and they are 16-4. To your point, no. Their best win according to NET is Ole Miss who somehow is 11th in the NET but just out of the top 25 currently. But to be fair 3 of State’s losses are to top 10 teams on the road or a neutral court. Playing SC, TCU and LSU away from home early in the season when you are in scramble mode at the 5 with a bunch of freshmen is rough.
The worst loss on the resume is @Cal. They were also missing Zam Jones that game.
State is a work in progress and anytime they play a team with some physicality and size in the paint, they will be tested. Largely State will go as Saniya and Azaiah go. Zoe has been great and Hayes as well - but the 2 that set the tone and can put State on their back are Rivers and James. James is super streaky. When she’s on, no one can guard her. But when she’s off - she doesn’t stop shooting.
Duke is an interesting match up of styles. Duke likes to get in your shirt and speed you up. You’d think that wouldn’t bother State with the guards they have - but it has been a difficult matchup in recent history. State likes a fluid, fast paced game. Not so much rock fights in the 50s and 60s. States interior will be tested.