WNCAAB: USC V. NC State

USC meets NC State on a semi-neutral floor in Charlotte, a compelling early test for both teams. The Wolfpack opened by beating Tennessee and now dive straight into a second marquee game. They aren’t deep, but they do have two athletic guards and credible inside scoring; the path is clear—pound the ball to the block, play through contact, and manufacture trips to the line. That matters against USC’s rangy wings, where Kennedy Smith and Jazzy Davidson can flatten drives, jump passing lanes, and turn late-clock possessions into scrambled shots.

USC cruised past New Mexico State and might still be flying under the radar with reigning national player of the year JuJu Watkins sidelined. Even so, Lindsay Gottlieb has added shooting around a defense-first identity, which should travel in a lower-possession game. Expect the Trojans to switch selectively on the perimeter, wall up on first catches inside, and force NC State’s guards to make tough pull-ups rather than clean paint touches.

Key levers: defensive rebounding, foul discipline, and which side wins the turnover battle without sacrificing shot quality. NC State needs early paint efficiency to offset roster thinness; USC needs threes plus free throws to complement its wings. Slight tactical lean to USC in a grind.

Pick:
USC 73
NC State 70