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From an NC State perspective, heading into Saturday’s road game at Virginia (Jan 25, 2026, noon EST in Charlottesville), this is a big ACC matchup. The Wolfpack (13-6, 6-2 in conference) have been strong overall but are dealing with a current after tase of being defeated in overtime to Louisville and some late-game/close-game struggles. Virginia (13-5, roughly 5-2 in ACC) is physical and rebound-heavy, sitting one game back of the Pack., with elite rim protection and board dominance. NC State has the tools to win this one—especially with their superior scoring efficiency, playmaking, and early-game momentum—but they need to execute a smart game plan to neutralize Virginia’s strengths and exploit their flaws. Here’s what the Pack must focus on:

Hinder Virginia’s Strengths:

Virginia thrives on physicality inside, rebounding wars, and blocking shots—things that can grind down opponents and create second chances.

• Dominate the Glass and Limit Second-Chance Points
  Virginia owns the boards (+13.0 margin, 43.8 RPG) with tons of offensive rebounds (276 total). NC State already has a huge +9.2 rebounding edge league-wide (45.1 RPG), so lean into that. Khamil Pierre (11.7 RPG, 67 offensive) and Tilda Trygger (8.4 RPG, strong interior presence) need to box out aggressively and crash hard. Limit Virginia to one shot per possession—pack the paint, contest everything, and use Zoe Brooks’ length/positioning to help on the glass. If NC State keeps offensive rebounds low for UVA, it starves their offense and opens transition for the Pack.
• Protect the Rim Without Fouling
  Virginia blocks 8.2 shots per game (147 total)—they alter everything at the rim. NC State must avoid driving recklessly into traffic; instead, use smart ball movement (their 15.3 APG strength) for open mid-range or kick-outs. Force Virginia’s blockers (like their bigs) to step out on shooters, and punish them with quick passes. Brooks and Jones can create off the dribble without forcing contested layups—keep drives controlled to draw fouls rather than blocks.
• Disrupt Their Ball Movement
  UVA dishes 18.7 assists per game with solid sharing. NC State’s defense (holding foes to .388 FG%) is already good—ramp up pressure with active hands (117 steals team-wide) to force turnovers (they already have a slight +0.2 margin). Destiny Lunan and Maddie Cox off the bench can provide perimeter energy to disrupt passing lanes without overcommitting.

Take Advantage of Virginia’s Weaknesses:

Virginia has been inconsistent from deep, shaky at the line, and prone to turnovers/breakdowns in tighter games.

• Exploit Perimeter Defense and Force Outside Struggles
  UVA’s 3PT% is .322 (not elite), and they’ve had low-volume/bad-percentage games against better teams. NC State should stretch the floor—Qadence Samuels (though streaky), Zamareya Jones (.383 3PT), and Maddie Cox (.370) can bomb from deep. Attack their zones or help defense with quick ball reversals to get open looks. If Virginia packs the paint to stop drives, punish them from outside—NC State’s volume might not be huge, but efficiency matters here.
• Get to the Line and Make FTs Count
  Virginia shoots just .681 from the stripe (below average). NC State gets there more (10.7 makes/game at .717) and can exploit contact—draw fouls with drives from Brooks (strong FT shooter at .790) and Jones. In a physical game, live at the line: be aggressive early, force Virginia into foul trouble, and cash in (avoid missing key ones late, tying into Pack’s 4th-quarter issues).
• Force Turnovers and Capitalize in Transition
  UVA turns it over 14.8 times per game (close margin). NC State’s steal numbers (6.2/game) aren’t elite, but their pressure can create chaos—use quick guards like Jones and Lunan to jump lanes. Turn those into fast breaks where NC State’s scoring margin shines (+12 overall). Avoid over-passing into traps (Pack’s slight TO edge), but push tempo when possible to tire Virginia’s bigs.
• Control the Pace and Finish Strong
  Virginia wins blowouts but falters in close ones (recent Ls to Syracuse/Duke). NC State starts hot (outscoring foes early) and has the playmaking (88 assists from Brooks) to build leads. Protect the ball late, execute sets, and close quarters strong—use home-like energy on the road (Pack’s neutral success helps). Rebound + limit TOs = control tempo and wear them down.

Bottom line for NC State: Stay physical on the boards, protect the rim smartly, stretch them from deep, get to the FT line, and force mistakes for transition buckets. If they execute that, their efficiency and team ball should overpower Virginia’s interior focus—especially in a road environment where the Pack can feed off their adaptability. This is winnable and could be a statement road win to bounce back from the Louisville loss. Go Pack—control the paint, shoot smart, and finish!