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Here is the transcript for the video featuring NC State Head Coach Wes Moore discussing the upcoming ACC Tournament:

Coach Moore Opening Statement: Yeah, obviously we’re excited. I love to call this March gladness is upon us and um but yeah, I’m uh I’m pleased with the way we’re trending coming into the tournament and all. Obviously, it’s a big challenge.

The d the double bye is a double-edged sword. Again, I think if you’re goal is to try to win the tournament, you need that double bye. It helps a lot. But at the same time, you’re going, I mean, right into the fire, when you get that double bye, you’re going to be playing a really good team, right off the bat. And so there’s no warm up. It’s you know, it’s on right from the beginning.

So, but again, we’re you know, excited about I’m proud of this group for finding a way to finish in the top four and getting that double bye. And I think that’s in this league with, you know, so many great teams, it’s a it’s a nice accomplishment and we’re looking forward to it.

Question: Wes, I actually wanted to ask you about Khamil. She had a post on Twitter this weekend about a friendship that she’s made with a young fan this year and just how that’s really helped her kind of fall in love with basketball again. What’s it been like to see not only that, but just the way she’s found herself in the sport this year?

Coach Moore Yeah, you know, I think it was tough on her at first. When you transfer in, you’re leaving your teammates and you know, a place that you had been two years and I think it’s a big, you know, a tough transition. you come in here and just trying to find your way and how you fit in the system on the court, how you fit in the locker room with your teammates and it took a little while but I think you know as we hit about Christmas time and all, you know, I think she really started feeling comfortable and she’s great with kids you know she’s really, all our players are really good with fans and kids and things like that so I appreciate that about each of them, but I think Khamil especially really loves kids and has a good time with them. And I think, you know, again, because of that, fans and especially young fans gravitate to her.

Question: Hey, Wes. How have you seen Zoe’s leadership evolve and grow over the season?

Coach Moore: Yeah. I think that’s been a big part of our, you know, trending upward. I think early in the year it was a big adjustment for her. I mean, for one thing, just playing with Saniya and Aziah and Madison Hayes and being used to that, knowing each other, having, you know, having that connection, playing with them, for a couple of years, I think it was an adjustment for her. And then I think and I think she struggled to you know enjoy the game at that time. And I think then you know this team like I said started coming together jelling playing better and she was a big part of that. Obviously she, you know, has really stepped up, not only scoring the ball but also really getting her teammates involved. I think that’s probably the biggest improvement and step she’s taken as a point guard. She’s getting everybody else on the court involved and helping them play better. And because of that, our team has taken a big jump. So definitely nice to see her having fun, have the whole team enjoying it and playing well together.

Question: Okay. Hi, Coach Moore, with the tournament coming up this week, what do you expect your team, what do you want your team rather, to execute consistently regardless of matchup?

Coach Moore: Well, I think always defending and rebounding, defending with energy, flying around, you know, no plays off, no relaxing. You just can’t afford to do it this time of year and against this caliber of opponents. You know, like I said, whoever we play, it’s going to be somebody really, really good. And every possession is critical. And we’ve had moments this year where we’ve struggled to stay focused, stay on edge, ready to pounce, as I’d like to say. So I think that’s a big part of it. And then I think offensively sharing the ball. We’re a lot better when we swing it. We’re pretty good in transition and we’ve got players that are good off the bounce one-on-one. Uh but you can’t fall in love with that and do it every time down. you’ve got to, you know, reverse the ball, swing the ball, get some movement, make the defense have to go from help to on the ball defending and looking for opportunities to attack that when it happens. And then, as always, rebounding is the most important part of the game. We’ve got to limit our opponents to one one and done and and we need to get some second and third looks ourselves, you know, especially this time of year, you may have a game where you don’t shoot well, but you still have to win if you’re going to survive and advance. So, defending, rebounding, those things are things you hopefully can do every day.

Question: Yes, sir. Quigley has sort of improved lately as she’s a mark. I thought in Durham she not only, she hitting the three-pointers lately, but I thought maybe the Wake game, she hit some mid-range drive off when they were closing. Could you just speak to that and speak to how important depth is going to be?

Coach Moore: I agree with you. I think Devyn’s found her confidence a little bit. You know, I’ve always known she’s a great shooter and as you mentioned, if you close out too hard on her, she’s good taking it off the bounce for the pullup jumper. She shoots it and we need her, you know, we need that extra score. We need that that lift coming in, but we also need just be solid at that position because we’ve got some pretty talented players around that spot. But Devyn, you know, she’s been here, this her second year now, and I think kicking in some. But I think the biggest thing is confidence. I’m telling you, I see it every day in practice. she shoots the heck out of it and she hasn’t always done that in games for whatever reason, but I think we’re seeing that now. And like I said, it’s a great time to, you know, to be able to add that to our to our offensive arsenal. So, yeah, happy for Devin. I think she’s enjoying it and, happy for our team because it gives us a big lift.

Question: My follow-up question, sir, what are the traits, characteristics, and habits that it takes for a team to become a conference tournament champion?

Coach Moore: Yeah, like I said earlier, you just you have to really be locked in and and you have to play every possession like it’s the last possession, you know? You know, everybody at the end of the game, everybody gets locked in, right? But I think you’ve got to do that because every possession, a lot of these games are going to come down to, you know, one, two, three-point game, one possession. So I think you start there. Like I said, sometimes in the postseason, maybe first time you’ve played in the venue and maybe you’re a little nervous, whatever. You may not shoot as well as you normally do. And and I think that’s where, you know, defending and rebounding and being consistent and our effort and those things is big. And like I said earlier, too, I’m repeating a lot of this stuff, but just sharing the basketball, you know, not getting caught up in one on one, not get not having the ball stick in one person’s hand too much, but being willing to share it and you know, get everybody else involved. And I think again this team has shown flashes of all those things. Uh but we got to put 40 minutes together for you know hopefully three days up in a row. So that’s a big ask but I have seen improvement in those areas and hopefully we take another jump this weekend.

Question: Hi coach. So many people feel that being in Greensboro is a home game for Carolina or State. Everybody knows you have one of the best fan bases in the country. How concerned, well, you’re not concerned, but what are your thoughts around how many fans will come on down and make Duluth feel really warm and a wonderful place for ACC women’s basketball?

Coach Moore: Yeah, I think change is always, you know, a little different for everybody. And I do think you know the footprint of the ACC has always been in North Carolina and so it has been not just for us. I mean you know you’ve got a lot of teams that were easy drives and and brought fans but obviously our fans are really good and we’ve always had to take other teams extra tickets and seats. So that’s been that’s been great and it’s no doubt it’s been great having a lot of red in the arena. But you know again this is exciting. You know we’re going someplace new and at the end of the day those fans aren’t on the court so it’s up to those players that are out there to to make plays and to bring the energy and and hopefully though we’re going to see a lot of fans travel. I’m confident that we’ll have a lot of red down there and probably not as much as in Greensboro, but I still think we’ll have a lot of fans travel and and hopefully we can make that a homecourt advantage you know NC State West.

Question: Good afternoon, Coach Moore. how has your team stayed connected and grounded through the ups and downs of the season?

Coach Moore: Yeah, I think that’s been a big part. I really saw, like I said, the biggest change. I thought we played a really tough non-conference schedule, one of the top I think one of the top two or three in the country. As far as the net and and challenge of it and we we lost some close games. I mean, that’s what’s still kind of biting us is you lose in overtime at Oklahoma, you lose in overtime to Louisville, you lose close games to some of these other teams, you know, one possession games. And I think because of that, it’s hard when when winning makes everything better. You know, the plane trip’s better, the food’s better, the bed you sleep in better, your teammates better. My my breath isn’t as bad, maybe. who knows, you know, whatever. Everything’s better when you’re winning. And so, we went through a stretch there. We lost a few games. I struggled with what to do. But when we went to Miami our first conference game, I can’t remember which one, but anyway, it was before Christmas. We went to Miami and we debated whether to go down a day early, an extra day early because we were out of class. and we decided to do it. And I thought that was really good for our team, too. We were near a big mall. Okay. So, the players hung out together. They went to the mall together. They were able to walk to different places and eat together. And I think that was good bonding time for our team for those couple of days. Plus, it was warm in Miami. Okay. That always helps, too. And I just think our team kind of united a little bit there. Still ups and downs. We’ve still had our moments, but I think our team’s really come together and we’re in a really good spot right now. You know, like I said, they’re having fun. They’re enjoying being around each other. And as I found out on that Final Four run a couple of years ago, when you’re having fun and happy, nobody wants it to end. And so hopefully that happens now. Hopefully nobody wants it to end and we stay around Atlanta for a few days. Thank you. Go Pack!