North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hosts Annual Media Day at Reynolds Coliseum
10/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Photo Gallery | Prospectus
RALEIGH – The NC State women’s basketball team held its annual media day on Tuesday, Oct. 14 on Kay Yow Court inside historic Reynolds Coliseum.
At the event, media members met with 2014 ESPNW ACC Coach of the Year Wes Moore in addition to 2014-15 team captains Krystal Barrett, Len’Nique Brown-Hoskin, and Miah Spencer. 
Head Coach Wes Moore
Opening Statement
Last year was a phenomenal way to start back here at NC State. I was very fortunate to inherit five seniors that were very talented and were willing to buy into a new staff and a new philosophy. We had some great wins along the way against some great teams. Winning 25 games and going to the NCAA Tournament was a great ride and a great journey.
Now we’re ready to start a new journey. That’s the thing about college athletics, we’re here to help these kids earn a degree and help them prepare not just for the next four years that they’re here but the next 40 years. Those seniors have graduated and moved on. Now we have new challenges ahead of us.
On the perimeter, we have some experience with two seniors, Len’Nique Brown-Hoskin and Krystal Barrett. Also, Miah Spencer had a very good freshman year. We also had Dominique Wilson, who was sitting out after transferring from the University of Arkansas. She’ll now be on the court. We have some good experience there.
The question marks are probably inside. At the four and five position, we have mostly new players. Jennifer Mathurin and Ashley Eli are two returners. Other than that, we have a lot of new faces. That will be the big challenge for us to figure out who can come in learn the system and adjust to this level of basketball to help us be successful. When you take a Kody Burke and a Markeisha Gatling, two players drafted in the WNBA with Keisha being a top-10 pick, that’s some big shoes to fill. We have our work cut out for us.
It’s exciting, playing in the ACC. Every night is a great challenge, but it’s also very exciting. We’re anxious to get started toward preparing for that.
On confidence in the perimeter players
As a coach, with a little over a week of practice under our belt, I see the blemishes and the things we have to get better at. I do have a lot of confidence in those kids on the perimeter and I think they have the potential to be very good.
Obviously, last year with Keisha Gatling you had great security if things were breaking down or weren’t going well. That was a pretty good security blanket to go to. It’s exciting to get started and figure those things out.
On the familiarity going from year one to year two
Last year as a new staff, it was almost like having 13 or 14 freshmen. They were new to your practice, your drills, and as a coach, your philosophy. It’s almost a little bit of a head start, because at least we have a core group of kids who at least know a little about what’s going on.
It’s almost like having extra assistant coaches, because they can help the younger players with drills. When you’re introducing something, you can put those veterans out there first and show the young kids how it works.
Our pre-conference schedule is going to be very important. Last year, we got off to an outstanding start. This year, with these young kids, they’re going to have to grow up in a hurry to do that and yet that’s important as you prepare for the ACC.
Miah Spencer
On improvements from her freshman to sophomore season
I would just say (I am) being a better leader for my teammates and being a smarter decision-maker than I was last year as a freshman. I feel like I’ve evolved a lot, but my decision making will definitely be much better.
On chemistry of the backcourt
We have me, KB [Krystal Barrett] and Len’Nique from last year. We also have Dominique Wilson, a transfer from Arkansas, and freshman Chloe Jackson. I feel like we’re going to be a good backcourt; we just have to keep working each and every day to get better.
Krystal Barrett
On plans after NC State
I definitely want to pursue a basketball career and whatever opportunities are presented to me after the season. After I’m done playing basketball, I want to get into coaching and help other kids live the same dream that I had.
Len’Nique Brown-Hoskin
On differences this season compared to last season
We’re more inexperienced in the post position. I feel like last year we focused on pounding the ball inside and working to score from the inside. This year, I think we’ll be more guard oriented, so I think that’ll be a big difference.
On the focus on defense this season
Our main focus this year will be defense, no matter if we’re shooting well, but we have to keep putting our foot on the gas on defense. We’re going to have to play together in the backcourt and the frontcourt this season.
#GoPack
