NC State, UNC women’s ACC basketball showdown looms: How to watch the Top 25 battle
Wes Moore gets excited about sellouts at Reynolds Coliseum, and over the years has made a point to mention the number of times the building has been packed.
N.C. State averages 4,052 fans in the 5,550 seat arena this year. For the North Carolina game on Thursday, all 5,550 seats have been sold. Impressive, right? Depends on who you ask.
“It’s a small gym,” Tar Heels’ coach Courtney Banghart said during her media availability this week. “So it doesn’t take a lot to sell it out. We’ll play in front of more fans at other places. It says it’s sold out because it’s a small gym.”
As one can imagine, N.C. State fans did not take too kindly to that statement. That should add some extra spice to the rivalry when the two ranked teams meet for the first time this season.
The Wolfpack (12-3, 3-0) is ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25. North Carolina (13-0, 3-0) is ranked No. 19 and off to its best start in years. In just three years Banghart has the Tar Heels back in the national spotlight. This trip to Raleigh, though, will be their toughest challenge yet, especially in front of a suddenly fired up Reynolds crowd.
“Our sophomores have never played in front of fans,” Banghart said. “Our grad transfers were at the mid major environment, so there are less fans involved in that, and then our freshmen are freshmen. We haven’t played in this type of environment yet, it’s just a maturation of a young team.”
Banghart starts four sophomores. Moore starts three fifth-year players, one true senior and a junior. Experience is on the side of the Pack. But history tells us none of that matters in a big rivalry.
The two teams have traded wins in each of the past seven games. The last multi-game win streak came between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons when N.C. State won four in a row.
N.C. State and North Carolina will air on ACCN at 8 p.m.
ARE YOU A CORD-CUTTER?
If your preferred method of watching games involves streaming, there are options for that, too.
ACCN is available on Hulu, SlingTV, YouTubeTV, DirectTV Stream or FuboTV.
Additionally, you can keep up with the game by following News & Observer reporter Jonas Pope IV (@JEPopeIV) on Twitter. He and photojournalist Ethan Hyman will be on location at Reynolds Coliseum.
WHEN IS THE N.C. STATE-NORTH CAROLINA GAME TIPOFF?
Teams: NC State vs. North Carolina
Where: Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, N.C.
Date: Thursday., Jan. 6
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ACCN
Series history: N.C. State leads the all-time series with the Tar Heels 60-53. The Wolfpack is 30-17 at home versus UNC.
