Indiana University Athletics
Unforgettable -- Surging Hoosiers Brace for Top-Seed North Carolina State
3/26/2021 10:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
The biggest basketball stage of Ali Patberg's career finds her unfazed.
Yes, Indiana's nationally televised Sweet Sixteen opportunity Saturday against regional top-seed North Carolina State (22-2) is unprecedented in program history.
Hoosier legend Isiah Thomas was among those to recognize it, tweeting "Hoosiers!" after IU beat Belmont Wednesday night to advance to its first-ever Sweet Sixteen.
For those who think this might be too big a moment for the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (20-5) at San Antonio's Alamodome, think again, Patberg insists through Zoom opportunity.
"Our goal wasn't to get to the Sweet 16, and stop. We have bigger goals. We understand life is so short. We want to enjoy all the steps that we've taken, all the milestones we've reached.
"It's cool and fun to get to the Sweet Sixteen, but our goal is a lot higher."
Players have bought into coach Teri Moren's 24-hour rule -- celebrate success for a day, then the reset for the next opportunity -- as they have so many things during her seven-year run. It's why a program that once struggled to find Big Ten success is on the cusp of becoming a consistent national power.
Credit a program-record six straight 20-win seasons, three NCAA tourney appearances in that stretch (it would have been four if last year's event hadn't been canceled by the pandemic), one WNIT title, top-10 accolades and a belief that the best is coming.
"We've worked so hard for this," Patberg says. "We're looking to continue to win."
To put this run in perspective, the Hoosiers, winners of 11 of their last 12 games, had only four 20-win seasons in the program's previous 42 years.
"These kids are making this experience one that we will never forget," Moren says.
IU's tourney dominance -- routes of 13th-seed VCU and 12th-seed Belmont -- comes from defense. Its 80 points allowed are the fewest ever by a Big Ten team after two NCAA tourney games.
"Defensively, we've had a different mindset," Patberg says. "It's a willingness, a toughness, a pride thing."
Offensive firepower is provided by four All-Big Ten players in sophomore forward Mackenzie Holmes (17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks), junior guard Grace Berger (15.5 points, three triple-doubles), Patberg (14.0 points) and junior forward Aleksa Gulbe (9.1, 6.7). Holmes also earned All-America honors.
"Offensively we've done some good things," Patberg says. "That will continue in our favor. We need to keep that momentum rolling."
North Carolina State is the most formidable team IU has played all season. It beat North Carolina A&T and South Florida in the opening two rounds. The Wolfpack average 77.5 points while shooting 46.9 percent from the field.
All-America junior center Elissa Cunnane averages 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jakia Brown averages 13.7 points. Senior guard Kayla Jones is at 11.9 points.
"They're a fantastic team," Patberg says. "They won the ACC Tournament. They're the No. 1 seed. They have a lot of great players and play well as a unit."
You know what? So do the Hoosiers.
"Our coaches are among the best in the country," Patberg says. "They will have us prepared to the T. We just have to execute, play with heart, play with a toughness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win."
North Carolina State twice beat the nation's top-ranked team. First it was South Carolina in December and then Louisville in February. The Wolfpack have won 10 straight games, in part by dominating the second half.
"There's a reason why they're the No. 1 seed," Moren says. "Transition-wise, they're unbelievably athletic. They have an inside presence (Cunnane). Balanced scoring. They won the ACC. That says it all. That's a terrific league."
North Carolina State also has one of the nation's best coaches in Wes Moore, who just won the national coach-of-the-year honors. He has won 748 games (eighth most in women's college history) in 31 seasons as a head coach, including 190 in eight seasons at North Carolina State.
"Wes is a terrific coach," Moren says. "He and his staff have done an unbelievable job.
"There's a lot to prepare for. Biggest key is we have to keep them off the offensive glass and not give up second- and third-shot opportunities.
"We have proven we can guard in the half-court well. What we haven't done a good job is keeping other teams (off the offensive glass)."
IU could have a scouting edge thanks to assistant coach Ashley Williams, a former Wolfpack walk-on under Moore.
"North Carolina State is her second-favorite team when we don't play them," Moren says. "She is passionate about that place. She was a walk-on, earned a scholarship and became a starter.
"The nice thing for us is we kind of have the advantage because she is the lead on this scout. She has a little bit of insight on how to prepare our group, just the tendencies we'll see on Saturday."
IUHoosiers.com
The biggest basketball stage of Ali Patberg's career finds her unfazed.
Yes, Indiana's nationally televised Sweet Sixteen opportunity Saturday against regional top-seed North Carolina State (22-2) is unprecedented in program history.
Hoosier legend Isiah Thomas was among those to recognize it, tweeting "Hoosiers!" after IU beat Belmont Wednesday night to advance to its first-ever Sweet Sixteen.
For those who think this might be too big a moment for the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (20-5) at San Antonio's Alamodome, think again, Patberg insists through Zoom opportunity.
"Our goal wasn't to get to the Sweet 16, and stop. We have bigger goals. We understand life is so short. We want to enjoy all the steps that we've taken, all the milestones we've reached.
"It's cool and fun to get to the Sweet Sixteen, but our goal is a lot higher."
Players have bought into coach Teri Moren's 24-hour rule -- celebrate success for a day, then the reset for the next opportunity -- as they have so many things during her seven-year run. It's why a program that once struggled to find Big Ten success is on the cusp of becoming a consistent national power.
Credit a program-record six straight 20-win seasons, three NCAA tourney appearances in that stretch (it would have been four if last year's event hadn't been canceled by the pandemic), one WNIT title, top-10 accolades and a belief that the best is coming.
"We've worked so hard for this," Patberg says. "We're looking to continue to win."
To put this run in perspective, the Hoosiers, winners of 11 of their last 12 games, had only four 20-win seasons in the program's previous 42 years.
"These kids are making this experience one that we will never forget," Moren says.
IU's tourney dominance -- routes of 13th-seed VCU and 12th-seed Belmont -- comes from defense. Its 80 points allowed are the fewest ever by a Big Ten team after two NCAA tourney games.
"Defensively, we've had a different mindset," Patberg says. "It's a willingness, a toughness, a pride thing."
Offensive firepower is provided by four All-Big Ten players in sophomore forward Mackenzie Holmes (17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks), junior guard Grace Berger (15.5 points, three triple-doubles), Patberg (14.0 points) and junior forward Aleksa Gulbe (9.1, 6.7). Holmes also earned All-America honors.
"Offensively we've done some good things," Patberg says. "That will continue in our favor. We need to keep that momentum rolling."
North Carolina State is the most formidable team IU has played all season. It beat North Carolina A&T and South Florida in the opening two rounds. The Wolfpack average 77.5 points while shooting 46.9 percent from the field.
All-America junior center Elissa Cunnane averages 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jakia Brown averages 13.7 points. Senior guard Kayla Jones is at 11.9 points.
"They're a fantastic team," Patberg says. "They won the ACC Tournament. They're the No. 1 seed. They have a lot of great players and play well as a unit."
You know what? So do the Hoosiers.
"Our coaches are among the best in the country," Patberg says. "They will have us prepared to the T. We just have to execute, play with heart, play with a toughness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win."
North Carolina State twice beat the nation's top-ranked team. First it was South Carolina in December and then Louisville in February. The Wolfpack have won 10 straight games, in part by dominating the second half.
"There's a reason why they're the No. 1 seed," Moren says. "Transition-wise, they're unbelievably athletic. They have an inside presence (Cunnane). Balanced scoring. They won the ACC. That says it all. That's a terrific league."
North Carolina State also has one of the nation's best coaches in Wes Moore, who just won the national coach-of-the-year honors. He has won 748 games (eighth most in women's college history) in 31 seasons as a head coach, including 190 in eight seasons at North Carolina State.
"Wes is a terrific coach," Moren says. "He and his staff have done an unbelievable job.
"There's a lot to prepare for. Biggest key is we have to keep them off the offensive glass and not give up second- and third-shot opportunities.
"We have proven we can guard in the half-court well. What we haven't done a good job is keeping other teams (off the offensive glass)."
IU could have a scouting edge thanks to assistant coach Ashley Williams, a former Wolfpack walk-on under Moore.
"North Carolina State is her second-favorite team when we don't play them," Moren says. "She is passionate about that place. She was a walk-on, earned a scholarship and became a starter.
"The nice thing for us is we kind of have the advantage because she is the lead on this scout. She has a little bit of insight on how to prepare our group, just the tendencies we'll see on Saturday."
Players Mentioned
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