It is a game that could include a ceremony in which the court on Reynolds Coliseum is named after coach Kay Yow. It will be the final game for the team’s six seniors at Reynolds Coliseum while in the midst of a fourth-place battle. And it all happens to be against North Carolina.
Earlier in the season, N.C. State lost to North Carolina 86-65 on Jan. 21 in Chapel Hill. This time, the game is set for Raleigh and tip-off is just after 7 p.m.
Yow said every senior day has its special moments. However, this time she said it has more impact because the game is against her team’s rival.
“Each class is different, but it can get emotional, a little sentimental,” Yow said. “This is the last game you’re playing in Reynolds Coliseum. Everybody will want to put their best foot forward and dig deep no matter who you’re playing. This case it happens to be we’re playing North Carolina.”
The Tar Heels are ranked No. 2 in the nation and are 25-1 overall and 9-1 in the ACC. Yow said they are a team that excels in every aspect — from its guard play to its post play.
“North Carolina is a team that’s been ranked in the top three all season. They have balance — they have it outside and inside. They’re not missing any pieces,” Yow said.
“They can all shoot the ball. They can all create their own shot. They love to get out and run. They love to press and they make for a tough team.”
Yow, who is in her 32nd season with the Wolfpack, was quick to point out that to slow down the Tar Heels and to make “them play a half-court game,” State will have to slow down North Carolina’s 5-foot-6 senior guard Ivory Latta.
As the Pack did in the first matchup, the plan is to put senior guard Ashley Key on her and then to rotate in senior forward Keisha Brown.
“It’s a challenge both ways,” Yow said. “She’ll need some help at times to get a breather or a break — Keisha Brown has helped us a lot with that. Our ability to keep someone fresh on her good could help us a lot. But, Ashley has been, and is the best person to put on her.”
For Key, guarding Latta is always something she enjoys.
“It’ll be fun,” Key said. “It’s interesting playing someone so much shorter than me. And I mean, as quick as she is and the range that she has — it’s always fun.”
In the last game, the two senior guards went back and forth throughout. Each time one scored, she looked for the other. After the game on Jan. 21, Latta said the two were best friends.
Before practice on Monday, Key was asked if Latta was serious when she said the two were such good friends.
“Serious as it could be,” Key said with a big smile.
Key said it should be emotional having her last game at Reynolds in her four-year career.
“Last time at good old Reynolds,” Key said. “I might drop a tear — it’ll be one of those things you always remember. The last game, here at home, in front of the fans that have been behind you for three years.”
Not only is it senior day for six athletes, but the University could name the court after Yow at some point during the game.
The Board of Trustees is holding a regularly scheduled meeting today in which one of the topics of discussion will be the idea of naming the court after Yow. Before practice Wednesday, associate head coach Stephanie Glance said it is something she believes the trustees should approve.
“I would surely hope that it passes,” Glance said. “I wouldn’t see a reason that it wouldn’t pass. But still, it has to be passed by the Board of Trustees.”
State, who is 18-8 overall and 7-4 in the ACC, is in fifth place in the conference — half a game behind fourth-place Florida State and a full game behind third-place Maryland. After North Carolina, the team only has two more regular-season games.
