Opponent preview: NC State Wolfpack

After cruising to an 102-58 victory over Dayton in the season opener, UConn will face the first real test of its season on Sunday afternoon. The Huskies will travel to NC State to tip off the upcoming stretch of high level non-conference play.

The Wolfpack, which also handedly won their season opener against Charlotte, look much different than the team UConn beat 91-69 at home last season. They return just five players from last year’s team and about 50 percent of their scoring. All five returners started the first game of the season for Wes Moore’s team. The Wolfpack also added a top-10 recruit in Zoe Brooks, and three additional top-75 recruits per ESPN’s HoopGurlz ratings.

“They have a new cast of characters this year that [Wes Moore is] really happy with,” Geno Auriemma said of this year’s NC State team. “They're always really, really well coached and they play a style of play that's hard to match. They've got guards that are athletic and aggressive.”

Most notably, the backcourt duo of South Carolina transfer Saniya Rivers and Mississippi State transfer Madison Hayes combined for 15.6 points per game last season. Maryland transfer Mimi Collins also returns for the Wolfpack in the frontcourt.

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