How to watch Texas vs. NC State: Odds, matchups, injuries and more in Elite 8
Texas women's basketball has returned to the Elite 8 for the third time in the last four years after handily defeating the 4-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs 69-47 in Portland, OR, on March 29. Head coach Vic Schaefer and Texas face the 3-seed NC State Wolfpack in the Elite 8 in Regional 4 in Portland on March 31.
Texas is making its 18th appearance in program history in the Elite 8. Seven of its Elite 8 appearances have come in the last decade.
If Schaefer and the Longhorns defeat NC State in the Elite 8 this weekend, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Texas has three appearances in the Final Four in program history.
However, if NC State emerges victorious on March 31 against the Longhorns, it will be the first time that the Wolfpack have made the Final Four since 1998. It would also be the second time in program history that NC State has made it to the Final Four.
Schaefer and the Longhorns reached this point of the NCAA Tournament by defeating the 116-seed Drexel Dragons and 8-seed Alabama Crimson Tide in the first two rounds. Texas kept its momentum going with a third double-digit point victory in March Madness in the Sweet 16 against Gonzaga on March 29.
NC State has also had an impressive tourney run of its own, beating the 14-seed Chattanooga Mocs, 6-seed Tennessee Lady Vols, and 2-seed Stanford Cardinal to reach the Elite 8. The Wolfpack upset Stanford by a score of 77-67 in the Sweet 16 in Portland on March 29.
Here’s a look at the TV/streaming information and game time as the 1-seed Texas faces 3-seed NC State in the Elite 8 of Regional 4 in Portland of the NCAA Tournament at the Moda Center in Portland, OR, on March 31.
How to watch Texas women's basketball vs. NC State in the Elite 8
TV: ABC
Live Stream: ESPN app
Radio/Audio Stream: Longhorn Radio Network
Game time: 2 p.m. CT
Live stats: March Madness Live
Texas vs. NC State in the Elite 8 will be broadcast live nationally on ABC on March 31.
Craig Way and Eryn McMahan will call the game on the radio broadcast on Longhorn Radio Network.
Texas is 5-2 in the all-time series against NC State. The last time these two teams met was during the 2019-20 season in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii. NC State defeated Texas 84-73 in that meeting in 2019.
Texas women's basketball projected starting lineup vs. NC State
- G: Shay Holle, Senior (7.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.1 APG)
- G: Shaylee Gonzales, Senior (9.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.7 APG)
- F: Aaliyah Moore, Junior (11.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.1 APG)
- F: Madison Booker, Freshman (16.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.0 APG)
- F: DeYona Gaston, Senior (8.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.4 APG)
NC State projected starting lineup vs. Texas
- G: Aziaha James, Junior (16.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.9 APG)
- G: Madison Hayes, Senior (10.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- G: Saniya Rivers, Junior (12.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.7 APG)
- F: Mimi Collins, Senior (10.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.9 APG)
- C: River Baldwin, Senior (10.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 0.7 APG)
Texas women's basketball injury report vs. NC State
Senior forward Taylor Jones missed Texas's Sweet 16 victory over Gonzaga on March 29 since she was in concussion protocol, Schaefer said. Jones's status for the Elite 8 matchup against the Wolfpack remains uncertain.
Betting odds for Texas women's basketball vs. NC State in the Elite 8
Texas is a 5.5-point favorite against NC State on March 31, per FanDuel. The moneyline favors the Longhorns (-260) over the Wolfpack (+205).
The over/under is 136.5 points.
NC State presents another challenging opponent for Schaefer and the Longhorns, who have played really well in their three NCAA Tournament wins. Texas must rely on its depth and top star players, namely standout freshman guard Madison Booker, to lead the way against this talented and experienced NC State starting five.
Where the Longhorns do have the decided edge over the Wolfpack is with their depth. Schaefer has three or four players averaging over five points per game (depending on Jones's health for this game) that he can utilize off the bench, while NC State only has one.
NC State relies heavily on its experienced and upperclassmen-laden starting unit to win them games. All five Wolfpack starters are averaging double digits in points per game this season, led by junior guard Aziaha James.