NC State women's basketball clinched its first trip to the Final Four in more than 25 years with a win over Texas
Texas was top-seeded and NC State became the first team to make it after being unranked since Washington did it in 2015-16
The team started the season unranked and was picked to finish eighth in the ACC
PORTLAND, Ore. -- NC State coach Wes Moore admitted his team's Elite Eight loss in 2022 -- a double-overtime heartbreaker against UConn -- haunted him, leaving him one win away from getting the program back to its first Final Four since legendary coach Kay Yow led the Wolfpack there in 1998.
Two years later, those ghosts have been exorcised.
NC State, which started the season unranked and was picked to finish eighth in the ACC, clinched its first trip to the women's Final Four in more than 25 years with a 76-66 victory over top-seeded Texas in the Portland 4 Regional final on Sunday.
NC State became the first team to make the Final Four after being unranked in the Associated Press preseason poll since Washington did it in the 2015-16 season.
The Wolfpack's journey was not without its challenges. The NCAA confirmed that there were discrepancies between both sides of the court at Moda Center, where all five games so far had been played. Teams during those games shot 29% from the shorter 3-point line as compared to 33% from the standard one.
The NCAA was notified that there were discrepancies between both sides of the court at Moda Center, where all five games so far had been played. Teams during those games shot 29% from the shorter 3-point line as compared to 33% from the standard one.
The NCAA confirmed that there was a discrepancy between both sides of the court before tip off on Sunday, but all parties elected to play a complete game on the court as is, rather than correcting it and delaying the game. The Wolfpack's journey was not without its challenges.
The NCAA was notified that the 3-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance. The NCAA staff and women's basketball committee members on site consulted with both head coaches who were made aware of the discrepancy.
Teams during the five games so far in the Portland regionals shot 29% from the shorter 3-point line as compared to 33% from the standard one. They averaged 62 PPG and 66.8 PPG respectively.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an example of a fallacy known as 'appeals to authority'. The NCAA and the vendors are presented as authoritative sources on matters related to court markings. However, this does not necessarily mean that their statements should be taken at face value without further investigation or questioning.
The NCAA was notified (Sunday) that the 3-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance.
Bias
(85%)
The article reports that the NCAA was notified of a discrepancy in the distance between the top of the key and 3-point line at Moda Center. The teams were informed about it before their Elite Eight matchup on Sunday but chose to play as scheduled with mismatched lines rather than delaying or correcting them. This shows bias towards maintaining normalcy and avoiding any disruptions in the tournament, even if there is a clear issue that needs to be addressed.
The teams were informed about the discrepancy before their Elite Eight matchup on Sunday but chose to play as scheduled with mismatched lines rather than delaying or correcting them.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The article reports on the Women's NCAA Tournament games in Portland played on a court with mismatched 3-point lines. The author is Lynn Holzman and she is a member of the NCAA women's basketball committee. This creates a conflict of interest as it may compromise her ability to act objectively and impartially when making decisions about the tournament.
Lynn Holzman, who was on site for the games, reported that there were mismatched 3-point lines in some arenas. This creates a conflict of interest as it may compromise her ability to act objectively and impartially when making decisions about the tournament.
The article reports on the Women's NCAA Tournament games in Portland played on a court with mismatched 3-point lines. The author, Lynn Holzman, is a member of the NCAA women's basketball committee. This creates a conflict of interest as it may compromise her ability to act objectively and impartially when making decisions about the tournament.
The NCAA confirmed that the 3-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance.
Teams during the five games so far in the Portland regionals shot 29% from the shorter 3-point line as compared to 33% from the standard one. They averaged 62 PPG and 66.8 PPG respectively.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it reports on a court with different distances at the top of the key for 3-point lines. The NCAA confirmed this and stated that teams would play one half with each line before deciding to wait for remeasurement. However, both coaches chose to play rather than wait due to time constraints.
The article reports on a court with different distances at the top of the key for 3-point lines.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an example of a dichotomous depiction. The author presents the situation as if it is black and white when in reality there are shades of gray. The NCAA states that the lines were not the same distance at Moda Center but does not specify how much shorter one line was compared to another, leaving room for interpretation.
The NCAA stated that the 3-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance.
Bias
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Kevin Pelton has a financial tie to the NCAA as he is an ESPN Senior Writer and co-author of the Pro Basketball Prospectus series. He also developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system which are used by ESPN for tracking statistics in basketball.
Kevin Pelton has a financial tie to the NCAA as he is an ESPN Senior Writer and co-author of the Pro Basketball Prospectus series. He also developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system which are used by ESPN for tracking statistics in basketball.
NC State has made it to the women's Final Four for the first time in more than 25 years.
Aziaha James was named Most Outstanding Player of the region and scored a career-high seven 3s in the game.
James alone made as many 3s as Texas managed total baskets outside the paint.
Accuracy
The NCAA discovered that the women's 3-point line at the tournament venue in Portland was not the same distance from key.
All parties elected to play a complete game on the court as is, rather than correcting the court and delaying the game.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that NC State's Elite Eight loss in 2022 haunted them and left them one win away from getting back to their first Final Four since legendary coach Kay Yow led the Wolfpack there in 1998. However, this is not entirely true as they did make it to the Sweet Sixteen that year but lost out on a chance for the Final Four due to an upset loss against UConn. Secondly, when discussing NC State's history of making it to the Final Four, Moore mentions Yow and her 1998 team. However, he fails to mention any other teams or coaches who have led NC State there before this year's squad. This is a clear example of selective reporting as well as an attempt at sensationalism by highlighting one of the most successful seasons in NC State history while downplaying others.
The author claims that NC State's Elite Eight loss in 2022 haunted them and left them one win away from getting back to their first Final Four since legendary coach Kay Yow led the Wolfpack there in 1998. However, this is not entirely true as they did make it to the Sweet Sixteen that year but lost out on a chance for the Final Four due to an upset loss against UConn.
The author mentions NC State's history of making it to the Final Four and highlights Yow and her 1998 team. However, he fails to mention any other teams or coaches who have led NC State there before this year's squad.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains several examples of an appeal to authority fallacy. The author quotes multiple sources without providing any context or analysis of their credibility. Additionally, the author uses phrases such as 'legendary coach' and 'first time in school history' which are subjective statements that rely on personal opinions rather than facts.
The article mentions Kay Yow as a legendary coach who led NC State to its first Final Four since 1998. This is an appeal to authority fallacy because the author does not provide any evidence or analysis of Yow's coaching abilities or achievements.
The article states that this marks the first time both the men’s and women’s teams have made it to the stage in school history. This is another example of an appeal to authority fallacy as there is no context provided for why these teams are considered important or noteworthy.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that is biased towards the NC State team. The author uses language such as 'exorcised' and 'overcoming all doubts and questions' to describe the team's victory over Texas in the Portland Regional Final. This creates an emotional response for readers, rather than providing objective analysis of the game.
The article contains a statement that is biased towards NC State:
The NCAA discovered that the women's 3-point line was set at 22 feet and inches. However, officials discovered that there was a discrepancy between both sides of the court before tip off on Sunday.
All parties elected to play a complete game on the court as is, rather than correcting the court and delaying the game.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it reports the NCAA discovered the 3-point lines at women's tournament venue aren't the same distance from key. However, this statement is false as there are no key distances mentioned in NCAA rules for women's basketball.
The article states 'Under NCAA rules adopted in the 2021-22 season, the women’s 3-point line was set at 22 feet,1 inches.' However this is not true as there are no key distances mentioned in NCAA rules for women's basketball.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article reports that the NCAA discovered before tip-off of a women's Elite Eight game in Portland, Oregon that the 3-point lines were not at the same distance on both sides of the court. The author does not provide any information about who made this discovery or how it was determined. Additionally, there is no mention of what happened after officials discovered this discrepancy and whether it affected play during the game.
The NCAA discovered before tip-off that the 3-point lines were not at the same distance on both sides of the court.
Bias
(85%)
The NCAA discovered that the 3-point lines at the women's tournament venue were not the same distance from key. The author of this article is a journalist who reports on sports and specifically covers college basketball for USA Today Sports.
The Longhorns became the first No. 1 seed to be eliminated in a 76-66 loss.
The NCAA released an updated statement after the game that added: "At the conclusion of tonight’s game and practice in Portland, The NCAA will be measuring all court lines and markings on the court at Moda Center. While the NCAA➗s vendor has apologized for the error, we will investigate how this happened in first place.
> Under NCAA rules adopted in the 2021-22 season, the women’s 3-point line was set at 22 feet,1¾ inches. However, the spaces from the top of the key to the 3-point line at Moda Center appeared to be different.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the discovery that the 3-point lines at Moda Center are not consistent with NCAA regulations. The author of the article is Lisa Peterson who has a professional affiliation with Vic Schaefer and Wes Moore as they were all involved in coaching women's basketball teams.
The article reports that the 3-point lines at Moda Center are not consistent with NCAA regulations. The author of the article is Lisa Peterson who has a professional affiliation with Vic Schaefer and Wes Moore as they were all involved in coaching women's basketball teams.
