Instant observations: No. 9 NC State upsets No. 8 Tennessee to open 2025-26 campaign

GREENSBORO — Zoe Brooks stood underneath the basket looking to find a way to inbound the ball against Tennessee’s aggressive defense. But instead of waiting for the Volunteers to get set, NC State's standout junior guard knocked the ball off a defender’s back before finding Khamil Pierre for an easy layup.  The former McDonald’s All-American’s heads-up play helped turn the tide for the Wolfpack as it was a spark of a 16-2 run that spanned the early stages of the third quarter. It not only helped swing the momentum in NC State’s way, but the advantage seemed to help the Pack control the contest after falling behind by as many as 10 in the second quarter.  No. 9 NC State was able to use that critical stretch to its advantage the rest of the way, including a critical offensive rebound from sophomore center Tilda Trygger in the final 10 seconds, as it edged eighth-ranked Tennessee 80-77 on Tuesday afternoon at First Horizon Coliseum. Pierre led the Wolfpack with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Brooks added 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Trygger added 19 points and eight rebounds.  Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s observations from the upset win to open the 2025-26 campaign.