Isn’t the real key not the AdjO or AdjD but the net of the two? 3 of the final four teams have greater than 20 points net difference and UConn is 19.
If you are going to give up a bunch of points per possession you need to score a bunch per possession.
Now I agree that defense is probably where the low hanging fruit for NC State. But I see our model for winning being as a very good offensive team 118-120 AdjO (like Wisconsin or Michigan) and a top 50ish defense AdjD around 96-98. That would put you in the 22 point net range.