What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.
What was the most memorable moment for you?
I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.
_______
Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.
TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
I have had an epiphany, we should get the head coach of LSU (after he is fired) to be our bigs recruiter. He can’t coach, but he sure can get the big guys.
TravelWolf Even Herb could win against the 200+ RPI teams that we have played so far.
PackJunky How can this be a rebuilding year, when you can’t recruit the area that you need. We have one recruit (torn ACL), lost Bam Bam, and can’t improve the bigs we have. Time to get someone that can recruit bigs and teach them how to play. Gott seems to be a likeable guy but I think he has peaked. The ACC has improved a lot more than we have. Long season in ACC ahead.
Rowan’s saving our asses… Our big problem is offensively in the post. We just don’t have ANY inside threat yet. None of our big recruits had developed offensive skills in high school (except for Kyle), and unfortunately that’s still the case. Abu shows promise, so hopefully he’ll be able to capitalize on his 15-17 ft jumper at some point. When ACC season starts, we are going to be having big problems b/c our guards won’t be able to get by the competition as easily as we did against Bucknell, etc. IMHO, Cat also is having trouble being a point guard.… Read more »
He has far too many High School All Americans and ESPN 150 players on this team to not be winning ball games. Rowan, both Martins, Abu, Anya and Cat were all top 150 and State has been beat twice this year by teams who had no 4 stars in W&M and only a handful in ASU. This is a direct testament to Gottfrieds coaching. He needs to earn his damn money and coach the kids, not just recruit them
Well said… I have my doubts about this year’s team, and concerns about Gott’s ceiling, but they need our support and there is a lot of basketball yet to be played….