Connect with us

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS, NC State will meet with Kevin Keatts today, calling the ‘primary candidate’ to fill the coaching vacancy.

Say what you want, but if NC State offers Keatts then it means that Archie Miller said no. Miller is the #1 option for NC State per just about every source we’ve spoken to. So either Miller said no through backchannels or NC State is basically interviewing Keatts and waiting for Dayton to lose, at which point they will speak to Miller.

Keatts checks a lot of boxes that NC State is looking for, however, one (and we think it is the biggest one) is not checked. Keatts is a proven assistant and a proven recruiter, but if NC State is looking for proven success at a competitive level, they won’t get it with Keatts. We’re not saying he can’t do it, we’re just saying hiring him would be taking some true risk. Winning at UNCW is great and he really turned that program around, but that is the colonial conference. Keatts has yet to even beat a top 50 RPI team, in fact, he hasn’t beaten a single team coming from a power 5 conference.

So the intangibles are there for Keatts, but he’s far from being a sure home-run hire for NC State (if that is the route they go). Rothstein saying Keatts is the ‘primary candidate’ means NC State likely missed on a few before coming to that conclusion.

What this likely means, however, is that Keatts is above Wade on NC State’s list of options.

3 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
3 Comments
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Wolfer96
Wolfer96
6 years ago

I would rather we hire Bob Lutz over Keatts. There I said it.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
6 years ago

There’s really only 1 guy that will bring the Pack back into dominance. That is Marshall. If our AD was smart she would play to Marshall’s ego. He already makes too much money and won’t see much more unless he goes NBA. So offer to match his salary and talk him into competing with the best in the ACC/Triangle and then becoming the big dog as his neighbors retire.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
6 years ago

This is what happens when an AD bungles the previous search. She doesn’t want a repeat and then settles for a sure hire. I said all along I like Holtmann. Never been a fan of Archie. We should have been talking to Holtmann’s people all along. Keats has what… 1 year of HC experience at a mid-major level? Come on man.

NC State Basketball

D.J. Burns is OFFICIALLY BACK!

Published

on

Well, it’s OFFICIAL. D.J Burns will be returning to NC State for his final year of collegiate eligibility!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DJ Burns / BIG 30♨️ (@dj.b30)

This confirms everything I’d been hearing about the return of Burns. Burns was the key to the Wolfpack offense running effectively this past year. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2022-23, but he elevated his game in ACC play, averaging 16.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in conference games.

Burns is celebrating his return to run with the Wolfpack by dropping his own Big 30 merch. Go over and snag something.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Isaiah Miranda is an Early Entry Candidate for the 2023 NBA Draft

Published

on

The NBA released the names of the 242 players that have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2023 last night, and NC State’s Isaiah Miranda’s name was on the list.

Miranda (7’1″/225) joined the Wolfpack back in December, deciding to forgo the remainder of his prep season. Miranda didn’t see the court for NC State, resulting in a redshirt season.

ON3 ranked Miranda as the #16 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class.

It makes perfect sense for a player like Miranda, with his height and athleticism, to go through the draft process to be evaluated on what he needs to continue to work on. As an early entrant, Miranda has the ability to pull his name out of the draft and remain a collegiate athlete.

I don’t expect Miranda to keep his name in the hat when the time comes. From what I hear his game has tons of potential, but he still needs to fine tune his craft. Also, Miranda shared this on social media, implying he will be back in the Red and White next year.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra Commits to NC State

Published

on

NC State picked up their 5th transfer today. Mohamed Diarra (6’10″/215) committed to run with the Wolfpack today while in Raleigh on an Official Visit.

Diarra originally spent his first two seasons at Garden City Community College, averaging 17.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second season. He landed at Missouri last year, after being rated as the #1 JUCO prospect in the 2022 class according to JucoRecruiting.com.

In his only season at Missouri, Diarra averaged 11.7 minutes per game in 25 games played (6 starts), averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. Because of the extra year due to Covid, Diarra has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

With news breaking today that Dusan Mahorcic entered the Transfer Portal, the Wolfpack found his replacement. NC State’s frontcourt in 2023-24 currently will be made up of D.J. Burns, Ben Middlebrooks, Mohamed Diarra and Ernest Ross.

Check out these highlights of Diarra.

There is a lot to like in Diarra’s game. He is athletic, can hit a jump shot, put the ball on the floor, can play defense on the perimeter, block shots, and is an aggressive rebounder.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra is On an Official Visit to NC State Today

Published

on

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra (6’10″/215) is on an Official Visit to NC State today. Diarra originally spent his first two seasons at Garden City Community College, averaging 17.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second season. He landed at Missouri last year, after being rated as the #1 JUCO prospect in the 2022 class according to JucoRecruiting.com.

In his only season at Missouri, Diarra averaged 11.7 minutes per game in 25 games played (6 starts), averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. Because of the extra year due to Covid, Diarra has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

Diarra entered the Transfer Portal on March 28th.

Continue Reading