Keatts, Freeman and Dorn Presser Before Arizona :: Bulleted

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts, Lennard Freeman and Torin Dorn met with the media before the Pack’s showdown with Arizona at “Battle 4 Atlantis”. Watch the full version above or read the cliff notes version below:

• Going to be a tough matchup. Sean Miller has built a great program there. It’s going to be a big challenge, but team is up for the opportunity.
• Every coach wants a great defense. The strength of the defense is turning people over and getting deflections.Turning people over 22 times per game.
• Must be better in the halfcourt vs. Arizona.
• Italy trip taught us a lot about ourselves. Was a good experience. Allowed guys to play on the road.
• Battle 4 Atlantis is a great tournament in paradise. Brings together some great teams that normally wouldn’t play one another.
• Lennard: New system gives a lot of possession and it creates a lot of turnovers. You never know whose night its going to be.
• The new system is fun. Had to get guys in best shape possible But any time you have a new coach, guys like Torin and Lennard need to accept the coach into the program. They did that.
• Dorn: The change to Keatts system was drastic. Going from half court offense to full court was a change. Have to get mentally and physically better than everyone else.
• Lennard: This is a proven system. Keatts comes from a winning background. Team bought in.
• Dorn: Didn’t know he was leading the team in rebounds. Coaching says to be relentless and go after the offensive glass.
• Keatts doesn’t share stats with his players.
• Dorn: 4 guard lineup creates mismatches on both ends and gives matches they like to exploit.
• Keatts has played in this tournament before and knows the gym well. Feels like playing in a small D1 school and it’s packed.
• When you have a smaller venue and it’s tighter, guys usually shoot it better
• Markell has done great. Keatts wants him to score more, but he’s maturing and doing well finding guys.
• Arizona is the toughest matchup the team could have this early in the season.
• This is a matchup you’d usually see 3 or 4 weeks in, but playing 4 games already it feels like 3 or 4 weeks in.
• Arizona is a great team led by Trier who has 90 points in 3 games. Playing out of his mind.
• They can score inside and out, get out in transition. it will be a great challenge.
• Ayton does it all. Keatts was scared when he first watched him. State will have hands full with him.
• Very hard to prep for two 7 footers in practice. They have a pro front line. Size is as big as Keatts has seen in college basketball.