NC State Presser after win over #2 Arizona: Bulleted

The Kevin Keatts era is off on the right foot after knocking off #2 Arizona 90-84 in the ‘Battle For Atlantis’. After the game, Kevin Keatts, Braxton Beverly, Al Freeman and Malik Abu met with the media. Above is the video (courtesy of GoPack Athletics), watch that if you want the full version. If not, we have the cliff notes below. *all bullets with no name are from Keatts*

• Team did a great job staying  the course and staying with the scouting report
• Did a great job getting and staying in presses, moving the ball around.
• Great games from Abu, Braxton and Freeman
• Excited for the guys. You want to continue to build the program, but this is a program win.
• Arizona has tons of weapons. Can’t really key on any single Arizona player. Wanted to stop Trier but he got 27. Goal for his guys was to match intensity, get into transition and forcing tempo. Team 90 points and had 17 assists on 28 made FGs
• Stuck with Beverly because he has had some good shooting days in practice and thought this would be his night.
• Going to Italy helped this team get better. They get better every day and give great effort every day. They deserved to win.
• Beverly: Didn’t feel any different in this game, always prepares the same. Just wanted to come out and help the team win.
• Freeman: Comes into every game trying to win. Start to finish, play as hard as possible. Coaches and teammates give the team confidence to go out and win.
• Abu: Didn’t know if he was going to play, but if he could, wanted to give it his all for his teammates. Thinks team still has room to grow.
• Wanted to change the culture when he got to State. Put in his system. The question as a new coach is ‘do you put in your system, or do you play to the guys that you already have?’ At UNCW it seemed to work right away so that’s what he did here and the team is making him look good 5 games into the season.
• Excited, but didn’t come here to just win one game. There are 3 games in this tournament and they respect every program. Team celebrated a bit in the locker room, but it’s a quick turnaround and they need to be ready tomorrow.
• Abu: This win means a lot. Coach came in and believed in them from day 1 they could win. Never allowed any doubt and probably inside, thinks they should have won by more It’s a good feeling to be in this new culture with this new change.
• Abu: This win just goes in the bag with the rest. There is unfinished business in the Bahamas and the goal is to finish on top.
• Abu: Doesn’t want to compare last year to this year. This is a hard-working team and that’s what it takes to win. With coach instilling his ideologies of defense and offense and culture and family they can go anywhere.
• Meant a lot to see his team counter-punch everytime Arizona made a run. Said you never know how good your team is until you face adversity. Team never panicked, answered the bell every time.
• Braxton played a lot of minutes because Markell wasn’t feeling well (cramps) and he made some big plays. Put the ball in Al’s hands and he made some big plays.