Keatts Presser after win over Wake Forest : BULLETED

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts talked to the media after his team’s 72-63 win over Wake Forest. Above is the full version of the press conference and below is the bulleted summary.

• First half, went into the break down 5 but thought team had too many breakdowns, too many transition buckets.
• Made adjustments in 2nd half and won game on the defensive end. Won another ACC game because guys defended at the end. Last 4 minutes were great. Held Wake scoreless.
• Did not shoot well from 3. (7-26 from beyond the arc), but Markell Johnson and Torin Dorn hit big shots at the end to put team over the hump
• Yurtseven is getting better because teammates believe in him. Guys are starting to look for him and he’s starting to believe in himself. But not just offensively. He is blocking shots, and altering shots. Getting better every day.
• Press that led to the 10-second call down the stretch was good coaching (joking…not joking). Called a timeout to put in a press. Guys did a great job. Were active, got in the passing lanes and executed. Big part of the game.
• Nothing against bigs that didn’t play much (Freeman, Abu), but thought Wake was playing mainly perimeter guys and it was hurting State. Thought Dorn at the 4 was the right matchup. Down the stretch, the group that was in was playing good basketball and team needed ways to score.
• Beverly is benefitting from Markell being back. he can be freed up from having to handle the ball so much. It’s also helping Yurtseven. Markell is the leading assist guy and can find people. It also allows him to be on the floor with Batts witch is team’s best defensive unit.
• Assistant coaches should have let him know that Beverly was 1 assist away from a double-double so he could have called a play to get him that assist (joking…not joking). He’s playing well. Freshmen are growing up. Lavar starting to come along too and Beverly is playing really good basketball.
• Markell has been great since coming back. Adversity helps you grow up. He’s working hard, but not in great shape yet. Still calling on Keatts to take him out when he gets tired on the floor.
• Group that finished the game was just playing well. Guys on the bench were fresh, but the group in there was playing good basketball and didn’t want to break their rhythm.