Keatts presser after loss to Miami : BULLETED

NC State fell to Miami 86-81. After the game, Kevin Keatts met with the media to discuss the loss. Above if the full presser and below is the summary in bulleted form.

• Tremendous offensive game from both teams. Both teams shot over 50% against good defenses. Anytime that happens there is a lot to work on defensively.
• Offensively played well. Share the ball.  22 assists on 31 made FGs. Guys played loose, but defensively, just couldn’t get stops. We’ll go back and clean that up.
• Miami came out shot well and shared the ball. Ended with 26 assists. Great passing led to good shots for them.
• Becoming a threat offensively because Omer can step out and shoot. Becoming a very good basketball team. This is 4th time playing a ranked team. They are good. We had chances. When team gets down by 12, you learn a lot about them. Guys fought and put themselves in position to win the game.
• Miami came in shooting 34% from 3. Every team has that game where they break out. This was theirs. Scouting report was to ‘short-close out’ on them and they capitalized. Credit their passing for good looks.
• If you are going to be a good shooting team, you need to be a great passing team.
• Uncharacteristic turnovers. Markell had 6. Needs to stop driving and jumping. He gets stuck. Working with him to stop that.
• But both teams played fast paced and with energy. Unfortunate that either team had to lose. Great game on the offensive end.
• Markell is getting there, but conditioning is not where it needs to be. Probably played too much in this one, but he was playing well. Confidence is growing, but he needs to shoot more. He’s happy with 14 assists, but he’s capable of scoring.
• Did not guard the ball. Miami wants to go one on one and break you down. Told guys I was proud of them and they played hard, but we will go back and get better at guarding the basketball.
• Wonder if any ACC team played 4 ranked teams in a 7 game span. Proud of these guys. People didn’t think this team was capable of winning the games they’ve won. A couple possession here and this and this is a win.
• Abu having foul trouble, but real problem is too many defensive breakdowns. If you are going to play on this team, you are going to limit breakdowns.
• Happy with this team. They are fighting and clawing. Exciting to watch. Continuing to get better. Loves this group and they’re right in the mix of things in the ACC.