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Keatts Interview after win over Pitt : BULLETED

Published

6 years ago

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Kevin Keatts spoke with Wolfpack Sports Radio after the Pack’s scrappy win over Pitt, 72-68. The full audio of the interview is below.

 

If you can’t listen, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here is the summary of Keatts statements in bulleted form.

  • Guys stayed the course. Offense wasn’t working tonight. Couldn’t make shots. Got open looks. Pitt played zone and team took 35 3’s.
  • Proud of the guys. Told them if they stayed the course and if they focus on defense they can win.
  • Made some adjustments at halftime on guarding the high ball screens.
  • Dorn’s late run was big. Didn’t have a great half, but came out and made big plays at the end. Al Freeman also hit a big shot after going 1-11 in the first half.  Everyone who came in the game helped win this one.
  • Dorn and Al Freeman were 6-8 in the second half. First half team missed chippies. Can’t explain it. Told them to stay the course and focus on D becasue first half D wasn’t very good.
  • Crazy stat: Pitt took only 26 shots in the first half. We took 43, yet were still losing. Just shot a bad percentage. Tempo was there , just missed shots.
  • Pitt went 0-14 from 3 in second half. Beverly and Freeman hit late 3s. They deserved to miss after that hot first half and we deserved to make some .after poor shooting.
  • Credit Pitt for great shooting in first half. Still fighting for their first win. Battled until the end, but our guys believed.
  • Talked to team about letting conditioning kick in. It did. with 4 minutes to go team was still fresh.
  • 15-15 from the FT line. Proud of the team. Showed guts, passion and effort at the end Could have put heads down and given up. Guys didn’t settle.
  • No plans yet on prep schedule for Chapel Hill (UNC game this weekend). Long game tonight, needs to see how the team feels. Guys need to go to class tomorrow. Will play it by ear.
  • Time to get guys some ice cream.

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NC State Basketball

WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

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4 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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NC State Basketball

Guard Mike O’Connell Announces He Will Play His Final Year of Eligibility at NC State

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18 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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Guard Michael O’Connell announced today that he will be playing his final year of eligibility at NC State next season.

 

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Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.

This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.

O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.

He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.

NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).

Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.

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NC State Basketball

ECU Transfer Forward Ezra Ausar to NC State is Trending Up

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.

Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.

Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.

Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.

Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)

At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.

Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Signee Zamareya Jones Showed Out in the McDonald’s & Jordan All-American Games

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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NC State 2024 signee Zamareya Jones has played in the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic over the past month.

In the McDonald’s game on April 2nd, Jones had 13 points, helping her East squad defeat the West.

 

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In the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21st, Jones had 15 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. She also hit the game winner for Team Flight.

Jones is a 5-star prospect in the Wolfpack’s 2024 recruiting class, ranked 21st overall nationally by ESPN.

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