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Keatts talks to media before matchup with #25 Florida State (Bulleted)

Published

6 years ago

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  • Heard about Yahoo! report at the same time everyone else did. Thought Debbie Yow released a good statement and has nothing to add to that.
  • Note: Was asked 2 other questions about Yahoo! report, referred back to Yow’s statement each time and did no answer.
  • FSU is dangerous. One of the most athletic teams in the nation. Top 1/3rd in the ACC in tempo and #34 in the country. Long, athletic, love to play in transition. One of the better one on one teams this team will play.
  • Tough to keep late-season pressure off kids. Team never talks about it but media does. Kids read social media and see it. Just try to keep concentrated on the next opponent. Team isn’t mature enough to look ahead, so all that’s talked about it Florida State.
  • Having veterans like Abu and Lennard Freeman helps in the locker room. Doesn’t get involved in their conversations, but knows they know. But the guy who can help everyone more than anyone is Al Freeman. Abu and Lennard had Sweet 16 runs as freshmen, but Al Freeman has had recent NCAA success.
  • Haven’t talked as a team about “winning out”, but guys may have. This league is so tough that as players or as a coach, you can’t look ahead. It could cost you games.
  • Still a human and got into this to help young men achieve their goals. Very excited about where the team is at.
  • Think about this. Team is 9-6 and winning 19 games with a team put together at the last minute. Team has accomplished great things, but not done.
  • Never talked about NCAA tournament or postseason before the season started. Didn’t think this team could handle that. Concentrated getting better every day in practice and in every game situation preparing for the season.
  • Had a non-conference schedule that I didn’t know how many we’d win. Came out with 10, highlighted by Arizona. Then started 0-2 in ACC. Not very promising. Then turned things around and sitting here with 9 conference wins.
  • Still not sure if team could handle talking NCAA or postseason. I’m probably only one in the program not talking about it though.
  • Team has had some great wins and a successful season but don’t want to be defined by good wins. Need to continue to build.
  • Sam Hunt and Braxton Beverly have been shooting at a big rim over the past few games. Hunt and Al Freeman have been so valuable because normally those spots would be replaced by freshmen but you bring in 2 seniors who have scored a lot of points.
  • Biggest change to the team has been Al Freeman playing with composure and as a veteran. Look at the last 3 games, only taken 1 bad shot. A heat check with 3:40 left in the game and I couldn’t sub him out quick enough. Putting up unbelievable numbers the past 3 or 4 games and helped team with his maturity.
  • Amazing where this team is based on where they were with Abu out and Braxton’s situation. Then Markell missed 7 games. Malik is back healthy and mentally playing better basketball.

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NC State Basketball

Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James is Currently Visiting NC State

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13 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) is on a visit to NC State currently, according to a source.

Indiana State Transfer Ryan Conwell was on campus last week, but he just committed to Xavier.

From what I hear, the staff preferred James over Connell anyway. A plus with James is he has 2 years of eligibility, whereas Conwell has 1.

News broke about James entering the Transfer Portal back on March 25th, and NC State was quick to reach out. Kevin Keatts and his staff recruited the former 4-star prospect out of high school heavily, but he ultimately chose the Cardinals.

Rivals ranked James as the #71 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, and ESPN ranked him as the #7 prospect in the state of Florida.

After redshirting his first year in Louisville due to torn achilles, James has been a starter for the Cardinals the past two years. This year, he averaged 12.6 points and 5 rebounds.

For a more extensive look at James’ game, click here.

Rivals ranks James as the #77 overall player in the Transfer Portal.

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NC State Basketball

Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James is a Priority for NC State

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17 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) is a priority for NC State, according to a source.

News broke about James entering the Transfer Portal back on March 25th, and NC State was quick to reach out. Kevin Keatts and his staff recruited the former 4-star prospect out of high school heavily, but he ultimately chose the Cardinals.

After redshirting his first year in Louisville due to torn achilles, James has been a starter for the Cardinals the past two years.

This past year, James averaged 12.6 points per game (3rd on the team) and 5 rebounds. He’s extremely physical and aggressive, taking 47% of his field goal attempts at the rim (making 46%). As a result, he draws a lot of fouls, ranking 10th in the ACC in Fouls Drawn, and 4th in Free Throw Rate. James made opponents pay this year when they put him on the line, making 81.8% from the charity stripe, which ranked 15th in the ACC.

James shot the ball better as a Redshirt Freshman, than he did this past season. His Effective Field Goal Percentage in 2022-23 was 55.8%, which ranked 19th in the ACC, and his True Shooting Percentage of 59.6% ranked 14th.

He does have the ability to knock down a three, making 34.8% for his career.

NC State already hosted Indiana State Transfer Guard Ryan Conwell last week, and while the Wolfpack coaches like both players, from what I’m hearing, James would be their preference.

NC State hasn’t had James in for a visit, but that could happen soon.

James has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Casey Morsell is the 4th Player in NCAA History to Start 41 Games in a Season

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22 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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NC State Guard Casey Morsell started 41 games for the Wolfpack this season, becoming the 4th player in NCAA history to do so.

 

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Prior to this season, the record for most games started in a single season in NC State history was 37, with three Wolfpack players doing so: Lorenzo Brown, Richard Howell, CJ Williams.

Morsell now sits atop the list, and a fellow teammate, DJ Burns ranks second, with 40 games started this season.

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Georgetown Transfer Dontrez Styles Commits to NC State!

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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Georgetown Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles (6’6″/212) has committed to NC State!

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #104 overall player in the Portal.

With his final year of eligibility, Styles’ made the right choice this time.

NC State now has 2 scholarships remaining after Styles’ commitment.

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