VIDEO: Kevin Keatts Presser After NC State’s 95-49 Victory Over Maryland Eastern Shore

NC State improved to 2-0 today, waxing Maryland Eastern Shore 95-49. Head Coach Kevin Keatts spoke to the media in his press conference after the contest. The full video is ABOVE and a bulleted breakdown is BELOW.

• Really excited about how we played today. Thought everyone that got in the game did a tremendous job. Played hard. Surely not everything went our way, but I wanted to see improvement. I thought on Tuesday we allowed people to drive and get in the lane too much. We did better at that. We helped each other.
• Thought we did a good job sharing the basketball. 23 assists on 35 made field goals.
• I went 5 in and 5 out. That isn’t my plan for the rest of the year. I looked over on the bench and saw I had a 1, 2, 3, 4, and a 5, and I decided to sub.
• I told Braxton Beverly after practice yesterday that I would call him last night with my decision on whether or not he would play or not. I didn’t call him on purpose, because I wanted to save him for another game, and give him a couple more days on his hand. When I showed up, Braxton’s smart, and knows the equipment manager, and he was already in uniform.
• When I went to sub the other 4 guys, there was no way I couldn’t put him in the game, looking at me with those baby eyes. He gives us a different dimension. He makes shots. Knows how to play. He plays hard. He’s a special player for us. He’s a veteran player who knows what I’m looking for.
• We executed well. I looked at the tape when this team played Georgetown. It was a 15-point game. I thought our guys locked in. Came out with good energy especially for a noon game.
• I think 5 in and 5 out is ok. It worked today. The guys that came off the bench have been playing together. They’ve been the scout team. I don’t know if I’ll do that all year long. I do like the balance we have in both groups. They both have guys that can score and rebound. We have guys that understand their roles in both groups.
• Ian Steere and I had a discussion yesterday about what his future may be here at NC State. Without going into too many details, I told him to sit back and take a couple of days to decide if this is the best fit for him, or if he feels like there is a another place for him to go. I don’t know where his head is at. I plan on having a conversation with him on Monday. I wanted to give him a couple of days to make sure he’s still excited about being at NC State. I hope it works out for Ian, because I think he could be a really good basketball player here.
• DJ Funderburk  has been really good for us. He can guard the 1, 2 or 5. He’s versatile. He’s long. He rebounds the basketball. He can make his shot. I hope he continues to play this way.
• It’s hard in today’s basketball to be able to play 3 centers.
• Because of the versatility of this team, we are able to switch on a lot of screens, and get in the passing lanes. I thought we were better defensively today than the first game. On Tuesday I thought our defense was ok in the first half, and great in the second half. Today I thought we played great in both halves, but did I get 40 minutes. No. We still have things to work on.
• We talk about mindset. At some point when you’re in a lopsided game, you have to start focusing on yourself. What makes us better as a basketball team, instead of who we are playing.
• I love Reynolds Coliseum. I used to go in there as a fan. It’s wild. Great basketball. Great tradition. It’s a powerful place. It’s one of the greatest arenas that size in the country.