VIDEO: Kevin Keatts Talks to Media Before #23 NC State vs. #3 Virginia

#23 NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media yesterday before the Wolfpack’s matchup with #3 Virginia. The video is ABOVE (via TheWolfpacker), and a bulleted breakdown is BELOW.

• Tough game (Clemson) for us. Found a way to win when things weren’t going our way.
  • I think I’ve looked at that (Braxton Beverly’s Buzzer Beater) about 20 times. We had fun with it. We looked at some of the reactions from the rest of the players.
  • CJ Bryce could’ve forced a shot up (no timeouts)…He could have turned the ball over…But he made an unselfish play and gave the ball to Braxton.
  • Give Braxton (Beverly) a lot of credit for stepping up and making the shot, especially after he was 0-4 in the game. After the last couple of games, I don’t think he’s shot it as well as he can.
• Now we’ll turn our attention to Virginia, who I think is maybe even a little better than the team last year that was No. 1.
  • Tough to score against as you know…always have been.
  • Offensively, they’re moving the ball.
  • Scoring more points
  • Playing a little faster.
  • One of the most talented teams I’ve seen on tape all year long.
• I’ve played them 2x here and at UNCW, and we were able to space them out and make them make some shots.
  • When you stand around and you’re not able to make shots, it can be a long night for you.
  • I’ve watched 7-8 games on them and every game is similar.
  • The last game I watched vs. Clemson and all I keep thinking about is that Clemson had 2 points with 9-10 left in the half.
• They defend you.
  • What makes them so special is that they’re a very good defensive team as a team, but they’ve got a lot of really good individual guys that can defend you.
  • Got to do a great job of moving the ball. We’ve got to penetrate and pitch and then those shots that are open…I’d love for us to knock them down.
• They do a great job of defending the paint.
  • They show close out on you.
  • Make you take jump shots.
  • Limit you to one shot.
  • Very big.
  • Do a great job of blitzing you, where you’re never in a scoring area where you want to be.
  • Great job communicating.
  • Very seldom do you see a Virginia team beat theirselves on defense.
  • Don’t have a lot of breakdowns.
• I felt like we (UNCW vs. UVA in NCAA Tournament) really did get them out of their element.
  • 1st time I’ve ever seen Tony Bennett make an adjustment in that area.
  • At 1 point they went with Shayok and put him at the 5, and they went 5 guards.
  • We (UNCW) moved the ball well, but were much smaller.
  • They were quicker and probably shot the ball a little bit better than the team I have right now.
  • So it’s a different team and a different strategy.
• De’Andre Hunter’s playing the 3…could play 4 or 5…so talented.
• Their front line is as big as any NBA front line.
  • They’re skilled…athletic…very physical.