Kevin Keatts Talks Before NC State Heads to FSU (BULLETED)

Head Coach Kevin Keatts talked to the media today before NC State heads down to Thallahassee this Saturday to face #18 FSU at Noon. You can watch the video here (via TheWolfpacker), and a bulleted breakdown is BELOW.

• What’s underrated about them is they play 11 guys.
  • When we do the scouting report, we break it up. We gave out the 1st six, and then we’ll go over the next 5 today.
  • This is more about personnel than the team because you have to know each guy’s strength and weakness because they all bring something different.
• We’ll go back 4-5 games, but we also look for teams who play similar to the way we play.
  • You want to look at the most recent games and the most similar teams.
• They play faster than you think.
• Leonard (Hamilton) has changed the way they play the last few years on the defensive end.
  • They used to be more laid back and now they pressure.
  • They switch all five screens which causes problems.
• They have a huge size advantage, and we have to do a great job blocking out and getting rebounds to get out and run.
• Breaks are tricky. When you’re playing good basketball you want to keep playing.
  • Late in the season, I am okay taking a few days off. We’ve only got nine guys so we hope the rest helps.
• I haven’t talked about it (NCAA Tournament), but these guys are smart enough to know what’s going on.
  • I’ve only talked about Florida State, not the big picture.
  • We haven’t talked about selection of the tournament at all.
• Torin Dorn is very valuable.
  • I met with every guy yesterday and I talked about how important his experience is.
  • I’m excited that I’ve had the opportunity to coach him.
  • He’s a great kid.
  • Last year, the system was great for him and he did a good job fitting in.
  • He’s been valuable because he allows us to play small because of his rebounding.
    • If he didn’t rebound, we couldn’t play that way.
• We had three guys who played last year, and CJ Bryce has been to the NCAA Tournament twice, so those 4 guys are very important.
  • They can help the other 5 understand how to finish the season, and taking it one game at a time.
• Markell Johnson is 1 of the most experienced guards in the ACC and I don’t want him to play a great game and then drop off.
  • I’ve talked to him about being a leader in practice.
  • At this time of the year, veterans are smart enough to cruise through practice and hopefully it pays off in the game.
  • I’ve told those guys to put their work in. Our practices are only about an hour, they are mostly film work, so I’ve challenged to do a better job preparing for the game.