Kevin Keatts’ 2019 Media Day Press Conference: BULLETED

NC State’s Men’s Basketball team held their annual media day today, and Head Coach Kevin Keatts had lots to say in his press conference. You can watch it here, or check out a bulleted breakdown below.

• Missing the NCAA Tournament was tough for us.
  • That being said, I thought making the NIT and having the opportunity to play 3 games at Reynolds was a tremendous opportunity for us.
• Playing 2 games in Reynolds Coliseum this year.
• 7 of my 8 guys returning that played last year.
  • That’s a big change.
  • Previous year: 3.
• We’ve got a little bit of everything.
• Excited about our guard play.
  • Braxton Beverly and Markell Johnson have been playing at a very elite level.
• When you talk about our wings, C.J. Bryce and Devon Daniels have had good practices and good workouts so far.
  • I think Jericole Hellems is going to be a really good basketball player
• Added a couple of 5th year transfers.
  • Brought them in for a couple of reasons.
    1. Had a lot of success with 5th year transfers.
    2. They were also very good ping pong players, and I needed somebody to challenge me.
• Pat Andree is as good of a shooter as I’ve seen in a long time.
  • What makes him special is he is 6’8″, and he has the ability to get his shot off against anybody.
• Danny Dixon will kind of remind you guys a lot of Wyatt Walker, except he won’t have the man bun, so don’t be disappointed about that part of it.
  • I think Danny will do a tremendous job for us.
• Manny Bates has a chance to be really good.
  • Young, athletic, certain skill set, runs the floor and a tremendous defender
• Chance to be really good basketball team because we have a little bit of everything.
  • Don’t scare away from anything.
  • Some experience.
  • Some guys that can make shots.
• Scheduled no non-conference games against 300-level teams.
  • Tournament we are playing in scheduled one, but we didn’t.
  • Going to Auburn – played deep into the NCAA, had a chance to compete for a national championship
  • Rematch Wisconsin in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
  • Play a tough road game against a great mid-major program.
  • Wes Miller has done a great job at UNC-G, chance to play in Greensboro Coliseum.
  • Thanksgiving Day playing Memphis.
    • I think this Memphis team is going to be very good.
    • Penny Hardaway said they have a chance to win the national championship.
    • We’re looking forward to that.
  • I hope that we have a chance to win every non-conference team we play and they go on to win their conference.
• Playing 20 games in the ACC is a huge thing for us. I think it’s great.
  • Get the opportunity to play against some of the best guys on our home floor and away.
  • Opening up against an ACC team on November 5th (Georgia Tech).
• Primetime with the Pack is October 18th.

Markell Johnson…

• If we’re going to be good, he has to be a really good basketball player.
• Think he’s 1 of the Top-5 players in the ACC.
• Has to play 2 halves.
• Have to get consistent play from him.
• He has played elite basketball.
  • Had a day about 2 weeks ago, and I’m not usually impressed with my guys at practice, but he was really special.
• He has some type of motivation after going and working out for a few different teams.
  • That’s good for us, because that kid could be a really good basketball player.
• He’s a veteran on the team. I expect a lot from him.
  • I expect him to be a leader on and off the team.
    

Manny Bates…

• Haven’t had a rim protector since I’ve been here.
• We’re a pressing and running team, and Manny provides that for us.
• Redshirt freshman.
  • Have to live with some mistakes
• He can clean up some mistakes on the defensive end when we make mistakes and gamble.

D.J. Funderburk’s suspension…

• Internal deal that’s placed upon him from the basketball program.
• I have a certain expectation of what I think an NC State player should be.
  • Right now, he hasn’t met that.
• No timetable for his return.
• He has some benchmarks that I want him to meet to be able to join the team.
  • When that happens, he’ll be part of it.
  • If it doesn’t, he won’t.
• D.J. was our best returning post guy.
  • That being said, I like what Danny Dixon brings to the table because he’s old and he’s got some experience.
  • Then Manny Bates.
  • Both of those guys will be huge for us.
• Right now, he’s not allowed to do anything basketball related.
• He’s to maintain academics.
• He’s allowed to come into this building to work out, but as far as anything team related, we don’t have him involved.

Leaders emerging…

• Would love to see Braxton Beverly talk a lot.
  • Doesn’t say much.
  • Been in the program 3 years now, and has a chance to obviously be a leader.
• C.J. Bryce has been with me longer than anyone in the program.
  • Certainly we want some leadership from him.
• Always tough when you transfer.
  • Especially when you transfer from a mid-major conference. It’s always tough to come in and try to be a leader.

New additions…

• Dereon Seabron and Atticus Taylor bring a lot of athletic ability to the program
  • Something we haven’t had the last couple of years, especially with young guys.
  • They’re coming into a program that’s different than a couple of years ago when I took the job. We now have veterans.
  • I expect both of them to be able to come in and play, but I wouldn’t imagine them to start.
  • Most of the time Freshmen help you more on the defensive end and with how hard they play
  • Both of them have embraced that.