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.