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AUDIO: Kevin Keatts talks Duke, team identity, coaching young players

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Kevin Keatts talks to the media before his team’s matchup with Duke.

 


BULLETED RECAP

 

  • Just happy to be able to play. With the virus you’re never sure if the game is going to happen. Wants his guys to play basketball. Wants to take a step forward and start a winning streak.
  • Matthew Hurt is as tough a matchup there is in the ACC. He can drag out a 5 man and shoot it, or back down a 4 man.
  • Duke is talented. Freshmen could have used more non-conference games and early season practice, but they can drive it, shoot it and they have good size. They are a good team.
  • The identity of the team has shifted with the loss of Devon Daniels. The strength of the team is in the frontcourt now. Hellems, Funderburk, and Bates.
  • Hard to figure out rotations when the 3 games you’ve played without Daniels have all been against unique defenses. 2 times against the Syracuse zone and once vs the Virginia pack-line.
  • Has seen improvement in guard play, but needs consistency. Different guys are showing up at different times, but he needs one more consistent scorer.
  • Braxton Beverly is giving the team all he can, but the team needs another scorer (Keatts seemingly hinting he needs Beverly to score more). Doesn’t need a big scorer, just a consistent 10 points per game.
  • DJ Funderburk is having a great year. He’s improved on the court, but his leadership has been the best it’s ever been in the locker room. He can get better at defensive rebounding, but he’s been great. He’s the happiest he’s ever been, and even with the losses, he’s stayed positive. Handling himself incredible.
  • Coaching is a great balance you have to have. Lost the guy I could get on the most and he’d respond (Daniels). “One shoe don’t fit them all.” You have to figure out how to motivate these guys. Some guys are easily motivated and some guys you need to jump on. With Daniels and Beverly, they’re old school, they respond by you jumping on them. New kids are different. More visual learners. You have to sit down and show them and teach them.
  •  In reference to wearing masks and not going to parties after big wins. So tough to be a college student right now. What do you expect kids to do after big rivalry wins?  Think about your coaches and parents telling you that you can’t do something. You probably went out and did it. The difference now is that everyone has a camera on their phones. We did the same things they are doing and having a good time. But that phone can change the narrative of things real quick. Told kids to stay safe and stay in the bubble. Honestly, coaches aren’t around the kids because of COVID rules. You trust and hope they are doing the right thing at night.

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NC State Basketball

An NC State Win Over Marquette in the Sweet 16 Would Be…

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Awesome. Obviously.

#11 seed NC State will play #2 seed Marquette tomorrow night in the Sweet 16. What would a win mean for the Wolfpack? Many things, but here’s just a few:

It would give NC State 25 wins on the year (25-14), which would be the most wins since 1982-83, when the Wolfpack went 26-10, winning the National Championship.

It would mark the 12th time in school history that NC State has won 25+ games in a single season.

1982-83 – 26-10 

1973-74 – 30-1 

1972-73 – 27-0 

1954-55 – 28-4 

1953-54 – 26-7

1952-53 – 26-6 

1950-51 – 30-7 

1949-50 – 27-6 

1948-49 – 25-8 

1947-48 – 29-3

1946-47- 26-5

It would be the 7th time NC State has advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

1950

1951

1974

1983

1985

1986

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NC State Basketball

NC State has Won 5 ACC Championships this Year

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NC State has won 5 ACC Championships this year, which is the most of any athletic program in the conference this year.

The Wolfpack has won ACC Titles in Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Men’s Basketball and Gymnastics.

The last time NC State won 5 ACC Championships in one year was 1979-80.

As far as I can tell, here’s a look at the Wolfpack Conference Titles from 1979-80:

Football
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Tennis

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NC State Basketball

NC State is 1 of 4 Schools to Have Both Men & Women’s Basketball Teams in Sweet 16

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NC State is 1 of 4 schools to have their Men and Women’s Basketball teams BOTH advance to the Sweet 16, along with Duke, Gonzaga and UCONN.

NC State and Duke are the only two schools in the country to send both Basketball teams to the Sweet 16, and also send the Football team to a bowl game.

This marks only the third time in school history that BOTH teams made the Sweet 16.

Years NC State’s Men & Women’s Teams Made the Sweet 16

1985
1989
2024

Despite the fact that the Men’s team has made the Elite 8 six times (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986), and the Women have made it 2 times (1998 & 2022), in the three occasions they both went to the Sweet 16 in the same year, neither team advanced to the Elite 8.

In 2024, Why Not Us?

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NC State Basketball

#3 seed NC State Holds on Against #6 Seed Tennessee, Defeating the Vols 79-72 to Advance to the Sweet 16

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#3 seed NC State held on last night, defeating #6 seed Tennessee 79-72 in Reynolds Coliseum to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th time in the last 6 tournaments.

The Wolfpack led by only 1 after the 1st Quarter, but they looked like they had things under control at halftime, leading by 18 points.

At one point, NC State led by as much as 20 points in the 3rd Quarter, but the Lady Volunteers weren’t about to give up.

With 4:19 left in the 4th, Tennessee cut the lead to 2 points, but NC State might have bent, but they wouldn’t break.

Junior Guard Aziaha James led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, which were both team highs. She scored 7 points in the final 3.5 minutes, helping to squash tue Last Vols’ comeback attempt.

Junior Guard Saniya Rivers had 20 points (6-14 FG) and 6 boards.

Freshman Zoe Brooks was clutch off the bench, chipping in 16 points and 6 boards.

This marks the 16th time the NC State Women’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack will play #2 seed Stanford on Friday night at 7:30pm on ESPN in Portland.

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