NC State Basketball
WATCH: UNC smokes NC State 100-80 in embarrassing loss
What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.
What was the most memorable moment for you?
I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.
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Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.
TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
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There is no doubt in my mind that Keatts should be fired. Let’s face it, he screwed up. Here is my take. I am almost 100% certain that if Keatts weren’t such a likable guy, he would be fired at the end of the season, if not before. I also think that’s the only reason that some continue to support him. He is a good guy, but he is way out of his element. It is crystal clear that he isn’t going to take us anywhere we want to go. The best thing to do, is to go ahead and… Read more »
I’m not necessarily challenging you on him “screwing up”, but I want to know how you think he screwed up. Maybe this one loss wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back for you, or maybe it was, I don’t know… but, I want to know what you mean by “screwing up”. Personally, I still think there are a lot of things that can happen between now and March. Let’s play devil’s advocate and hypothetically say he actually wins out the season and has a strong showing in the ACC Tournament, and then afterwards we go to the tournament… pipe… Read more »
Your points are valid. He screwed up by mismanaging his Roster. He didn’t recruit post players other than Bates. Duwuona isn’t competent and it kills us every game. Gibson isn’t even serviceable, and Ross weighed about 100 lbs soaking wet. All he concentrated on was guards. And he screwed up bad by benching Seabron for the majority of the season half. I believe that Seabron will leave without a doubt after that. Will all he has done for this team this year, he didn’t deserve that. His rotations are bizarre at best, and he makes very questionable decisions. Also, the… Read more »
I question all things when we lose, meaning, it’s easy to play that game of “revisionist history” after a loss, whereas if we’re winning, rotations and in game management/decisions become less under scruntiny. I get it, we’re lacking some in the post play, but he could have never predicted Bates would go down with injury in the first game in of for the season for that matter. I would argue that he did recruit post players in Ross, Gibson and Duwuona, and that he saw something in them and believed that a year of development and playing under the wing… Read more »
I see no advantage to keeping Keatts another year.
This has been a tough year starting with the loss of Bates, then Ross, and throw Gnatt in there as well. Duwuona has done the best he can, and this year will help him to continue his movement forward. I don’t think Keatts needs to go. I think Keatts needs to hire some assistants that can help. And yet I get it… this year feels over even though there’s a lot of basketball to be played so I totally understand the frustration. Winning out the rest of the season would be about as big a miracle as winning the ACC… Read more »
Turned it off at halftime.
Same. I really struggled to watch. The amount of yelling I did got me a wellness check from the police which was the highlight of my day. LOL! Might need to let the neighbors know I’m okay.
I turned off the sports package. Dont care anymore. At 73 I had hoped State would be a contender again. I hoped the chancellor and others in the overall administration would change (Trustees, BOG) their ‘hold’ over basketball, but it aint gonna happen. I still blame them for the V mess and everything since.