NC State head coach Kevin Keatts is coaching like his job depends on it. From what I was hearing, heading into the game against Syracuse in the 2nd round, his seat was pretty hot, and his job was in jeopardy.
What did Keatts team need to accomplish in order for him to keep his job? Was it to make it to the Semifinals? Was it to make it to the Finals? Was it win the Championship, or you’re out?
Truly, I don’t know.
You have to give Keatts credit. His team is playing their best basketball at the most important time of year, and it’s not even close. Keatts’ players have always played hard for him, but they are playing hard and smart in this Tournament. The ball movement in the half court is the best its been all season. The player rotation has been established for most of the tournament, which has provided consistency. The in-bound plays after timeouts have been exceptional. It’s clear his team is bought in, and he has inspired them to play with the utmost confidence.
If the Wolfpack win tonight, obviously the seat is as cold as ice. He will have done what no coach has done since 1987. Who cares what the team played like in the regular season…he’ll probably get an extension, and no one will complain.
If the Wolfpack lose tonight, despite one of the best runs in the history of the ACC Tournament, Keatts will still have only led NC State to the NCAA Tournament twice in seven years, which you could argue is good enough reason for dismissal. (Despite that reality, I can’t see Boo Corrigan parting ways with Keatts after this ACC Tournament run if the Pack happens to lose. Maybe I’m wrong.)
People handle pressure in different ways. Some people crumble, while others soar when the heat is turned up.
Through 4 games of the 2024 ACC Tournament, Keatts has embraced the pressure, and done his best work to date.
NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.
Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.
In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.
Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.
This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.
O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.
He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.
NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).
Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.
ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.
Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.
Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.
Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.
Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.
Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)
At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.
Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.
After this run, probably NIT bid, I would give him another year to see if he can make it to the NCAAT. If he can’t, then adios.