NC State Basketball
WATCH: Keatts, Burns, Horne & O’Connell Talk After Elite Eight Win (transcript)
Published
7 months agoon
NC State’s Keven Keatts, DJ Burns, DJ Horne, and Michael O’Connell met with the media after the Wolfpack’s 76-64 win over Duke in the Elite Eight last night. You can watch the Press Conference below, and the transcript is underneath.
Kevin Keatts
First of all, I want to say this, man, God is good. These young men in the locker room from Day 1 have kind of believed in everything that I’ve preached to them and everything that they talked about. At the beginning of the year, we talked about what are your goals, and I think to a man everyone said ‘We want to win the ACC.’ Check. What’s your other goal? It’s obviously go on and compete for a National Championship, and we’re still alive for that opportunity. It means a lot. Our school deserves it. Our players have really worked hard. The fans deserve it. We’ve done a really good job. When I say we, I always say we. I mean, these young men in the locker room through all the adversity that we have we went through, up and downs of winning games and losing games. They never lost their faith and stayed together. It means a lot. It really does. By the way, congratulations to our Women’s team too for making the Final Four. That’s really special.
I’ve had some really good teams. For us, I would say something about all of my teams are really special. These guys are so special. What is it, 9 now? 9 elimination games or you go home. They’re tremendous. You ought to see us every day. They make it easy for me to wake up every morning and come to practice and work hard with them because of who they are as personalities. I would say this, I have learned more basketball from these guys than I learned in my entire career, because they know how to work. They’re great people. They work hard. It’s hard to say if it’s my best. You would have to ask somebody else, but I’m sure having a lot of fun with this group.
I’m sitting here, and I’m blessed to be here. I’ll tell you what we did. We have broken the postseason up into different segments. When we left to go to D.C., we said we wanted to win D.C. We won D.C. Then we went to Pitt. We say we want to win Pitt. Now obviously in Texas, we won Texas. It gets to a point when you are winning games, and I think our guys now are expecting to win. It’s beautiful to watch. Our defense has been tremendous down the stretch. It’s been so great. At halftime, we talked about that it was 27-21. The difference in the game. Neither team was scoring. They had taken 9 free-throws. We had taken 3. We made 2. They made 9. I talked about, ‘Hey, if you can come out and duplicate your defense in the 2nd half, we will find a way to score, and we were great in the 2nd half too. It’s a miracle run, but we’re not surprised. We don’t come into this tournament saying, ‘Hey, let’s just try to be here.’ We came here to win it, and we did. Now we have to move on to our next stage.
I think the biggest blessing is they’ve stayed true to who they are. Obviously, when you go through a season, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs. #1, you have to win every type of game to advance, but there are going to be some emotions. We started off 5-1 in our conference. We lost our last 4 games. There’s going to always be some adversity. These guys have strung together games. They’ve never wavered in their belief. They’ve stuck together. We go by our ARTT. I talk about that all the time. ARTT: accountability, relentless, toughness, and together. When things go bad well, we lean on that. I can’t say enough about them. You ought to see them. These guys are really locked in. They’re really a close-knit bunch. The memories they’re creating is going to last a lifetime, and that is what makes it really special. Those are the blessings that I see.
The focus (how he can tell they expect two win). It’s weird, because having a day in between almost seems like it’s something wrong because we’re so into what we did in the ACC Tournament, winning 5 games in 5 days. They’re locked in. They understand. I think a couple of people asked me that were around the team that hadn’t been around the team, ‘Are you guys always that loose?’, and we are. I’ve learned more new rap songs than I ever thought I could imagine, but as I said the last time, you know, we mix it up now. We play a lot of gospel music too, which they scream just as loud when they do that part, of which I’m glad that they know those songs. It’s a loose bunch. They believe in one another. They trust in one another. We had some adversity in this game, and there were times you thought Duke had the momentum, and we could have folded a little bit, but we absolutely didn’t.
We missed a lot of chippies in the 1st half. We left a lot of things on the rim. I counted myself about 5 missed layups. My assistant coaches were losing it. I was, like, ‘Relax, we’re going to be fine. It’s not like they’re setting the world on fire offensively either.’ We talked about defending. We talked about staying to the scouting report, and the ball will go in in the 2nd half. One of the things, DJ Burns didn’t play a lot because he got his 2nd foul, so we knew we had an advantage throwing the ball inside to him. They decided, which some teams do, not to double-team him, and obviously he shot 13 for 19 and had 29 points.
Typically I play with 2 Forwards, a Ben (Middlebrooks) and a Mo (Diarra) together. When DJ hit the Transfer Portal, I was like, ‘Man, I got to change.’ He changed me. I’ve never thrown the ball inside as much as I have in the last couple of years. Great touch. Great footwork. Last year one of his issues, he could pass the ball, but he didn’t have a great assist-to-turnover ratio, and now he is doing that. It’s changed the way I look at post guys now. There’s probably only 3 of those in the country, and I know we’re going to play a really good one next week at some point. I’m looking for some more guys that I can throw the ball inside to. I’ve now found out that I can have a mix of throwing the ball to a post guy and having guard play. I mean, tremendous personality. I’ve recruited him since basically when he went to Tennessee out of high school. And obviously when he went into the Portal, we looked at everybody in the Portal, and we needed some size. He fits the bill. I’m glad he’s here. I’m glad he’s on my team. I don’t know how you guard him. I’m excited, and I hope nobody figures that out.
Michael O’Connell
I think the biggest thing was sticking together. Obviously, things aren’t always going to go well or things are going to go wrong, but for us to stick together through the tough times and even the great times is going to be huge. Ben made a great play (After the Technical). It shifted momentum quickly, which would have helped for us to keep the lead and keep us going.
I think it’s pretty cool that none of us played together last year. Since the beginning of the season, we’ve been able to build this chemistry and build this bond and friendship, especially off the court. Basketball just brings you together. You all have a common goal, and that’s winning. And you want to figure out a way to do it together. I think as you try and go through that process, you just grow closer together.
Just stick with the process (what he would say to 10-year old self). Obviously, when I was younger, there were times you didn’t want to go workout or play sports. You just wanted to hang out with your friends or whatever. My parents kept on me and made sure I was working out. Obviously, I’m glad I did that. It definitely helped me get here and to where I am at this moment. Yeah, just stick with it and just try to enjoy it. Enjoy it along the way. That’s really the biggest thing.
He’s (Keatts) had confidence in me since Day 1 when he contacted me in the Portal. Just to play for a coach like this who just has faith in you and pushes you to be your best every day. When you make mistakes, he holds you accountable. When you are doing well, he will compliment you and keep pushing you to do better. It means the world to be playing for him. It makes the game so much easier when you are out there.
I think just throughout this journey everyone has made huge plays. Whether in the moment it might not seem big, whether it’s just a deflection or steal, but it changes the trajectory of our run or the game. One play I always go back to his block (DJ Horne) came off the backboard, I thought that was huge. There are plays consistently being made by everyone that might not be covered or might not be in the stat sheet or might not be all over social media, but everyone has been making huge plays down this run, and that’s why I think we’re getting these wins, and it’s been big for us. Obviously he (Burns) is playing unbelievable. Both these dudes are. Mo [Diarra] has been killing it. Casey [Morsell] is. Everyone has been playing and has had such a big impact. When you have a lot of guys coming on the court and contributing right away, you can’t really pick the special moment. They’re all special in their own way.
DJ Burns
I would say in tough situations, you rise to the level of our training, and our coaches well prepared us.
I don’t know. I guess it’s how I was raised (the joy he has). I was raised in a happy environment. I try to take that with me everywhere I go.
Well, honestly, I wouldn’t really say I wasn’t too worried about it (having two fouls). Going into halftime, I just knew that the main thing I was thinking, honestly, was that I missed a few shots towards the end, so they weren’t going to double-team me in the 2nd half. I just decided when I came back in to take advantage.
I would say basketball is a sport that naturally brings people together. All of my life-long friends, I would say about 95 percent of them are basketball players. Man, I still communicate with people I played AAU with in 8th grade. Basketball is just something that just always brings people together. That’s why we love it.
At this point I would tell him (10-year old self), don’t change anything, man. Just continue to be yourself. It’s going to work out.
I would say, man, he (Keattss) kind of changed the trajectory of what I had going on. I was up in Winthrop and didn’t really know how this was going to play out when I put my name in that Portal. Honestly, I didn’t even at first think I was coming here. For this, it’s just an absolute blessing, and I think that man needs a lot more respect still.
DJ Horne
I just kind of rely on my work, trust the game plan, and fall back on my teammates too to help lift me up.
It’s definitely big for our program. Seeing the girls have success definitely motivates us. I would say we worry about our team right now, and just trying to make the best of what we got going right now, and taking each game at a time.
I just think that’s the beauty of basketball. You know you can build these connections, build these memories. I just say personally, I’m just glad to be doing this in my last year of college basketball.
I would just tell my 10-year-old self to just stay down and just understand that everybody has their moment. It comes at different times in different shapes, forms, and fashions.
I will just say Coach gave me an opportunity to come back home and play basketball, and the confidence that he instills in me every day allows me to go out there and do what I do. Just to know that all the ups and downs we had in our season, and when it could have been easy to quit, I felt like he was the main one that kept us all together and kept the outlook on our whole season very positive and gave us a lot of confidence going into that ACC Tournament.
Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.
NC State Basketball
WATCH: Middlebrooks, Taylor & Huntley-Hatfield After NC State’s Win Over Presbyterian
Published
2 days agoon
November 9, 2024After NC State’s 81-72 win over Presbyterian tonight, we were able to get interviews with Ben Middlebrooks, Jayden Taylor and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield.
NC State Basketball
WATCH: Kevin Keatts’ Postgame Press Conference After NC State’s Win Over Presbyterian (with transcript)
Published
2 days agoon
November 9, 2024NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media for his postgame press conference after the Wolfpack’s 81-72 win over Presbyterian tonight. You can watch the video ABOVE, and read the transcript BELOW.
Give Presbyterian a lot of credit, man. They were really scrappy. And we knew they’re coming in.
He’s done a really good job with his team, been there six years. I even went back last year and watched him go to Vanderbilt and win. So they did a good job.
And when you look at it, man, I tell you what, (Kory) Mincy was really good. We threw a little bit of everything at him. He scored in every way, 28 points.
But I thought we did some really good things. This team right now, we’re really passing the ball. You look at our assists, and it’s pretty good.
We had 18 tonight on 31 main field goals. We had 12 steals. And so we’re getting everything that we want out of it.
We’re gonna continue to build. I like where we’re at in game number two. And I just wanna keep building on it.
But I thought we did some good things. You look at JT (Jayden Taylor), it was good for him to score the basketball. He had a career high in steals in five.
Now, we gotta talk about his five turnovers. We’ll have a conversation about that. But I thought they were really good.
I thought both Brandon (Huntley-Hatfield) and Ben (Middlebrooks) complimented each other. You look at it, and I didn’t plan this out, but both were around 20 minutes a game. And you look at it, 11 points, and then what did Ben have, 16.
And I thought both of them were really good. One was good in the first half, I thought Ben was good in the second half.
As far as Ben’s play, you talked about the last game after the practice that he had. What do you see from him being able to score the basketball?
He’s an energy guy. And when he doesn’t play with energy, I think he’s just okay sometimes. But when he plays with energy, he’s really good.
Brandon’s probably a little bit more skilled. Even though, just so you know, Ben’s 100% from the three-point line, just so you know that. But I thought he did a great job.
We talked about it all week, denying the reversals from the top of the key. And I thought he did a really good job. But I know what he did for us in the second half.
Does he have the green light in front of him?
Right now, right now. I mean, it’s hard to deny a guy that’s shooting one for one. He’s 100% on the year, so he does have it right now.
How do you feel about the rebounding effort and how they competed off the glass?
We do, we try to finish possessions with physical rebounds and so we can get out and run. Once again, the 27 fast break points is pretty good.
So we’re scoring the way we want to score. We’re getting out and we’re playing fast and we’re doing a good job. But we’ve really concentrated on rebounding the ball and getting the ball out to our ball handlers.
And what else can I say about Michael (O’Connell)? Eight assists and one turnover. I mean, pretty good. I mean, he knows how to deliver the basketball.
What was the game plan on fighting through those screens that Presbyterian kept throwing at you all night long?
Give them credit. He does a great job with those screens. And we decided at times to fight through both of them and then switch to the last one, but they do a really good job.
And they’re good at it. They’re very efficient at what they do. They’ll run the shot clock down and then Mincy gets the ball and Mincy goes one-on-one.
And if he’s playing really well, it’s going to be a tough night for you. I thought we did a good job and I say that, but he still had 28 points.
Ben Middlebrooks’ personality
He’s been around college basketball for so long that he sees the ups and downs.
He understands the aspect of it, never taking it, never getting too high, never getting too low. And he understands that what’s important is our team winning. And that’s what we talked about.
So I think he loves to smile. He loves to give you great energy. And if he’s not looking that way, I think something’s wrong with himself.
Jayden Taylor in the preseason game and the first game for a veteran guy, he just didn’t seem like himself, really. Did you take him aside? He looked more aggressive.
Yeah, I pointed to that bench.
You see that right there? It’s like, hey, no, I’m just kidding. No, he didn’t have a good game. He didn’t have the pop in the preseason.
And then now he’s more aggressive. He’s doing things like him and Michael O’Connell. They are really, really good players that played on an ACC championship team.
And we need those guys to be good, and he was really good tonight. But I just, I let him play. Sometimes we, as coaches, you can say too much.
Just let guys get out of it, get them back in the gym. See the ball going home, and they become really good basketball players.
Has there been a point of emphasis for him to kind of attack the rim more?
Yeah, and he settles sometimes.
So we talked about driving the basketball. One of my keys is paint touches. I wanted to play inside out, whether we threw the ball inside to post guys, or we drove the ball, and we got 48 points in the paint.
What do you think about that, when you were doing different rotations, you had seven seniors.
It always helped when you got seven seniors. I like our bunch.
Then what I want everybody to think about is it’s so early. You’re gonna look around college basketball, and I don’t even know anybody’s scores today. There might be some mind-boggling scores, because it takes everyone so long to get going.
My three freshmen are gonna be good, but they were not ready for a team that ran all of that action today. When you play those older guys, they know. They’ve been around basketball.
They understand how to play. And so, guys, we’re in an era of, I got eight new guys, and most teams are new. So you’re gonna see some crazy scores early, some mid-major teams that’s gonna play well, some high majors that don’t.
But it’s better when you got your older guys out there as you’re going through that stuff.
Are you comfortable with where this team is defensively two games into the season?
Well, I like what we’re forcing. I think we had nine steals the other day and 12 tonight.
I think we’re playing at a high level. My biggest thing is when our guys just play hard, and we’ll figure it out. We’re gonna continue to get better, but I do like some good things that we’re doing.
You guys always kind of come back and strike back a little bit. How do you guys feel like you handled that type of pressure?
I thought both Stewart and Mincy were very good.
I know they guys played really, really well. And Mincy, I loved it. I mean, he was active, he was talking trash.
I just thought this team, because they had some veteran guys that’s been around, they didn’t play in the NCAA, but they played postseason last year. They got five guys that know how to play.
I knew they weren’t going to lay down.
When a player is engaging in trash talk like that, how do you kind of keep your guys calm and poised, not engaging back?
Just play. I mean, it’s gonna happen.
Our guys talk trash too a little bit. I was the biggest trash talker when I played too, but there wasn’t a bunch of cameras around. Matter of fact, I don’t even know if there was one camera around.
So you can get away with it, but I just tell our guys to be careful. God bless you guys.
NC State Basketball
NC State 81 Presbyterian 72: BY THE NUMBERS
Published
2 days agoon
November 8, 2024NC State defeated Presbyterian 81-72 this evening in the Lenovo Center, improving to 2-0. Here’s a look at the game by the numbers.
The Wolfpack shot the ball extremely well tonight, hitting 55.4% from the field, and 36.8% from three. While NC State shot better than Presbyterian, I’m sure Kevin Keatts wasn’t pleased with the way his team played defense. Presbyterian shot 50% from the field and 33% from three.
Shooting the ball better than the other team is obviously the most statistical category that leads to victory.
The 2nd most important statistical factor in winning is winning the turnover battle. NC State turned Presbyterian 15 times, and committed 12 of their own. As a result, the Wolfpack scored 19 points off of turnovers, compared to Presbyterian’s 13.
Coming in 3rd is Offensive Rebounding percentage. 2nd chance points is a key factor in putting a W in the win column. NC State lost this statistical category this evening. Presbyterian had 11 offensive rebounds, which led to 15 second chance points. NC State had 10 offensive rebounds, which led to 12 second chance points.
The 4th statistical factor that leads to victory is the free throw line. NC State had 19 free throw attempts, compared to Presbyterian’s 16. Presbyterian shot 68% from the charity stripe, while the Wolfpack shot 63%.
NC State was unselfish once again, with 18 assists on 31 field goals.
Senior Guard Jayden Taylor led the Wolfpack in scoring and steals, with 19 points (7-14 FG) and 5 steals.
Senior Guard/Forward Dontrez Styles led NC State in rebounds and blocks, with 7 boards and 2 blocks. He also had 9 points (4-9 FG).
Senior Guard Michael O’Connell led the Wolfpack with 8 assists, and only turned the ball over 1 time. That’s outstanding. He also had 11 points, shooting 4 of 7 from the field, and 2 of 4 from three.
Senior Forward Ben Middlebrooks came off the bench like a firecracker, scoring 16 points (6-7 FG/1-1 3PT) in only 19 minutes of play. What makes those numbers all the more impressive, is the fact that he scored all 16 of his points in the 2nd half.
Senior Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield had 11 points (5-6 FG) and 6 rebounds.
Senior Guard Marcus Hill had 5 assists and only 1 turnover. To start the season, the Wolfpack is basically starting two Point Guards in O’Connell and Hill. Between the two of them, they had 13 assists and 2 turnovers. That’s impressive.
NC State didn’t cover the spread this evening. They were 21.5-point favorites, and won by 9. The Total went Over. The Total was 152.5, and the two teams combined to score 153 points. That was cutting it close.
The Wolfpack will be back in action next Wednesday night against Coastal Carolina at 7pm on ACC Network Extra.