wolfpackjb said:

---

TriangleDreamer said:

---

wolfpackjb said:

---

stratmaster48 said:

---

We're a completely different team if Manny hadn't gotten hurt. Y'all need to chill.

---

I agree to an extent. I also think its reasonable to expect a team not to completely unravel after losing one player, especially in year 5 of a coaches tenure. I think that's probably more the issue many on here have

---

• Lost a major player who was one of the top big men in the league in Manny
• Likely lost another player in Gannt who was expected to play a significant role
• Have a PG who seems checked out for some reason
• Have no on-court leadership from veteran players
• Have a team where two-thirds of the players are still very raw and inexperienced

That's an incredibly tough combination of factors to overcome... yet we have been in every single game. So while I'm discouraged by the losses, I'm encouraged that this team has potential to get it going.

---

So you agree with me that losing Manny hasn't caused all of these problems, and also he would not have fixed all of them haha if he doesn't have veteran leaders, and if 2/3 of his roster is raw and inexperienced, that's kinda directly the fault of Keatts, since he is the one who is in charge of putting the roster together. I like a few of our pieces, but we don't seem to function too well as a team, at least not for long stretches of a game. But I do genuinely like Keatts as a person and wish he would succeed, and it's no fun continuing to make the 1.5 hour drive home after a loss, so I do indeed hope they get it going!

---

Yes, I agree losing Manny was very significant but not the only issue this team faces. There definitely is lots of individual effort put forth by most of the team but seems to be a lack of team synergy. As someone else noted, the whole is not better than the parts... which is a big problem. Is that a coaching issues? Is it a chemistry issue? Is there one or two players not happy/bought-in that is disrupting the flow? Is it simply inexperience? I don't know but hope whatever is the underlying cause gets sorted soon.

I'm not looking to blame or to praise KK. Based on what I've seen so far, I believe he's the best combination of personality, values, and skillset we've had in a head coach since V. That doesn't mean he will succeed at the job, and he definitely has a stubborn streak about many things that may cause his downfall. But I do sincerely hope he gets the ship righted and is here for a long time.

I want Keatts to succeed as much as the next guy - he's uber charismatic and is a fantastic face for the program. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't extremely concerned. The team is currently 120th in KenPom, which is the lowest ranking since 2002 (since KenPom started), with a sub-200 defense for the first time in the same period. We're ranked as the 7th-worst team in all of the Power 6 conferences, and the team's KenPom ranking has steadily decreased year-over-year since KK's first year. I get that he has had to endure a lot of misfortune, but at a certain point, you have to see some improvement. Instead, the program is trending in in the complete wrong direction in year five. The Wright State loss was the worst of the Keatts era and not having Manny doesn't even come close to excusing that.

The most concerning part to me is that the team has had the exact same issue every year under Keatts: failure to run a structured offense in the halfcourt, and failure to prevent other teams from scoring in the halfcourt. It's easy to look at problems with the personnel on a surface level, but when you see the same issues plague the team year in and year out, that's a fundamental coaching problem.

I've very much been a Keatts optimist the past few years, but the improvement just isn't there and there are no peripherals suggesting that it will come. If things don't get better over the course of ACC play I'll have a difficult time being on board with KK lasting past this offseason.

Great road win. Good job, Coach.

Justin, could you translate that for us?

Westwolf said:

---

Justin, could you translate that for us?

---

That's Brandon White with Dillingham. Major 2023 target for us! Check his attire

wolfpackjb said:

---

Westwolf said:

---

Justin, could you translate that for us?

---

That's Brandon White with Dillingham. Major 2023 target for us! Check his attire

---

His only future cast is from Jamie Shaw and he predicts Brandon white to us. Brandon is still hoping for that unc offer but never hurts to see a recruit wear red

I certainly don't make decisions but I'm personally giving CKK through the '23-'24 season. NCAA cloud gone, Dillingham (hopefully) here, and we can see where recruiting and on court performance are. I've lived through Les, Herb, Sidney, and what's his name so what's a couple more years?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951965-2022-nba-mock-draft-a-new-no-1-pick-and-full-2-round-predictions

Mock draft having Seabron to Memphis with the 28th pick in the first round

Honestly if it doesn't come from Sam Vennice at the athletic or the draft express guys that work for ESPN now, then I don't trust it. They are the most locked in guys when it comes to nba draft. Seabron isn't even on Sam's top 100 list. I think Seabron is great, but the nba is about shooting now and he has to shoot at least 30% from 3 to be a first round pick. Everything else is there.

Good to hear. I think it could take just one breakthrough season to help these local guys see that Unc is the past, a dinosaur, and State is the future, with a dynamic young coach. Smith is thriving, Seabron is thriving…
But I fear KK may not have that season in time. This year is bad, and next year, if Seabron leaves, could be even worse.

FlockaWolf said:

---

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951965-2022-nba-mock-draft-a-new-no-1-pick-and-full-2-round-predictions

Mock draft having Seabron to Memphis with the 28th pick in the first round

---

This is the first legit mock with Seabron in the first. Wasserman is generally pretty in-tune with NBA scouts

I worry about a roster next year that does not include Hellems (graduation), or Seabron (moves on to try and make some money). And even Bates is a question mark.

How confident are we that next year's roster will be upgraded significantly?

Westwolf said:

---

I worry about a roster next year that does not include Hellems (graduation), or Seabron (moves on to try and make some money). And even Bates is a question mark.

How confident are we that next year's roster will be upgraded significantly?

---

At this point I'm personally expecting Seabron and Bates gone. A lot will probably depend on the transfer portal this offseason, and it's not hard to envision Baby T becoming a 20 PPG scorer next year. Improvement from Hayes, Pass, Ebe, Morsell and the addition of Gantt will be critical

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Honestly if it doesn't come from Sam Vennice at the athletic or the draft express guys that work for ESPN now, then I don't trust it. They are the most locked in guys when it comes to nba draft. Seabron isn't even on Sam's top 100 list. I think Seabron is great, but the nba is about shooting now and he has to shoot at least 30% from 3 to be a first round pick. Everything else is there.

---

Sams podcast had him as the biggest riser lately and he was tweeting about him last night

Packfan8 said:

---

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Honestly if it doesn't come from Sam Vennice at the athletic or the draft express guys that work for ESPN now, then I don't trust it. They are the most locked in guys when it comes to nba draft. Seabron isn't even on Sam's top 100 list. I think Seabron is great, but the nba is about shooting now and he has to shoot at least 30% from 3 to be a first round pick. Everything else is there.

---

Sams podcast had him as the biggest riser lately and he was tweeting about him last night

---

Haven't heard the last draft podcast. I'll have to check it out . Thanks

Dennis Smith III said:

---

Westwolf said:

---

I worry about a roster next year that does not include Hellems (graduation), or Seabron (moves on to try and make some money). And even Bates is a question mark.

How confident are we that next year's roster will be upgraded significantly?

---

At this point I'm personally expecting Seabron and Bates gone. A lot will probably depend on the transfer portal this offseason, and it's not hard to envision Baby T becoming a 20 PPG scorer next year. Improvement from Hayes, Pass, Ebe, Morsell and the addition of Gantt will be critical

---

I think we can be good next season if KK hits the transfer portal hard and gets some impact players. We are really missing Gantt this season. He fits KK's system really well

Dennis Smith III said:

---

FlockaWolf said:

---

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951965-2022-nba-mock-draft-a-new-no-1-pick-and-full-2-round-predictions

Mock draft having Seabron to Memphis with the 28th pick in the first round

---

This is the first legit mock with Seabron in the first. Wasserman is generally pretty in-tune with NBA scouts

---

He was in Draft Net weeks ago

He said legit

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Packfan8 said:

---

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Honestly if it doesn't come from Sam Vennice at the athletic or the draft express guys that work for ESPN now, then I don't trust it. They are the most locked in guys when it comes to nba draft. Seabron isn't even on Sam's top 100 list. I think Seabron is great, but the nba is about shooting now and he has to shoot at least 30% from 3 to be a first round pick. Everything else is there.

---

Sams podcast had him as the biggest riser lately and he was tweeting about him last night

---

Haven't heard the last draft podcast. I'll have to check it out . Thanks

---

Sam has Seabron 49th to the Clippers in his new mock the morning. Random but interesting, he has Lee from Davidson 47th, remember being impressed with him in NIT game last year.

Westwolf said:

---

How confident are we that next year's roster will be upgraded significantly?

---

Objectively speaking I don't see how it's possible. (Assuming Seabron doesn't return )

wolfpacker7 said:

---

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Packfan8 said:

---

Jaywolf27 said:

---

Honestly if it doesn't come from Sam Vennice at the athletic or the draft express guys that work for ESPN now, then I don't trust it. They are the most locked in guys when it comes to nba draft. Seabron isn't even on Sam's top 100 list. I think Seabron is great, but the nba is about shooting now and he has to shoot at least 30% from 3 to be a first round pick. Everything else is there.

---

Sams podcast had him as the biggest riser lately and he was tweeting about him last night

---

Haven't heard the last draft podcast. I'll have to check it out . Thanks

---

Sam has Seabron 49th to the Clippers in his new mock the morning. Random but interesting, he has Lee from Davidson 47th, remember being impressed with him in NIT game last year.

---

Lee is really good. 50/40/90 guy last year which never happens in college basketball.

I know NBA players love the players that can eurostep but I just can't see Seabron doing well in the NBA with his lack of shooting. I guess other players have made up for it with elite defense

Seabron is as good as gone though. I would put him at like a 90% chance of gone and I would say Manny has a like 75% chance of being gone next season. KK has to hit the Portal HARD

Unless Manny thinks he's been mistreated (made to play damaged, disrespected while sitting out, or not getting the best rehab care) why would he leave? What contract is he going to get after 3 shoulder issues and without proving he can stay healthy for a year?

NCSU1995 said:

---

Unless Manny thinks he's been mistreated (made to play damaged, disrespected while sitting out, or not getting the best rehab care) why would he leave? What contract is he going to get after 3 shoulder issues and without proving he can stay healthy for a year?

---

He's pretty old at this point and would normally be graduating, he might just want to go make money overseas at this point (at the least)

We have arguably the best player in the ACC, Dereon Seabron, and yet we are looking to finish near or actually last place in the conference.

You can't expect to compete with the Clemsons of the world right away. Give Keatts time. Be patient.
Next year will be a rebuilding year, so in year six we may miss the NCAAT, but in year seven, watch out ACC!

Will Cam Hayes transfer?
He wants to play point guard, but lacks the ball handling, vision, feel, and decision making to play that position. Plus, in what would be his senior year, he will be replaced by Dillingham.
In the meantime, he will have to share minutes with Smith, Morsell, Pass, and LJ Thomas. Not to mention the other wings Keatts will bring in.
So, why would he stay at State rather than transfer?

With Keatts' history on plugging together rosters at Hargrave, it's a mystery why he's tried to rely so much on high school recruiting in his time here when the portal is the low hanging fruit to impact your roster immediately. You can't build a culture with high school kids when they don't stay and end up in the portal anyway. Quit making it harder than it had to be and go get dudes. They're out there and don't need to develop. He has no choice this year, go the portal or 2023 will be it for him. I hope he figures it out, but need to acquire talent and have to get better defensively. Quickly.

TopsailWolf said:

---

With Keatts' history on plugging together rosters at Hargrave, it's a mystery why he's tried to rely so much on high school recruiting in his time here when the portal is the low hanging fruit to impact your roster immediately. You can't build a culture with high school kids when they don't stay and end up in the portal anyway. Quit making it harder than it had to be and go get dudes. They're out there and don't need to develop. He has no choice this year, go the portal or 2023 will be it for him. I hope he figures it out, but need to acquire talent and have to get better defensively. Quickly.

---

Well, I think the concept of the portal is still new. He was fairly active in the grad transfer market when that was a thing. And it's not like he didn't this last offseason but we just uncharacteristically lost out of a ton of kids. I think things will be a lot different this upcoming offseason(assuming KK lasts that long).

I really hope Quan sticks around. I can see him becoming very frustrated and leaving after one season. But that kid is special.

Also suprised Ross and Pass aren't getting more time. Ross can't be worse that Gibson. Gibson has looked as lost out there as he did when he first stepped on the court last season. I haven't seen him do a single positive thing on the court. I feel for the kid but he is just cannot play at this level.

Who is Quan? Terquavion?

FlockaWolf said:

---

Who is Quan? Terquavion?

---

Yes, sorry I was referring to Quavion

leaving to go where? He has all the shots he can take here.