LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
Several NC State players met with the media after the Wolfpack's 76-64 home win over Louisville.
NC State sophomore guard Terquavion Smith
On how he felt about tonight’s game...
“Yes, you’re right. There's no easy games in the ACC. They are always good games, you
always got to play hard every night. So, that’s what we did tonight to close the game out and get
a good win for us.”
On making some shots in the second half after a rough first half shooting...
“I would say my teammates believing in me. Encouraging me to keep shooting. In the beginning
it was my fault, but I took that positive energy and I ran with it.”
On what Coach Keatts said to the team at halftime...
“You’re not playing hard enough. We didn’t play hard enough in the first half. Luckily we just
came out on top after halftime.”
NC State senior guard Casey Morsell
On sparking the team when he starts making three-pointers...
“Yeah, I think all of us get the team going. With T and Jarkel, we just needed a spark, and I'm
glad I was the spark for tonight. But every other night it could be a new guy. We all care about
each other. We all want to see each other win. I'm glad I could get the ball rolling tonight.”
On his thoughts on Louisville...
“They’re a good team. Their record doesn’t describe how good they are or could be. We were
down after our first two ACC games so it was good for us to pick up a win headed into the
break.”
On NC State’s 17-0 run in the second half...
“We executed. We know we need to find each other for shots and guard at a high level. If we
can do that for a full 40 minutes we’ll be ready to play.”
On the halftime mood...
“We were lacking energy. We were allowing a lot of second-chance points, they were
outworking us. We just had to match their energy and match their toughness.”
On what he’s learned so far this season...
“We’ve learned that we’ve got to be consistent on both ends of the floor. It’s going to take effort
to finish possessions. Every team that we play from here on out is going to be tough.”
On the importance of time off and resting...
“I’ve got to stay sharp and make sure I’m not out of shape. I’m going to watch a lot of film. It’s a
good point for me to get my mind right and get ready for the thick of conference play.”
NC State graduate forward DJ Burns
On NC State having all five starters score in double figures...
“It just speaks to the team we have this year. I feel like a lot of people still compare us to last
year and we’re going to go out there every night and prove them wrong. This is a new team, this
is a new way, and we’ve got new coaches so we're going to go after them.”
On his thoughts on the game tonight...
“There’s a lot of room for growth but a lot of good things happened. I’m going to take the good
with the bad, watch the film, and I’ll decide on it.”
On how he’s holding up with the increased playing time...
“I’m holding up well. I don’t think much about how many minutes I’m playing but Coach [Keatts]
is trusting in me (to play them) so I’m going to try and take over for him.”
On the importance of time off and resting...
“It won’t necessarily be time off but I’ll definitely take time to see family. It’s only like a two or
three day break, but it won’t really be a break. I’ll stay in the gym but it will be good to see my
family.”
On the mood at halftime...
“The thing about this team is that we’re going to stay up. When we’re down it’s easy to get
frustrated but we have veterans and guys who are able to pick guys up when we get frustrated
and keep our mindset on winning the game instead of personal performance. That’s what we’re
doing as a team right now.”
On the 17-0 run in the second half...
“It’s supposed to be like that. We know we can be a team that performs at a high level if we stay
consistent. If we stay consistent we feel like we can play with any team in the country so we feel
like we should go out and kick every team’s butt.”
On the issues NC State had in the first half...
“We just didn’t have the energy that we needed. We let ourselves down from a culture
standpoint, everybody wasn’t cheering on the bench and there was some complaining. Coach
Keatts does a good job of nipping that in the bud.”
On what Coach Keatts was like at halftime...
“I wouldn’t say calm. He definitely gave us the fire we needed and sometimes we need that. He
lets us have it in the locker room at halftime if we come in lacking energy or not doing things
we’re supposed to. He's going to call us out. He’s going to look you in the eyes and say ‘do
better for me,’ so we’re going to do it for him.”
On his mood when the score was close...
“It’s easy to get frustrated but you’ve got to keep your head up and you can’t complain. Things
will work themselves out and you’ve got to stay consistent. Keep your head down and keep
working, don’t look up.”
On Coach Keatts’ intensity...
“You saw it in the first half, we didn’t perform to his liking or the level we can play at. With his
guidance we came out and got a win.”
On Terquavion Smith...
“Once my boy gets going it’s hard to stop him. We’re going to support him and we’re going to let
him ride every time.”
On starting 0-2 in ACC play and needing this win...
“Being 0-2 it’s easy to drop your head but you’ve got to keep your head up and learn from your
mistakes so that we can get it done.”