Kevin Keatts: "It Has To Be A Team Effort"

NC State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts met with the media on Friday ahead of the team’s matchup against North Carolina to discuss his roster, the Tar Heels, and much more.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

“Bacot is playing outstanding basketball... he’s tough, he’s a tough matchup for anybody in the country. We have to really do a good job on him.”

“They are running their offense through him more... and those guards are good enough to take over the game late.”

“We’ve done a great job this year, but at Georgia Tech I don’t know what happened. They really dominated us on the glass.”

“We have to do a really good job... it has to be a team effort. We have to box him out.”

“Ebe will be a game-time decision.”

“We’ve played really good basketball in this four game stretch.”

“We’ve done all the little things... I’ve had a lot of guys step up and play their roles, done a great job. We have to continue to get better.”

“I like the growth I’ve seen in this team.”

“Our extra step was after Clemson. We just weren’t tough enough.”

“They are electric in transition, they score in bunches... the biggest thing we’ve focused on is trying to stay solid and not give up touchdowns... you turn the ball over and they turn it into two or three points really quick.”

“We’ve focused more on this is a great opportunity again, another Quad one opportunity in front of us. Not to diminish the proximity or the rivalry... I think our teams will handle it better instead of taking more history, but more in the moment.”

“We’re so close.  When you have good programs close by you and are in the ACC and the history and traditions... of course they know. They listen, they talk. A lot have grown up playing against each other in AAU.”

“I’m worried about D.J. Burns getting into foul trouble against everybody... without Dusan and Ebe’s situation... you can be limited in the frontcourt... am I worried, yes but it’s not atypical of what’s going on.”

“I think it’s understanding roles. When we lost Dusan and Jack Clark, I didn’t know how we’d respond to that.  Jack is a pick-and-pop four-man and we don’t have that on our roster... we’ve been able to win games with those [other] guys doing it a little differently than when Jack Clark played.”

“We’ve been able to, so far in our season, handle distractions well. Typically you don’t get that.  I think some of that is the maturity of our guys.  Even a guy like Dusan, being out, is still giving to our team. His voice is loud.”

“I think you guys have had a chance to talk to Jarkel.  He has a great personality. He’s just a good old country guy... he has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. He cares for people... very seldom do you get a guy who can lead on the court and off the court... he should get a lot of credit for the defense we play because he’s at the point of attack.”

“D.J. is really more effective if we can get him 25 or less minutes, maybe 27, but if you ask him, he can play 40... that’s the only thing we disagree on.  We agree on a lot of things.  He thinks he can play 40, I think he’s better at 25, maybe 27 on a good night.”

“[Dusan] hasn’t been in practice at all, he’s still under the care of the trainer. He is progressing, just not ready to play... I don’t know how much running, but he’s on his feet.”

“[Jack Clark] is an indefinite.  It’s one of those situations where it could be three days or two weeks. Anytime you’re dealing with a groin or hamstring, it doesn’t take but one bad movement to set you back a little bit... maybe we’ll start him on Saturday, who knows?”

“I love the fact that L.J. is starting to get better and more comfortable. It’s tough as a freshman to be able to play in the ACC and college basketball... he’s had some great minutes for us.  In the last four games we’ve been able to develop our bench more.”