NOTEBOOK: Team Effort Needed Against Clemson
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media today and touched on a variety of topics, ranging from Thursday's matchup against Clemson to Shaun Kirk transferring to UNC Pembroke.
Team Effort Needed Against Clemson
NC State opened ACC play on December 30th at Clemson, and just 11 days later the Tigers and Wolfpack will square off again, this time in Raleigh.
"To me, it seems like it's been four weeks, and I know it hasn't been," Kevin Keatts stated. "When you play in the ACC and have two road games and come home... it seems that way.
"We are excited. We didn't play well [at Clemson]. When you look at our guys, two guys in that game played well, which was Omer and Braxton. I don't think the rest of us did a good job in that game. We're a little better team, but we have to play better on both ends of the floor."
Keatts knows his team has to play as a team, much like they did in the upset win over Duke, to defeat the No. 19 Tigers.
"We all have to play together," he said. "We had six guys in double figures [against Duke] and would have had seven... Lavar had a great game but only had seven points.
"We weren't willing passers [at Clemson]. We talked about moving the ball and not letting it stick, and I thought our guys took on one-on-one challenges instead of sharing the basketball."
Clemson is a veteran team led by upperclassmen Marcquise Reed, Sheldon Mitchell, Donte Graham, Elijah Thomas, and Gabe Devoe... all upperclassmen.
"They really share the basketball, have balanced scoring, and on the defensive end they do a great job of forcing you to play one-on-one," Keatts said of Clemson. "To be successful we have to play as a team and share the basketball.
"We have to be great defensively because all five... on any given night, anybody can lead them in scoring. It will take a team effort."
Pack Adds Blake Harris
NC State received some big news today when Missouri point guard transferred Blake Harris announced that he would be enrolling at NC State. Keatts confirmed the addition to the media on Wednesday afternoon.
"We are excited," Keatts said of the Harris addition. "Blake is an unbelievable talent. What's great about it is we get a chance to get a young man from this area that will be a really good basketball player for us.
"I think he adds a lot of depth for us, especially at the guard spot, and that's the way we'll play in the future."
Harris has been admitted to NC State and is set to enroll, but won't start practicing for a few days.
"He probably won't get on the floor until he's cleared through all the medical stuff," Keatts said. "[Probably] next week sometime."
At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Harris averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and a steal in 13.9 minutes per game for the Tigers. He will sit out the spring and fall semester before being eligible for conference play as a sophomore next spring.
For more on Harris, click here.
Kirk Transferring Out Of Program
NC State junior wing Shaun Kirk has decided to transfer out of the program, Keatts confirmed on Wednesday.
"Shaun Kirk has decided to transfer," said Keatts. "What a wonderful young man. He's always been about NC State. I'm excited for Shaun and Shaun is excited.
"He wanted the opportunity to play a little more... he'll end up at UNC Pembroke, and he'll play with his brother who is a freshman there. I think he'll fit in well there."
Kirk played in five games this season and averaged 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes.
"We'll definitely miss him, and that kid has been all about NC State," Keatts added. "Looking around, I think he saw with the guys we have coming in and the guys on the roster, if he can get an opportunity to play it would be good for him.
With Kirk leaving and Markell Johnson suspended, NC State's eight-man rotation is solidified.
"We only have eight healthy [scholarship] bodies to be able to play... obviously nine when you add Spencer [Newman] to it."