Kevin Keatts: "What an Incredible Night"
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media following the Wolfpack's 71-63 win over Pittsburgh Wednesday evening.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Keatts’ press conference. An abbreviated transcript is provided below
Opening Statement
What an incredible night. It’s incredible because of our seniors. I don’t know if I have ever had a game where every senior scores, and scored all the points of the game. I couldn’t have scripted a better night for those guys. I want to give our underclassmen a lot of credit. We talked about their energy and whatever they could give to our seniors tonight because this was going to be the night to provide for them and I thought they did a tremendous job coming off the bench. Breon Pass, what can I say? I don’t know if there will ever be another guy, a scholarship guy, who starts at NC State or most universities and actually graduates at this level. Most times guys at this level are either going to be really good and be a pro, or they are going to be impatient, go somewhere else, and hit the transfer portal. I wanted to start him tonight, and I thought he answered. He had a lot of shots he hadn’t taken over the years so he put it up tonight. I was happy with him, Ben [Middlebrooks], Jayden [Taylor], Michael [O’Connell]. They are going to be part of something special they are always going to remember. They will always be able to walk into this arena when they are old and gray and show their grandkids those two banners, and that is special. I don’t know many seniors that can do that. It’s been a long time. Then, you talk about the other three guys, Dontrez [Styles], Brandon [Huntley-Hatfield], and Marcus [Hill]. I’m grateful that all their parents allowed me to coach their kids and mentor them. It was a good game, Pitt is a good team. Obviously, those two guards are as good as any guards you're going to compete against. I thought we did a good job. Our defense was really solid. We did a really good job of not giving up 40 points in the paint which has been our problem for the last couple games. It’s a good win. I am excited about it, and it’s great for our guys.