Keatts: "I Think We Can Play Faster"

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts sat down with the media at 2018 ACC Operation Basketball.

How is Braxton Beverly?
Braxton had successful surgery yesterday and he's doing well. Had a great conversation with them last night we talked, he was in great spirits.

I know you guys want a timetable and I would say probably I'm looking at the middle of non conference play. There's a chance that he may be back a little earlier than that, but if I could find a way to get him on the court before that time, I would love to. We're going to miss him.

I realized how great of a shooter he's been for us, but it was very unfortunate.

I'm going to take some blame for his injury because I had him to play defense for the first time in his life, and he had a collision with one of the post guys and ended up breaking his hand. 

How does your rotation change?
If we had anything on his roster this year, we had a bunch of guards.  Where we're lacking is his ability to make shots, and before he got hurt he was really shooting the ball very well.

It won't change our rotation much. Some guys will play a few more minutes than I expected.

Will Blake Harris be one of those guys?
Blake will be one. Blake is doing well. He's adjusting obviously to NC State and the way I want him to play, but we have several guys that will obviously be able to fill in for him.

Obviously I played Braxton at the one and two and most of the guys that we have are combo guys so we will be able to survive hopefully until he gets back.

With so many new guys, what do you know you'll be able to do well this year? 
Well, I think we can play faster, and I know that sounds crazy because we played fast last year, but we have more guards that we can put into rotation. When you look at last year, the only guards that we really had were Braxton, Markell, Al, and Sam.  I think we have seven or eight guys that we can put on the perimeter and play.

My plans are at times to play four guards. Last year in non conference we didn't exactly get to four guards right away, and I'm not telling you that we will do that this year. At times you're going to see a traditional lineup with possibly a big power forward and a center, but we will get to playing four guards a little bit more.

Coach this is your second year, where are you in building the program?
It's funny you asked that because I feel like this is year one for us, and I say that because we've only got three guys that are returning from last year's team. So for me, we're still rebuilding.

I thought last year we were able to come in and put our system in and obviously start developing our culture, but now with so many new guys, it's almost like we're starting over.

We had an advantage last year because we were able to go to Italy and we were able to get 10 practices in and play three games. Well, I don't have that luxury this year. So our biggest issue right now is trying to get guys to be able to play on the floor and play together to develop some chemistry.

One of those is CJ Bryce. How much has he helped through that transition?
He's been great, and moreso in the locker room. When you got so many new guys it's tough for the new guys to understand how hard you have to play to play in this program.

With his experience and playing for me two years at Wilmington and coming off a great year his last year of college basketball... it's helped us and he knows the system. That's good for us.

Since it's a newer group, how is this group different from last years?
We're young, and I didn't realize it but we have a bunch of sophomores.  Braxton is a sophomore, Blake Harris is a sophomore, Devon Daniels is a sophomore, DJ's a sophomore. 

What we don't have is a bunch of veteran guys that have been in the system.  Obviously Torin Dorn has played in the system, but Wyatt Walker, even though he's a graduate, he still has two years to play.   

Eric Lockett would be the next older guy, but he's never played for me.

It's tough because we have so many faces. It almost reminds me of my days at Hargrave almost having a new team every year.

What position would you call Torin Dorn?
I would call him a new-breed guard.  I would never, ever, ever, ever call Torin Dorn a power forward, and don't you do it either.

Why are you asking him to be one?
I'm not. When I think of a power forward, I think of a guy who can post up and defends only the post players. He doesn't have to do that really. He's our fourth guard and I call him a big guard.

We switch all screens on a perimeter anyway, so even at times our point guard will be checking the power forward.

Will you have Braxton Beverly back before nonconference play?
Not before non conference, I  would say in the middle of non conference and before ACC play. I hope so, unless you know a secret we can get him back. I'd take him tomorrow.

You said last year you wanted to be picked in the double digits in the league as a motivation. Has your perspective on that changed at all or what do you expect this year out of us?
Mark, being that I saw you picked us 10, we're okay with that.

With the guys we have returning, we should be picked nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Obviously when you look around the league, there are some really good teams that are bringing some guys back that made the tournament just like we did. 

So I want you to think about this. We shouldn't be picked high. We can't live on reputation. We can't live on what happened last year, and we have to earn our way and that's okay with me.

Does this team have to prove it all over again?
Yeah, but I think every team does. Even the teams there were successful to you before, I think if you live on memories, I don't think you have a chance to be good.

This team has a different identity, a totally different identity than last year, so it's important for us to come out and play well and try to establish ourselves.

If you ever have to give bad news to Ian Steere's dad, who has to deliver that news?
Oh, 100 percent the assistant coaches.

No, Noah Steere is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. I know he looks big and he's huge, but he's got a great heart. He understands college basketball.

The only thing I worry about if I have to give bad news to Noah Steere about Ian Steere not working hard.  That's his problem, not mine now.

After experiencing a year in the ACC, what did you take from that?
It's an unbelievable league. I knew it before I joined the league as a head coach, but great programs, great players, unbelievable coaches and great venues to play in.

For us, I think we bring something different to the table than anybody else. We play a little bit different, but there are no nights off. You would make a mistake if you ever looked at the ACC schedule and said, "I can win this game."

That's not right, you have to play every night.

Are you still riding with Kevin Keatts is a winner as your motto or do you have a new one?
I never said Kevin Keatts is a winner is my motto.

I said in my press conference... and I'll tell you guys, it's amazing how that has taken off.

I've been successful in life, and I love to win in life, not just basketball.  If you go back to it, I'm not going to say I do this better than anybody else, or I'm a better coach, but I can motivate guys. I'll go back to that.

That thing has taken off around Raleigh, and it's pretty popular. I'm at football games and guys are walking around yelling, "Kevin Keatts is a winner." I think the only person who really loves that is my son, who is named Kevin Keatts, I think he enjoys it a lot more than I do.