LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
Several NC State players met with the media after the Wolfpack's 100-49 win over UNC Asheville.
NOTE: Click on each video above to watch a specific interview.
Sophomore Guard Braxton Beverly
On Keatts’ satisfaction with the team’s effort...
It’s great to hear because this program is built on how hard you play, especially on the defensive end. For Coach Keatts to say that after the year we had last year and how hard we’ve played the first two games, it’s great to hear that we’re taking a big step forward.
On the team’s energy...
If we keep that energy up we’ll go as far as we want.
On non-conference games...
We have to play as hard as we can. We’ve got subs and we’ve got enough guys that can make an
impact. Coach Keatts preaches to play until you get tired and then throw your hand up and get a sub.
Other teams can’t compete like that. We’ve got nine or 10 guys that can do the same thing and play their butts off.
On Markell Johnson...
Markell lead the ACC in assists last year and he’s a heck of a point guard. It was slack we had to pick up and we knew with having him out we had to help out more.
On getting continuity going...
It’s important for us to find out who we are and find stuff that works. It’s also important for the
freshmen and transfers who have never played in an arena like this before. PNC can be overwhelming, especially when ACC play starts and there’s 20,000 people in here yelling and screaming. Making sure you go out, get a feel for it, play hard and don’t think about it prepares you for ACC play.
Junior Forward Wyatt Walker
On last three games...
Coach Keatts tells us before every game that we’re playing against the game of basketball, not the
other team. Tonight we played really hard and I thought we played well defensively. We’re just focusing on the small mechanical things to make us better because those things are going to matter in the big games.
On positive mojo when the team has balanced scoring...
Definitely, I think Coach Keatts knows that. It’s good getting rotations in where guys are working with each other because some of us haven’t played with each other for very long. Seeing shots go in helps people and their mindsets.
On Markell Johnson...
I was upset because that was my guy. I was screaming when I saw it coming. It was an adjustment
playing without him, but he’s tough and I’m sure he’ll be back soon. He’s a floor leader, very vocal, and great at getting guys free and finding the open man. You never want to see a guy go down, but we still compete.
On Devon Daniels...
Guys are still learning to play with each other and learning their tendencies. In practice, there are times where he goes off and no one can stop him. You can’t put a hand on him, but it’s not going to matter when he’s on like that.
Sophomore Guard Devon Daniels
On how he’s adjusting to the team...
I think I was just thinking too much and trying to get comfortable with the team to see if I was
going to fit in instead of just focusing on playing hard. I think that helped tonight. I just focused
on playing really hard and I think it worked really well. I trusted my teammates too and I think
that helped a lot tonight.
On getting more involved in the offense...
I need to play harder on defense and get more rebounds. I think I need to focus on those two
parts and the offense will take care of itself.
On playing aggressively on defense...
Coach Keatts always presses that, but I think last game we only had four steals so he was really
on that this game. He told us to focus on that and I think we did like a really good job.
On points off turnovers...
That’s how we play, so I think that it really just gets us going and gets us into a good flow. It
gets the other team tired. Our practices are like a track meet most of the time, so we’re ready
for that in the final minutes of the game. The other team is going to be tired and their legs are
going to be heavy, so I think that helps us a lot.
On takeaways from large-margin victories...
I wouldn’t say it’s a positive to be blowing a team out by 50 points, but every game we come in
with the same mindset to play hard and play together as a team.
On if he’s looking forward to be playing teams that pose more of a challenge...
Honestly, I’ve been sitting out a year and I’m just ready to play anybody and everybody. I think
the rest of the team is too. I don’t think we look over any team. We’re just ready to play.
Senior Guard Torin Dorn
On Coach Keatt’s satisfaction with team’s effort...
It feels good. I know that our work is paying off.
On Devon Daniels...
I think he was more comfortable tonight. I feel like he was able to get going a little bit. He had
the ball in his hands a little bit more, so he was definitely able to get comfortable.
On Markell Johnson...
It’s a lot different without him. He’s one of the best guards in the country. Anytime you lose a
guy like that it’s tough, but we have other good guards too so we just have to step up and
replace him.
On forcing turnovers...
It’s very important. Defense leads to offense and we’re a team that likes to pressure on
defense. Anytime we can get steals and get transition baskets, it’s good for us.
On the potential of the team...
I think the sky’s the limit at this point. We’ve had three blowout wins, so we haven’t seen any
adversity at this point. I’d love to see us when we hit some adversity and see how we’re able to
play, but the sky’s the limit though for this team. We have a lot of talent and we have a lot of
different guys that can play.