Keatts: "I'm Proud Of My Guys"

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts answered questions from the Wolfpack's radio crew following the Wolfpack's 89-78 win over Penn State.

If you were told before the game against Penn State’s that you’d put up 89 points, would you feel pretty good?
I’d feel great.

We said before the game that in order to win the game we needed to have the tempo in our favor. I thought our guys did a great job.

I felt like between 80-90 we’d have a chance to win the game and I’m proud of my guys.

I asked them before the game, because Penn State is a tough team and they defend, to fight.

I thought we fought tonight.

You guys executed... shooting 71% in the second half.
I thought our guys did a great job of following the scouting report, executing plays, understanding... I thought we did a really good job.

I’m proud of those guys. We have a team where every night someone different can step up, and I thought tonight it was Braxton Beverly, who did a great job, and DJ Funderburk.

What triggered things for Braxton in this game? It was probably Braxton’s best game of the season.
Yeah, he played well. He played with confidence.

He saw a big rim, decided to take it, and he made some shots. What was more impressive is he made his layups also.

You get 21 points from the five position in the game today, Funderburk and Walker.  You’d take that most games won’t you?
There’s so much talk about our five position and how we could struggle at that position, but if you look at our body of work through ten games, they’ve been pretty good. 

They will only get better. They both are different, they do different stuff, and I’m happy with the way those guys are playing.

We talk about the rebounding, how impressive is it to do that against the Nittany Lions?
Other than a few uncharacteristic turnovers for us, I thought we did a great job in every category.

Rebounding, I like our guys because we have a lot of guys 6’5 or 6’6 who are capable of rebounding the basketball.

If you look at it, 40-29, I’ll take that any game.