Kevin Keatts: "I Love Our Guys"
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts answered questions from the Wolfpack's radio crew following the Wolfpack's 79-73 road loss at No. 12 Auburn.
Opening Statement:
I thought they fought.
Did we do everything correct? Absolutely not, but I’m proud of them. We fought for 40 minutes against a good team on their home floor.
I thought we did some really good things. I thought we had some guys play really well. It’s a game we can build on and learn from.
How challenging to massage Markell in and out of the lineup?
It was tough. We’ve been a team who plays well and unfortunately they got to the line 36 times and we got there 20. I think we have to do a better job of playing without fouling.
It changes the game when you have a short bench and have to run guys in and out. We had to spend some time with Jericole at the three and do some different lineups.
It’s unfortunate that it came out that way.
How much does it change the game without Markell Johnson or Braxton Beverly in the lineup?
It’s tough.
At one point in the game Devon Daniels and CJ Bryce were running the point, which they are capable of, but it takes away another guard off your bench. We didn’t get a chance to rest some of those guys.
The last five minutes were there some possessions that the Pack forced things offensively?
I don’t know that we forced. We played aggressive. Were there some possessions we’d like to get back? Absolutely, but those are some of the possessions which got us back in the game also.
Overall to come in here and out-rebound them, are you proud of that?
I’m happy with our guys. We focused on it and weren’t happy with our last game where we got out-rebounded. I thought we did a great job in that area.
I’m happy. I love our guys. I thought our guys competed and we played an almost top 10 team on their home floor and we played them until the end.
We had an opportunity. Hopefully we can learn from it and get better.
You get better by playing really good teams. What do you think State learned overall?
This was a possession game and the game could have gone either way. I think we need to clean up some things, some of the mistakes we made. Let’s get better because of it.
I think we’ll be fine.