PTWP: NC State's Kevin Keatts Discusses His Team

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media after the Primetime With The Pack event in Reynolds Coliseum.

Opening Statement...
I want you guys to know that we're going to be a very good shooting team this year I think.  I know we lost the contest to the girls, but remember one thing, they practice here every day but we don't.

Practice has been going great. I'm excited about our team.  I'm sure a couple of the guys have touched on our conditioning. We've done a good job so far and our guys are getting into better shape. They are learning about each other and we're starting to share the basketball.

Most importantly, we're coming together on the defensive end.  I'm excited about the bunch.

I'm asking some older guys to show some leadership and maturity. I'm starting to get that from guys like Lennard, Malik, and Al who have played in the tournament.  

The freshmen are coming along and I'm sure you guys know, freshmen are a little slower than the older guys, but they are working hard every day. Their effort has been great. Every day we've been in that gym they've given me plenty of effort.

We're getting close.  Next week we'll have a closed scrimmage and the following week we'll have an exhibition game and before you know it, we'll be playing our first game. We're not ready to play if we had to play today, but we don't have to be. In a couple of weeks I think we'll be there.

Coach, some fans I've talked to think you're the best coach NC State has had in years so the pressure is on. Are you confident your leadership skills will make a difference?
I'm happy to hear that. I'm the only coach at NC State basketball that's undefeated right now. That's a good thing.

I'm excited. I have a great opportunity here. When you talk about NC State, you talk about the great tradition and everything that's happened at this university. I have a great situation with a passionate fanbase.

One thing you'll know about me. Every day I'll show up for work and punch the clock. I hope our players do the same.

What's different now from Italy?
I think we're in better shape. I think we were only able to get ten practices in and I threw a lot of stuff in to be able to play three games.

I think our guys are understanding where I need them to be offensively and defensively and we'll be a pressure team. We've been able to put in a few more defenses since that time.

In what way does Al Freeman show the NCAA Tournament experience?
Playing in the ACC is really tough for a young kid.  Not just Al Freeman but also Sam Hunt, when you have kids who have four years in college, that's a great thing.

His experience is invaluable. He's teaching the young guys and taking more of a leadership role. I'm trying to get all those older guys to take ownership with this team.

What was it like running through that smoke for the first time?
Impressive. Reynolds Coliseum is an impressive fanbase.  Whether it's an intrasquad scrimmage or Primetime With The Pack, the fans are going to show up. It was impressive.

How much will you need Al Freeman's three-point shot?
We need him to make shots.

When you think about it, we lost two guys, Terry Henderson and Maverick Rowan, who make shots and had great size.  If we get the opportunity, we need Al to be huge from the perimeter and also Sam.  We need guys to make some shots.

One guy who is starting to play very good basketball is Markell Johnson. One of the things I'm trying to get him to do is be more offensive minded. He played with Dennis Smith last year and was more of a secondary guard.  I'm asking him to score the basketball a little bit more.

Is there a Shaun Kirk free throw play in the playbook?
There is not. Shaun is doing great though.  Shaun is a guy who is tailor-made for this system... get out in transition. I'm trying to get him to be a little longer on the defensive end, use his hands and get some easy baskets.

What kind of energy can Shaun and Darius add?
I like both of those guys and you can add Torin Dorn in there, but I like their versatility.
When I recruit guys, I like guys who can play multiple positions.  When you look at TD, Darius, and Shaun, I'll be able to play them at the four-position as a bigger guard.

Thoughts on Rick Pitino and his situation...
College basketball, in general, it's been a tough couple of weeks for all of us in this business. It's bad what is going on, but that doesn't mean all of college basketball is bad.

You talk about accountability from your players... what do you want from your players to show they are accountable?
I'm trying to create a competitive atmosphere. One thing I want is these guys to compete every day. With us, we have 14 guys who are available and playing and practicing every day.

We get after each other on the offensive and defensive end, but I'm also trying to teach them how to win. That's important. When you look back at us as a program, the last couple of years we won five games the year before in the conference and four this past year.

Certainly, we want to get more competitive in this league and have more of an opportunity to win.