Kevin Keatts: No Update On The Status Of Ernest Ross

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts discussed the upcoming matchup against Virginia Tech, Ernest Ross, and much more on the ACC's weekly teleconference.

When you look back at that first meeting in Blacksburg not too long ago, what did you really like about your offense and defense that you want to recapture on Wednesday at your place?
Well, I thought we played fast on both ends of the floor. I thought we were able to get into our presses. And even though we didn't get a lot of traps, I thought we picked them up full-court and made them work for a lot of shots. I thought we were really stingy on the defensive end.

One of the biggest things that, when you look at Keve Aluma and Mutts, they really can destroy you on the inside. I thought it was one of our best games helping our post guys. I thought we did a good job of keeping those guys off the glass and keeping them out of the paint.

Then on the offensive end, I thought we shared the basketball. We moved the ball, we had great player and ball movement.

After the game, Coach [K] said a lot of things about you and his relationship, that during the pandemic you guys seemed to got close. He said he thought the world of you and sees you as one of the leaders of this conference once they get the old guys out of there. How would you describe that relationship and what does it mean to you to have him kind of in your corner?
Well, I think we've been fortunate enough, whether we wanted to or not, he and I were on a couple of committees as we were going through the pandemic and the changes that could be made and things that were happening.

I think there's a unbelievable mutual respect. I tell everybody I'm the NC State coach and my job is to be fiery and representing NC State in the right way, and obviously, those guys being right down the street. But it's really hard to ignore, or we shouldn't ignore the things that Coach K has done for college basketball and the ACC.

So, he's a Hall of Fame coach, and I was fortunate enough to work for a Hall of Fame coach and be able to coach it against a couple of those guys, and very respectful of everything he's done.

We appreciate the kind words. I thought they were kind words. We've had more dialogue probably in the last couple years than I've had in the first couple of years that we were here in my fourth year. So, it's good. I enjoy it. I appreciate the kind words, but you know how this is. We're competitors and unfortunately, unless we can get a chance to play those guys in the ACC tournament, it may be our last opportunity to play against them, and coach against them.

How does it hit you that when K retires after this year, you're going to be the guy who knows the ropes better than anybody here in the State of North Carolina?
Well, I say this all the time and I joke with it, I don't know if Hubert can hear me, but everybody says that I would be the longest tenure guy, but I'm not the oldest guy now. That goes to Hubert. So just make sure that you remind him that I said that he is the oldest guy in this area right now.

But no, look, it has nothing to do with this area. It's all about ACC basketball. Some tremendous coaches. We lost Coach Williams who was really, really, really good for the ACC and basketball, and now Coach K. But there's still great veterans in this league that's been here a lot longer than me.

Yeah, in this area, I may be the longest tenure guy, but I go back to it as Hubert... he's older than me. You guys can check that out too.

We've talked all year about Terquavion Smith and how fearless he is, and how he never backs down from the big moment. Recruiting him and looking into his freshman season, is he right on a schedule where you thought he would be, or is he kind of exceeding your expectation? Where is he along where you thought he might be this point of the season?
Man, that's a great question. I thought he could come in and... because what happens is at his level, this is a kid that scored 3,000 points, three state championships. And a lot of times when kids come from high school to college, sometimes it takes them a little bit of time, but he's still scoring high at this level.

I think he's averaging 15 points a game, probably a little better than I thought. I thought he would be a guy that'd come in and obviously be right around 10 or 11 points a game.  I didn't know at what point he was going to start for us but did realize that he's probably going to be a starter because of his ability and the way he competes.

I think what makes him special is he doesn't know... he isn’t supposed to be good as a freshman. It doesn't matter what environment he's in, he plays. It doesn't matter if he misses.

For example, at the Clemson game, he was 0-for-7, but he been bounced back against Louisville and played great. Most guys couldn't do that and with him, he can do that. So that's what makes him special, his ability just to forget.

You mentioned it doesn't matter the environment. Going into Duke on Saturday, I imagine pre-game, he was probably pretty hyped to go into that building and let everybody see his game.
Yeah, he's a competitor and one thing I will tell you is, and I don't care whatever, if it's practice or a game, he's not going to want anybody to be better than him. Certain guys go into certain environments and they like.. they overthink things. This kid goes into it every environment looking at it as a great opportunity for him.

In the first meeting, Nahiem Alleyne for them was 1-for-7 from three. It looks like he found his stroke a little bit in the Notre Dame game. How does their offense change when he's got that outside shot going?
Well, when all three of those guys from the perimeter are making shots, they are a very tough and a very dangerous team.

When you look at, obviously, the two interior players are... besides who I just played against Duke with those four and five who are, obviously I got to speak very highly of them, but when you look at Mutts and you look at Keve Aluma, they are a handful.

When those... all the three guys, Alleyne, making shots, Murphy making shots, they're good. I mean, they're really good because they're as good of an inside-outside punch you have, because their ability to stretch the floor, and you can't pay so much attention to the bigs when those guys are raising up, making threes.

He's starting to shoot the ball well. I did see some of the Notre Dame game and I’ll continue to watch it, but he is... man, he's starting to make shots now.

Kevin, you have an update on Ernest Ross and his status?
I don't. I'm going to run into practice right now and kind of see what it looks like for him, but I don't have an update. I'm sure we'll have one here before we play on Wednesday, but at this moment, I don't.

Anything else for Kevin?

Kevin, thanks for the time. We appreciate it.