Kevin Keatts: "We've Got Such A Small Margin For Error"
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts met with the media via Zoom following the Wolfpack’s 89-76 loss to Florida State Saturday afternoon.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Keatts’ press conference.
Opening Statement
We had a conversation at halftime, and I thought the guys that played with so much energy were Terquavion [Smith], Jericole [Hellems], and Jaylon Gibson. We talked at halftime about wanting guys to play with more energy. We only played with seven guys. Breon [Pass] has been nursing an ankle injury that happened at Wake Forest. He wasn’t 100 percent or even 70 percent to go tonight. I thought, in the second half, we did some really good stuff. Our guys were actively locked in, and when you look back at the game, the couple of things that hurt us were that we got beat in transition and gave up some easy baskets.
On what the team is feeling heading into the ACC Tournament as the No. 15 seed…
The feeling is that it’s unfortunate for our league. When you look around, all of the basketball talking heads are saying that our league is only getting five teams into the [NCAA] Tournament. We would say that, if we were 15-5 instead of with the record we’re at now, we would say we’re 0-0, and you’ve got to go into the [ACC] Tournament and have the opportunity to win the tournament. My conversation with them at the end of the game was about the game itself, but we also talked about what’s next. There’s going to be 10 teams that go to Brooklyn that feel like they have to win the tournament to have the opportunity to go to the big dance. We haven’t had the best of seasons, but this is what the tournament is all about.
On what needs to change to get a win on Tuesday…
When you don’t have a lot of bodies like our situation, we’ve got such a small margin of error. If Breon’s able to go, we’ve got to have all eight guys play to their strengths and be really good. When you get to this time of year, it’s about players being able to make plays, and you’ve got to have your best. For us, in order for us to win, we need our “Big Three” to be great, but we also need the other role players to have a great game.
On balancing rebounding at a high rate and not letting it affect transition defense…
It’s a juggling act because offensively we struggled at times. In some of best offenses, our offensive rebounders get the ball out to open shooters or get the quick stick-back. That being said, it also can hurt you getting back in transition. With some teams, if we don’t push the ball, it doesn’t hurt as much, but Florida State did a great job, especially in the first half, getting out on us. You’ve got to pick your poison in that situation.
On how he assessed the Wolfpack’s ball movement…
It’s a tough one because, against these guys, they switch one through five. There’s no screen angles, so it forces you to make a lot of one-on-one plays. We were never really going to have a lot of assists against a team that switches one through five because we don’t have a lot of opportunities. I thought it was good because we moved it, but our goal going into the game was taking advantage of some mismatches and making the right plays. I thought we made the right play. Sometimes, we didn’t, but sometimes we got to the hole and finished.
On Gibson’s success rebounding the basketball…
He shows us a lot in practice. He’s probably our best offensive rebounder in practice. Between him and [Ebenezer Dowuona], they flip-flop who’s having a better week. I thought Jaylon had a good week, and Jaylon did a great job in the game. He’s always been able to do a great job, especially on the offensive glass.
On the freshman season Smith’s had this year…
He’s had an outstanding year. I would be lying if I said I expect him to have this type of year. He’s been special. I’ve said it all along: if it wasn’t for [Duke’s Paolo] Banchero, he would maybe be Freshman of the Year, and as good as he’s played, he could be on one of the All-Conference teams. When you go over the list and see guys like J.J. Redick who probably played 10 more games than him, that tells you how special he is. I don’t want to take away from his year because of the year that we’ve had, but he’s been great. I couldn’t have asked for anything else. He’s a competitor. He works hard everyday. He weighs 160 pounds, and he’s fearless. I’m glad he’s on my team, and he’s someone you can continue to build on.