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Yes I know it’s almost football season and basketball season seems far away, but considering the unprecedented success that Wolfpack athletics has had over the last 6 months, I started thinking about basketball. Why? Because I am a basketball guy and I am always thinking about basketball. Don’t get me wrong, I love football also, and I feel great about this team’s chances of winning an ACC championship, but some thoughts and concerns about the upcoming basketball season have been creeping into my head. Specifically, what does Kevin Keatts need to do to take this team to the next level? I know what you are thinking, how does it get much better than an ACC championship and the final 4? Well, it doesn’t, but can Keatts keep things at that level?
Some questions will be answered once the season starts, and one of those is did the Wolfpack do well enough in the transfer portal and prep recruiting to maintain an elite level? I’m very optimistic, but I do have concerns. I think Keatts needed another experienced post-player. What I think happened last season is, Keatts, for the first time in his tenure, had 3 very good post players, and when he figured out how to utilize them, special things happened. Keatts has always been a guard-first coach, but post-play paid huge dividends for the Wolfpack last season. Yes, we picked up Brandon Huntley-Hatfield in the portal, and he is going to be a huge help to this team. He was completely misused by Louisville last season so he didn't reach his full potential. That won't be a problem this season. He is going to be a critical part of this team's success. We also got Ben Middlebrooks back, and he developed into a very good post-player. Beyond that, that about does it for post-depth, and foul trouble becomes a huge liability. We did pick up Dontrez Styles, who will play the 4 a lot, but he isn't particularly tall. My concern is rebounding. We don't have Mo Diarra to pull down a hundred rebounds a game this year, and Keatts teams have historically struggled on the glass. Keatts did add Ismael Diouf, who is also a post-player, but how much he can contribute remains to be seen.
Another question is will last season's success have an impact on recruiting going forward? The jury is out, but there are indications that it very well might. Keatts is in the mix for several high-profile recruits and there seems to be mutual interest. Keatts must recruit at a higher level to keep NC State near the top of the ACC. Coaching can only take you so far. Talent is very important to play at an elite level. At this point, I am encouraged by what is happening. Bryce Heard is a very good shooter, and he will play for the Wolfpack this season after reclassifying to the class of 2024. That fills out the last roster spot, so there is the full complement of players available this season. That was a very big get for Keatts and staff, and I think we will see more big gets in the near future.
Another thing Keatts needs to do is to coach like he did during the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament. He did a phenomenal job overall, and that is coming from someone who is self-admittingly not Kevin Keatts's biggest fan. Having said that, he did a masterful job of adapting to the opponents and the situation. I believe that they played better in the half-court offense after they slowed the tempo down some. This also allowed them to set up the defense at the other end and take away fast break points. The half-court defense was simply outstanding during the incredible run to the ACC Championship and the final four. That needs to continue, and if it does the Wolfpack is going to be hard to beat.
Scheduling of nonconference games needs to change in order to maximize potential. You can't keep playing Mayberry Tech or the equivalent every year. It doesn't really accomplish anything because you are likely playing against better competition in practice everyday. This year is different and its a good thing. They play in an event with Ole Miss, BYU, and Purdue. These are all quality opponents. They also play Texas and Kansas. These games are important because you play competition on par with conference games. That early experience can be vital to later success. It also helps come selection day because strength of schedule is a criteria that is used to determine who is selected. I'm really glad the schedule is much tougher as it can only help the Wolfpack.
Game management also got much better during the tournaments and that needs to continue. I think sometimes Keatts got in his own way in regards to game management, but I think he has turned the corner on that. In the past, I have been critical of his player rotations, but I think he got it right during the magical run. He needs to get a definitive rotation going early on which will help the team improve and clearly define roles.
Winning an ACC championship and going to the final four can certainly change the direction of a program, and I hope that is the case with Kevin Keatts and this program. The confidence has to be a huge plus, and fan support and interest have both returned to a level that hasn't been seen in a while. It's never been a question of whether Kevin Keatts can coach. He can and he proved that this past season. The question for me has always been can he get the necessary people to win consistently, and can he manage the program at an effective level? I think he is starting to do both very well, and that bodes well for the future of NC State basketball. Success and winning cure a lot of ailments, and building off of last season should be much easier than in previous years. Teams aren't going to go to the final four every year. Being in the tournament and advancing at least past the first round is not an unreasonable expectation, however. Winning consistently is a success, and that should be an expectation of fans and also the players and coaches. I'm looking forward to the upcoming season and I can't wait to see what the new team can do!
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