If I told you at the beginning of the season I told the sane NC State fan that NC State was going to make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the fan would be ecstatic. If I told that same fan that Omer Yurtseven would make the All-ACC 3rd team and average 13 points and 7 rebounds along with 1.8 blocks. The fan would be very very impressed.
Now, jump ahead to mid February, and I told that same NC State fan that, the last 5 games NC State played they would go 2-3 with losses to Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Seton Hall. That same NC State fan would say, that is the a disappointing way to end the season.
This is what happens during the season. In the beginning of the season we are going off what happened last season and what they have coming back plus the unknown of a new coaching staff. Then when you get into playing the actual games. Then you see how a team gels and plays under the new coaching staff.
Torin Dorn showed that he can succeed under Keatts. Omer Yurtseven improved leaps and bounds compared to the disaster season that was his first season in Raleigh. Markell Johnson is a very good point guard that can play defense and lead the ACC in assists.
NC State finished 21-12 and had 11 ACC conference wins. They finished tied for 3rd in the ACC regular season. NC State showed at times how Keatts wants to play once he gets his players into the program. You see that Kevin Keatts can coach. Kevin Keatts proved that he can adjust to the kind of players he has and doesn’t force his system on players who are not suited to that system.
The future of NC State basketball is bright. They are bringing in a top 25 recruiting class according to ESPN, along with a few key transfers. Keatts will be able to build on this season and it cannot be viewed as anything but a success.
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