Does Kevin Keatts Have The Hottest Seat in ACC Men’s Basketball?

Good Saturday night, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) fans.

NC State fans are not happy with head men’s basketball coach, Kevin Keatts. It’s not going well for him.

NC State lost to Florida State University (FSU) today by the score of 83-81.

There are multiple issues to discuss here:

1. FSU is coming off a COVID-19 protocol break… they should have been rusty as hell coming out of the gates today… yet…
2. FSU bench out scored the NC State bench by 26 points… yet…
3. NC State still had a chance to tie this game – and go into over time… yet (see the tweets from our friends below):

I’ll take seabron running full speed Vs some fsu bigs back peddling.

Worst case, he’s shooting 2.

I’m letting my best player who only missed one shot, have free reign with the ball. pic.twitter.com/JW8BDnc4Ze

— Red White Pod (@RedWhitePodcast) January 2, 2022

We can speculate both sides, TA was wide open for an easy hoop https://t.co/HXHVjP8pCY

— Red White Pod (@RedWhitePodcast) January 2, 2022

Somehow Keatts decided to call a time out when his best player, Dereon Seabron, was going down hill to the hoop to tie this game up. Worst case, he’s at the line shooting two – best case – he’s an and one sort of deal. With this timeout, you’re taking the ball out of your best player’s hands with this timeout.

What possible play could you be drawing up that you like better than “seabron with the ball in a fast break?”

I’d love to know

— Red White Pod (@RedWhitePodcast) January 1, 2022

Additionally, I asked this question on Twitter New Year’s Eve – and on New Year’s Day.   Here are some responses I got:

I didn’t think it would be like that for Keatts but here we are.

— Matthew (!! #HolidayHokieSmash !!) (@hokiesmash_ASD) December 31, 2021

I agree – there will be increased expectations for nc state football too because I actually expect state to be good

— Matthew (!! #HolidayHokieSmash !!) (@hokiesmash_ASD) December 31, 2021

Thoughts @RoccoMiller8 @ChrisDobbertean @TalkinACCSports

— Matthew (!! #HolidayHokieSmash !!) (@hokiesmash_ASD) January 1, 2022

They nc state had 9 bench points and correct me if I’m wrong but fsu had 35 (!)

— Matthew (!! #HolidayHokieSmash !!) (@hokiesmash_ASD) January 1, 2022

That’s correct

— Chris “Get Vaxxed/Boosted” Dobbertean (@ChrisDobbertean) January 1, 2022

The team coming off the layoff outscores nc state by 26 points on the bench scoring – that’s crazy

— Matthew (!! #HolidayHokieSmash !!) (@hokiesmash_ASD) January 1, 2022

https://t.co/CJwu5ITnGl pic.twitter.com/bMIWbfNRzV

— Red White Pod (@RedWhitePodcast) January 2, 2022

NC State fans aren’t really happy right now.

Get your bingo cards ready folks!!! pic.twitter.com/3Vg53rfyJ3

— Red White Pod (@RedWhitePodcast) January 1, 2022

I don’t think you can really blame NC State fans for being frustrated with Keatts.  Here’s why:

1. The Pack is 7-7 this year – has lost four consecutive games – including a very bad loss to Wright State University (this is a buy game – this is a game you buy during the holiday season when you have fans at home for the holidays – then you to the bar thinking you’re going to have a good time after a 20 point win – and you lose to Wright State by 14 points).
2. Keatts is 86-53 so far at NC State – but his win totals are less and less each year – he has one NCAA bid and it was his first year in Raleigh.  I don’t expect an NCAA bid this year for NC State.
3. While it’s true that Manny Bates is a big loss for NC State, Keatts depth is so thin, the team seems unable to respond.  See today vs. FSU where the bench had 9 points to the Seminoles 35 (that’s a crazy bench differential – to be fair, the Seminoles will have many nights where their bench out scores the benches of other teams).
4. While Keatts does have a couple of signature wins, there are far more signature losses to speak of.
5. Has the Pack plateaued with Keatts?  I think the answer is yes.

To open 2022, I think Kevin Keatts has the ACC’s hottest coaching seat in men’s basketball.  He better have an excellent 2022-2023.

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