Kevin Keatts Explains Shakeup to NC State Basketball Starting Lineup
NC State basketball improved to 11-16 overall and 4-12 in ACC play via its 85-73 home win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (19-8, 11-5 ACC) on Saturday afternoon.
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In Kevin Keatts' opening statement to the media, the eighth-year Wolfpack head coach expressed his satisfaction after watching his players bounce back from Wednesday night's 97-73 road loss against rival UNC:
"Give our guys a lot of credit. I mean, obviously, when we left Carolina, we didn't like anything about the way we played in the first half.
"But if there was a silver lining [versus the Tar Heels], the silver lining was we played really, really good in the second half, and then Paul McNeil played well.
"And so, hence, I wanted to shake the [starting] lineup up. And I looked at a couple of different situations and decided to insert Paul into the lineup. And obviously, proud of him — career-high 24 points.
"Dontrez Styles had a double-double. Michael [O'Connell] had 13 assists.
"I thought our defense was really, really good. It's a good Wake Forest team. And obviously, we did a good job. I thought we were locked in.
"We just did not like the way we played on Wednesday. And obviously, I give these guys a lot of credit...We punch the clock every day. And no matter what the situation is, we're looking at a one-game situation. And I'm proud of our guys for how we responded and played."
The Wolfpack next faces a road test against the Syracuse Orange (11-16, 5-11 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPNU).
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.