The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 ■ 31 BY MATT CARTER ntering his sixth year at NC State, head coach Kevin Ke- atts is ready to start a new chapter, but he also does not want to pretend that last season's disappointing out- come did not happen. "I'm a competitor," Keatts explained. "I think every coach in the country pours all his energy and time and effort into the job. You certainly want to be rewarded in the end. For me, it was tough. I would be lying if I didn't tell you it was one of the toughest, if not the toughest, seasons that I've ever been through in basketball. It was a very hum- bling season for me. "As a head coach at NC State, no mat- ter what the situation was, I take full re- sponsibility for the season that we had. It's my job to go and try to correct it. I think we've done some great things in identifying some of the issues that we had last year. We've done it through re- cruiting and bringing the right guys in." Keatts estimated that he spent two to three weeks when the season was over reflecting on everything that went down in 2021-22. Then, after making deci- sions about what needed to be done, he told himself, "I'm going to turn the page." Two noticeable changes around the program will make the bench full of new faces this season. One was changing his entire assistant coaching staff. Gone are James Johnson, Roy Roberson and Mike Summey. In are Joel Justus, Ka- reem Richardson and Levi Watkins. "I love our staff, and I love our chem- istry," Keatts said. "They're working well together. They're bringing tremen- dous ideas to the table." Secondly, Keatts made a concentrated effort to get older as a roster. To that end, four transfers were added, each one having been in college basketball for at least four years. All of them are expected to play major roles on the court. "I tried to surround myself with play- ers and coaches who want to get back on the right track," Keatts noted. "I think that's important." BACKCOURT The most known commodity on the NC State basketball roster to Wolfpack fans is sophomore guard Terquavion Smith. He averaged 16.3 points per game last year and set a school record for most 3-pointers made by a freshman with 96. That was also the second-most made 3s in a season overall, trailing only the 104 that Scott Wood made in 2013 and Rodney Monroe had in 1991. Smith shot 36.9 percent overall from long range, and he was NC State's lead- ing scorer in ACC games at 18.3 points. He shot 40.1 percent on 3-pointers in league action (73 of 182). Smith was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Following the season, Smith enter- tained leaving early for the NBA Draft, but despite some mock projections that had him going in the first round, he re- turned to Raleigh. E Kevin Keatts has gone 90-68 in his five seasons as head coach at NC State. Last year's 11-21 finish was his first losing season with the Wolfpack. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN TURNING THE PAGE After A Down Year, NC State Men's Basketball Looks To Rebound This Season