The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/896287
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2017-18 BY JACEY ZEMBAL F irst-year NC State head coach Kevin Keatts wants to build a com- petitive and winning culture. The Wolfpack have had some talented players the last two years, but also have the stark reality of going a com- bined 9-27 in the ACC. Those are numbers Keatts knows well and hopes to change. Senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu, fifth- year senior post Lennard Freeman, sopho- more center Omer Yurtseven and redshirt junior wing Torin Dorn all have past starting experience. Fifth-year senior graduate trans- fers Allerik Freeman (Baylor) and Sam Hunt (North Carolina A&T), both guards, started at their former schools. "I think it can be tricky," Keatts said. "Like all of us when we get older, we get set in our ways. Some guys I'm trying to break habits that are not beneficial of the way we play." The inside trio of Abu, Freeman and Yurtseven could lead the way. The coach feels indebted to send out the seniors with a positive campaign. "My biggest thing with this bunch of guys is to get them to believe in themselves," Ke- atts said. "As a NC State fan, it wasn't fun last year what those kids went through. Given the opportunity, I want to make their experience better this year." Keatts inherited a UNC Wilmington team that was in much more dire straits, going 9-23 overall and 3-13 in the CAA in 2013-14. The Keatts-led Seahawks turned it around in his first year, going 18-14 and an impressive 12-6 in the CAA. Keatts won't predict that kind of turnaround at NC State, but he understands the challenges he is facing. "I would love to make the same turnaround we had at Wilmington," he said. "What an amazing run that was, but a lot of luck goes into that and a lot of buying in and a lot of things have to happen for you. "I would ask for everybody to be patient. We've got a program where we have to turn a lot of things." Backcourt Overview The NC State perimeter underwent a complete makeover last spring and sum- mer. Freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. turned pro and was selected No. 9 overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Sophomore wing Mav- erick Rowan also turned professional and is playing in Serbia. NC State had hoped former shooting guard Terry Henderson would be granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, but that ap- peal was denied. Prep signee Thomas Allen of Raleigh asked out of his letter of intent and ended up at Nebraska. That left Keatts with just sophomore point guard Markell Johnson as a returning player. Keatts quickly inked former VCU point guard signee Lavar Batts, and landed Allerik Free- man and Hunt as graduate transfers. Freeman averaged 9.4 points per game at Baylor last year and shot 38.9 percent from three-point land. Hunt led North Carolina A&T in scor- ing with 12.7 points per game and shot 35.4 percent from beyond the arc. Incoming freshman signee Braxton Bev- erly will redshirt. Keatts has an affinity for guards and deep down probably still wishes he had more on the roster. "I know everybody says, 'Coach's style, he likes to play with a lot of guards,'" Keatts said. "If you look around college basketball and even the NBA, I think everybody is play- ing with guards." Frontcourt Overview Keatts might play a variety of lineups, but he knows he has a good potential rotation with Yurtseven, Abu and Lennard Freeman, who redshirted last year, at center and power forward. Abu has a chance to be an All-ACC caliber player, but he is recovering from a strained MCL. He averaged 11.8 points and 7.0 re- bounds per game last year. "Lennard and Omer have been great for each other, and Malik has had his moments," Keatts said. "Omer has to believe in himself." Keatts had to patiently wait for Yurtseven during the spring and summer, but is happy to work with the native of Istanbul, Turkey. Yurtseven averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 re- bounds per game in 2016-17. "My first recruit was Omer Yurtseven," Keatts said. "I had to sit down with him and put a vision out and how my system would fit him, and how he could benefit from it. "It's no secret that young man wants to be a pro, sooner rather than later." NC State also returns sophomore power forward Darius Hicks, plus either of the two small forwards — Dorn or junior Shaun Kirk — could steal some minutes at power forward if needed. Dorn, who averaged 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last year, is expected to start at small forward. ■ A WINNING CULTURE The New Staff Is Emphasizing Competitiveness And Building Belief In three seasons at UNC Wilmington, head coach Kevin Keatts complied an overall record of 72-28 (.720 win percentage) and a 41-13 (.759) mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN