Here is a transcript of NC State coach Kevin Keatts on 101.5 FM after the game with Tony Haynes:
Has Pitt center John Hugley gotten better finding teammates when he absorbs some of those post traps?
“I thought he got a little better, but I thought we did a good job if you take away those free throws that he got [13 of 15], you are looking at possibly eight points. I did think we were effective in not getting completely wiped with his post-ups. He did make some plays. He obviously has had the opportunity to work on it because he has been trapped probably for the last four-five games in a row. I think he’s done a good job.
“Our guys played when you talk about what we did. I thought a guy like Thomas Allen came off the bench and gave us a really tremendous lift [14 points], and made some shots. It was good to see the ball go in the hole for Cam [Hayes], especially early.
“Ebe [Dowuona], who was on some restrictions, was able to give us [31] minutes, which I thought he did well. It was a good game, but we obviously came up a little bit short.”
Was Dowuona more equipped for this matchup than Jaylon Gibson?
“His physicality is a little bit better in this type of game than Jaylon Gibson.”
Terquavion Smith has been off with his shooting in back-to-back games. What do you see teams are doing to limit his opportunities?
“I just think he isn’t making shots. I don’t worry about him because I know he thinks he can make them. He didn’t have a great first half, but he came out and actually sparked us and got us back in the game. He is going to make and miss some shots. His percentages the last couple of games haven’t been great. I do think he did some good things, like the block that he had that saved two points and put them at the free-throw line. Obviously, the ball isn’t going in for him right now.”
How tough was it that senior forward Jericole Hellems got into early foul trouble?
“It’s tough. We need older guys on the floor. I thought he did a good job, and I have to go back and look at it, but I thought he did a good job of drawing a block, but they called it a charge. His first foul was a reach-in and slap on the arm of the shooter. We certainly need him to stay out of that because we need him to play.”
Has Pitt center John Hugley gotten better finding teammates when he absorbs some of those post traps?
“I thought he got a little better, but I thought we did a good job if you take away those free throws that he got [13 of 15], you are looking at possibly eight points. I did think we were effective in not getting completely wiped with his post-ups. He did make some plays. He obviously has had the opportunity to work on it because he has been trapped probably for the last four-five games in a row. I think he’s done a good job.
“Our guys played when you talk about what we did. I thought a guy like Thomas Allen came off the bench and gave us a really tremendous lift [14 points], and made some shots. It was good to see the ball go in the hole for Cam [Hayes], especially early.
“Ebe [Dowuona], who was on some restrictions, was able to give us [31] minutes, which I thought he did well. It was a good game, but we obviously came up a little bit short.”
Was Dowuona more equipped for this matchup than Jaylon Gibson?
“His physicality is a little bit better in this type of game than Jaylon Gibson.”
Terquavion Smith has been off with his shooting in back-to-back games. What do you see teams are doing to limit his opportunities?
“I just think he isn’t making shots. I don’t worry about him because I know he thinks he can make them. He didn’t have a great first half, but he came out and actually sparked us and got us back in the game. He is going to make and miss some shots. His percentages the last couple of games haven’t been great. I do think he did some good things, like the block that he had that saved two points and put them at the free-throw line. Obviously, the ball isn’t going in for him right now.”
How tough was it that senior forward Jericole Hellems got into early foul trouble?
“It’s tough. We need older guys on the floor. I thought he did a good job, and I have to go back and look at it, but I thought he did a good job of drawing a block, but they called it a charge. His first foul was a reach-in and slap on the arm of the shooter. We certainly need him to stay out of that because we need him to play.”
