Q&A with NC State coach Kevin Keatts through the Wolfpack Radio Network:
What gave Virginia the edge?
“Congratulations to Virginia. I thought they completely controlled the tempo. In the past, we have been able to get them to play a little bit faster. I thought the difference in the game is that we dug such a big hole in the first half. We didn’t have some of our guys that I’ve counted on, didn’t have the juice tonight and didn’t play well.
“We just didn’t get off to a good start. We fought and battled in the second half, and actually won the half, but there was so much separation in the first half.
“We are going to move on. We are going to learn. We played a very good Virginia team on their home floor, No. 8 in the country. I thought they did a good job.”
UVA came out aggressive and drove to the rim. How did NC State handle that?
“I thought we were just OK. We have to get better. That’s on me because we talked about defending and I have to do a better job of emphasizing. We got rejected a lot tonight. We didn’t defend the way that we are capable of. You don’t want a team to shoot almost 45 percent on their home floor. That is why I have to get better at that, and I have to prepare those guys better than that.”
Virginia only shot 2-of-8 on three-pointers. Did you get the feeling that the guards wanted to get downhill early?
“Yeah, I thought they did. They made plays at the rim. I just think the biggest thing that stands out to us is 32-to-12 points in the paint. We had been very effective in that area. I thought we settled. We don’t really want to go into a game shooting 27 threes (making eight). Some of that is the way Virginia defends.”
How would you rate D.J. Burns performance against that trapping defense?
“I thought they did a good job. That is what UVA does. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers. Then when we made some plays, we didn’t finish them. It made it a little bit tough. We have to get back. We are going to take tomorrow off. I told the guys we’ve played well. We hadn’t lost a game since Jan. 21. We have to get back on the right track. We had won four in a row. It wasn’t our best performance. We have to figure it out and get better.”
Were you encouraged that the players who were struggling stayed engaged?
“We didn’t play well, but that doesn’t mean we go in separate directions. This group has been through a lot. It’s just one game and we aren’t going to let one game define us. We have to get back and work on some things.
“We aren’t going to let one game determine who we are. We stayed together and fought the second half. I felt we let them get too far ahead in the first half. When you are playing a team that controls tempo, and they do a good job. A 14-point lead almost feels like 24.”
Did you feel like NC State had a chance in last six minutes?
“I thought we clawed back in. I thought we did a good job and wanted to put a little game pressure. We went to a couple of presses and had a couple of breakdowns. The score got back up a little bit. Our fight was there in the second half. We didn’t do so much in the first half like we needed to.”
What gave Virginia the edge?
“Congratulations to Virginia. I thought they completely controlled the tempo. In the past, we have been able to get them to play a little bit faster. I thought the difference in the game is that we dug such a big hole in the first half. We didn’t have some of our guys that I’ve counted on, didn’t have the juice tonight and didn’t play well.
“We just didn’t get off to a good start. We fought and battled in the second half, and actually won the half, but there was so much separation in the first half.
“We are going to move on. We are going to learn. We played a very good Virginia team on their home floor, No. 8 in the country. I thought they did a good job.”
UVA came out aggressive and drove to the rim. How did NC State handle that?
“I thought we were just OK. We have to get better. That’s on me because we talked about defending and I have to do a better job of emphasizing. We got rejected a lot tonight. We didn’t defend the way that we are capable of. You don’t want a team to shoot almost 45 percent on their home floor. That is why I have to get better at that, and I have to prepare those guys better than that.”
Virginia only shot 2-of-8 on three-pointers. Did you get the feeling that the guards wanted to get downhill early?
“Yeah, I thought they did. They made plays at the rim. I just think the biggest thing that stands out to us is 32-to-12 points in the paint. We had been very effective in that area. I thought we settled. We don’t really want to go into a game shooting 27 threes (making eight). Some of that is the way Virginia defends.”
How would you rate D.J. Burns performance against that trapping defense?
“I thought they did a good job. That is what UVA does. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers. Then when we made some plays, we didn’t finish them. It made it a little bit tough. We have to get back. We are going to take tomorrow off. I told the guys we’ve played well. We hadn’t lost a game since Jan. 21. We have to get back on the right track. We had won four in a row. It wasn’t our best performance. We have to figure it out and get better.”
Were you encouraged that the players who were struggling stayed engaged?
“We didn’t play well, but that doesn’t mean we go in separate directions. This group has been through a lot. It’s just one game and we aren’t going to let one game define us. We have to get back and work on some things.
“We aren’t going to let one game determine who we are. We stayed together and fought the second half. I felt we let them get too far ahead in the first half. When you are playing a team that controls tempo, and they do a good job. A 14-point lead almost feels like 24.”
Did you feel like NC State had a chance in last six minutes?
“I thought we clawed back in. I thought we did a good job and wanted to put a little game pressure. We went to a couple of presses and had a couple of breakdowns. The score got back up a little bit. Our fight was there in the second half. We didn’t do so much in the first half like we needed to.”
