The North Carolina State Wolfpack were not an unsuccessful team for much of coach Mark Gottfried’s tenure. They reached multiple Sweet 16s and showed that they could play well in March Madness. However, the Gottfried problem was clear and considerable: North Carolina State never reached its potential in the regular season, coming alive only when it was in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament or when it got into the NCAA Tournament as a relatively low seed. The Wolfpack struggled greatly against North Carolina and lost some ACC games to teams it never should have lost to. Many seasons brought NCAA bids, but some seasons did miss the tournament, including last year, and that inconsistency is why Gottfried is no longer around.
Now North Carolina State tries to author a new chapter of its story, hoping that it can not only play at a high level in March, but from November through February… and remain that way for a long time.
Offseason Changes
Kevin Keatts, formerly the coach at UNC-Wilmington, replaces Mark Gottfried. Keatts was a former Rick Pitino assistant whose teams exhibited a very structured offense at UNCW. The Seahawks were a very tough team to play in the NCAA Tournament, which Keatts reached in each of his last two seasons at the Colonial Athletic Association member school. Keatts became one of the more attractive candidates in the recent college basketball coaching carousel, and his hire was met with widespread approval in Raleigh, the home of the Wolfpack.
On the court, Dennis Smith, Jr. was a one-and-done player who moved to the NBA. His point guard skills were dynamic, enough to make him a lottery pick for the Dallas Mavericks. Losing a player with his ability is obviously a blow for N.C. State, but it was expected that Smith was going to be a one-and-done guy. The hope for Keatts and the Wolfpack is that a more cohesive lineup with less star power might share duties and display a unified commitment to playing defense, something Smith wasn’t always willing to do in a season in which he often grumbled.
Will Succeed If…
The backcourt can find a reliable shooter. The team is set in the paint with Abdul-Malik Abu and Omer Yurtseven, two players who provide a lot of size and length. The backcourt is the bigger mystery, and how it jells under Keatts will be a big question. Playmaking and ballhandling are important, but the team needs someone who can loosen up defenses with the long ball. The hope is that without Smith, no one player will dominate the ball, meaning that players will continuously pass the ball to set up better shots. However, a good shot attempt matters little if someone can’t hit that shot on a regular basis. Good passers don’t get assists unless the teammate makes the shot. N.C. State needs a shotmaker from the perimeter.
Won’t Succeed If…
Abu and Yurtseven don’t respond to Keatts. These two post players never really flourished under Gottfried. They might need a new voice, but they have to be able to buy into what Keatts is selling. Playing with focus and energy will enable Abu’s and Yurtseven’s skills to rise to the surface. A coach must bring it out of them and do what Gottfried was unable to achieve.
Roster
Abdul-Malik Abu
Lennard Freeman
Torin Dorn
Lavar Batts Jr.
Darius Hicks
Braxton Beverly
Markell Johnson
Allerik Freeman
C.J. Bryce
Omer Yurtseven
Sam Hunt
Shaun Kirk
Devon Daniels
Spencer Newman
Tucker Thompson
Schedule & Outlook
The Wolfpack play in the cutthroat ACC, so their attempt to climb back to the NCAA Tournament will be filled with landmines. It will also be filled with opportunities to win big games and improve a March resume. North Carolina State will probably be a bubble team, maybe slightly better. It’s up to Keatts to encourage and create better habits than anything Gottfried was trying to do.
The 2018 March Madness futures are out. There has been plenty of news to keep up with in the offseason but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest college basketball betting lines right here.
