Locker room talk
What KJ Keatts and the Wolfpack said about playing for coach Kevin Keatts
GLENDALE, Ariz. — There was no ignoring the noise surrounding NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts as the Wolfpack entered the 2024 ACC Tournament.
After an underwhelming 17-14 record in the regular season, including four losses in a row, the masses started to discuss whether Keatts would be back in Raleigh next season.
But the Wolfpack, including KJ Keatts — Kevin’s son and a walk-on — didn’t pay too much attention to the rumors surrounding their head coach as they began the postseason.
“We really didn’t talk about it much, we just kind of looked past that,” KJ Keatts said Thursday from the Final Four in Arizona.
“I’ve always known what my dad is capable of as a coach and as a person. I think he’s done a great job here at North Carolina State, and I think he’s finally getting the credit he deserves.”
Nine wins later, No. 11 seed NC State (26-14) is two victories away from winning a national championship. The journey continues Saturday (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS) against No. 1 seed Purdue (33-4) at State Farm Stadium.
When asked if the uncertainty surrounding Kevin Keatts’ future played a role in inspiring the Wolfpack as it racked up win after win, KJ said, “I think part of that definitely went into it.”
“I don’t think we ever said that outside of our locker room. I think it was more of a locker-room-kind-of-talk thing,” KJ said. “But to see the guys rally behind my dad … but also the assistant coaches, support staff and everybody, I think that played a big part.”
Junior forward Mo Diarra, a doubledouble machine during the Wolfpack’s turnaround, says the team “always believed” in Keatts, because he always believed in them.
“What he’s done is amazing, because he gave us a chance to play at this level,” Diarra said.
“We play for him and we’ve gotta play for him.”
Even after NC State’s 15-point loss to Duke in the final game of the season at PNC Arena, Keatts remained confident his bunch could get it together with a fresh start in the nation’s capital. He said the Wolfpack just needed to be the best version of itself.
His players proved him right at the ACC Tournament and, with the Wolfpack’s 12-point win against Duke in the Elite Eight of March Madness, got the program to a place it hasn’t been in 41 years.
“I feel like he’s always believed, but can you believe when you’re not getting the results that you want?” said fifthyear veteran Casey Morsell. “We weren’t getting the results we wanted in the regular season. We just stuck with it.”
Morsell went on to say “the results from the regular season were just lessons to get us to this moment” as one of the four teams still competing for a national title.
“Here’s the weird thing. Like, we’re here in the Final Four. We expected to be here,” Kevin Keatts said Thursday. “I know people don’t believe that. … This is not a fluke.”
As a son and a player, KJ has never wavered in his belief. It’s paying off now for the team and KJ’s father.
“He’s instilled that from day one, all the way back in 2017 when he first took the job,” KJ said.
“Anything can happen, so just believe in that. I think everybody finally bought in at the right time. It was just perfect timing.”