Six months ago, NC State men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts boarded a plane to Washington D.C. to coach in what seemed to be his final games as the Wolfpack’s head man.
Once self-labeled a winner, Keatts had fallen under heavy scrutiny for the Wolfpack’s lackluster performance during the regular season after NC State lost 10 of its last 14 games. Wolfpack fans called for the team to make a change at head coach after its seemingly inevitable early exit from the ACC Tournament.
By now you know what happened next. NC State won five games in five days to become ACC Champions for the first time since 1987.
“When we won the ACC after 37 years, it’s great because it wasn’t just about us,” Keatts said. “It was about everybody who’s ever worn a uniform and making them proud. When you win a championship here at NC State, it’s not just for the basketball program. It’s for our entire alumni base, our fans. It means something.”
With the championship victory, Keatts triggered a two-year contract extension through the 2030 season. Even though he secured his future, Keatts didn’t settle.
NC State won its next four matchups in the NCAA Tournament to become South Region Champions before losing to Purdue in the Final Four, capping one of the all-time postseason runs in NCAA history.
In an era where NC State men’s basketball has lived in the shadow of neighboring rivals Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, Keatts and his squad changed the perception of men’s college basketball in the Triangle. The nation was introduced to NC State’s blue-collar attitude and feisty determination.
The fanbase that had once called for Keatts’ termination suddenly honored him. The Wolfpack team returned to Raleigh as local celebrities thanks to its postseason performance. New traditions, slogans and celebrations were birthed. Yet, even with his newfound success, Keatts remained the humble, optimistic man who took the coaching mantle seven years prior.
“I’m always going to be the same,” Keatts said. “I’m always going to be happy, I’m always going to be excited and I get an opportunity to work with a new group. That’s what really motivates me.”
Not everything can be positive for the Wolfpack as it ended the season at No. 10 on the AP Poll even though it made the Final Four. In addition, it lost four of its biggest contributors in DJ Burns, DJ Horne, Casey Morsell and Mohamed Diarra. However, Keatts isn’t dwelling on the past.
“We can’t live on the memory of last year’s team,” Keatts said. “Nor can Purdue, nor can UConn, nor can Alabama… We’ve got to go out there and create our own opportunities with this group.”
Some key players from NC State’s historic run remain for the upcoming 2024-25 season, including senior guard Jayden Taylor, senior forward Ben Middlebrooks and graduate guard Michael O’Connell. To replace the departed players, Keatts hit the transfer portal like he has in years past.
In lieu of Horne and Burns, Keatts brought redshirt junior guard Mike James and senior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, both transferring from Louisville. To make up for Diarra’s absence, Keatts recruited French-Canadian junior forward Ismaël Diouf. Finally, Keatts replaced Morsell with senior guard Dontrez Styles.
“We’ve done well in the portal,” Keatts said. “We have a lot to sell when it comes to transfers. Guys who have come into our program and helped us win.”
Keatts also recruited an impressive freshman class with guards Trey Parker, Paul McNeil and Bryce Heard, bringing in young talent to develop under the wing of this veteran Wolfpack team.
“I love what [the freshmen] bring to the table,” Keatts said. “None of these guys act as though they are freshmen. They all believe that they can play. Those guys are having great opportunities to get on the floor.”
This isn’t the first time a Keatts-led squad has been built with mostly new faces. Of the seven players who played the most in the Pack’s postseason run, all seven began their collegiate careers elsewhere.
So what makes players want to come to NC State? Sure, the facilities are nice and the Wolfpack has a winning history, but what makes it so enticing compared to the blue bloods? The answer is simple — they don’t have a coach like Keatts.
Keatts has built a reputation of hard work, tenacity and positivity at NC State. Whether it’s on the sidelines, at press conferences or simply walking around campus, Keatts always has a smile on his face and something positive to say. He doesn’t disparage his team or coaching staff and wholeheartedly believes in his players.
“It’s great to have a coach be out there and have that confidence in me,” O’Connell said. “Coach Keatts always tries to push me every day. He holds me accountable if I’m making mistakes or doing things wrong, but on the flip side will give me some props when I do things right. It’s hard not to want to go out there and compete for him. He gives you all the confidence in the world. Playing for him makes everything easy.”
Keatts gave Wolfpack fans a postseason to remember and only looks to add on to his legacy at NC State. He’s taken advantage of NC State’s newfound popularity by scheduling difficult out-of-conference matchups against Purdue and Kansas. But once again, Keatts has full faith in his team to once again shock the nation and keep the Wolfpack on top.
