ACC Tipoff takeaways: NC State basketball expects deeper roster, Rice resumes training
N.C. State basketball will look different this season but hopefully it will be better.
No, it doesn’t have Jarkel Joiner or Terquavion Smith, the all-ACC second team selections who combined for 35 points per game. Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts and forward DJ Burns, however, believe there’s more depth this time around.
Smith and Joiner ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in the ACC for scoring last season. No other member of the team ranked in the top 20. N.C. State hopes there’s less of a dropoff when starters come out.
“What we do have is six or seven dudes that I think on any given night can go 10 to 12 points a game,” Keatts said. “I don’t know that anybody’s gonna go for 25 or 30. I think we’ve got a bunch of guys; somebody can go 18, somebody can go 20. When you add DJ Burns and Casey Morsell and put some guys around them, I like the makeup of our team.”
That said, the team hasn’t reached its ceiling by any means. Burns said one of the key aspects of the current group is its work ethic and bond. Everyone wants to improve and continues working together on improvements.
It’s something the Pack has talked about since practice started: The fact that everyone wants to be part of the program and they’re always ready to work.
“I think that’s the biggest thing with these guys: there (are) no egos,” Keatts said last month. “Most of our guys – out of the seven transfers – are looking for another opportunity to prove that they should have gotten more playing time at their last place.”
That competition and growth has continued through the first month of official practices. There’s still not an official point guard – though fans could see Michael O’Connell or LJ Thomas – in the backcourt.
Plus, Burns has stuck to his weight loss regimen, which has helped his speed and agility.
“I made it a point this year, I’m not going to slow down the fast breaks by being the last person that gets there,” Burns said. “That’s been a big thing for me.”
N.C. State’s offseason schedule included a couple of closed scrimmages, as well. Burns said those opportunities to play against other teams provided excellent information.
“They went really well. We had some humbling moments…and they gave us a lot to be able to know what we need to work on. But (they) also gave us perspective,” Burns said. “This team is gonna be good.”
MJ Rice gets back to work
Keatts announced incoming transfer MJ Rice resumed workouts out with the strength and conditioning staff, following a hiatus from the sport due to personal reasons.
The team hopes to get him back into “basketball shape,” Keatts said but they’re still taking things day-to-day.
“He’s physical, he can defend and everything else,” Keatts said. “It’d be very good to have him back into the rotation.”
Keatts on potential ACC Tournament changes
ACC basketball could look a lot different in future postseasons, with the league expanding to 18 teams for next season.
Commissioner Jim Phillips said Wednesday he doesn’t know if everyone would get an invite to the championship since having an 18-team field could be unwieldy.
Keatts doesn’t like it. This opinion doesn’t come from concern, though. The Wolfpack finished No. 6 in the league last year, going 23-11 overall and 12-8 in ACC play. With the improvements and improved depth, N.C. State thinks it would be among the top 15 teams.
The beauty of March Madness, however, is seeing teams make a run when they weren’t expected to do much.
“I hate taking away an opportunity for the underdog to go and win the tournament,” Keatts said.
The Wolfpack opens its season at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 against the Citadel. It hosts Primetime with the Pack at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 4:15 PM.
