K2 +Saturday Addendum

Realistically, it was a slim possibility to hire a proven, successful Head Coach or, more likely, a mid-major Coach with potential.

My list was - in order -

1) Gregg Marshall

and then a long drop to -

2) Chris Holtmann 3) Will Wade 4) Kevin Keatts

We got Keatts.

Now that the dust has settled, there's been time to read some post-selection articles and see a video or two.

Gregg Marshall is an asshat. Everybody knows that. He gets Technical Fouls all the time. And seems he gets ejected from a game at least once every season. I like him. A lot. LOL

But then - Gregg Marshall's wife got out of control at their NCAA game vs. Kentucky. What a [bleeping] witch! Granted, she's not the coach. But you expect the coach's wife to act - well - NOT like a [bleeping] witch.

Besides, Marshall has a sweet gig at Wichita State. I wouldn't leave for NC State either. Wichita State is the next Gonzaga or Butler. They are on the way to the Final Four - sooner rather than later. Plus - he's already making serious Power 5 money.

Chris Holtmann is still in the tournament. He's being mentioned for any one of the openings - including Indiana. He'd do well there. If not Gregg Marshall, I'd take Holtmann over Archie Miller any day.

Dr. Yow didn't want to wait and by all reports - it was Wade or Keats. In the interviews - it was Keats overwhelmingly.

Will Wade has now been hired by LSU. Good grief! Have you read some of the tweets and reports out of VCU? The players are pretty much happy he's gone. And there appears to be no love lost between him and the Athletics Department.

Wow! Seems Mr. Wade has some anger management issues. Well Wade, you can have them - as long as you're super successful (e.g. Gregg Marshall or Bobby Knight or Norm Sloan).

By contrast - Coach Keatts is well liked by everyone. His days at Louisville are well spoken of as is his long tenure at Hargrave. And he's super liked down in Wilmington.

His Head Coaching resume, while a bit thin, is all success.

And take a look at this - Coach Keatts put this full page ad in the Wilmington and UNCW campus newspapers -

I think Dr. Debbie Yow knows what she's doing.

Finally - and possibly most importantly - the State intertubenetwebz seems to have decided on Coach Keatts' nickname - K2. That works on so many different levels.

Welcome to NC State Coach Keatts.

Wolfpack fans are passionate, loud, supportive and maybe just a little bit psychotic. But we're taking our meds regularly now - so it's all good.

UNCheats

Dook - DOOK - DOOOOOK - why, oh why, did you lose?**

I hate having to pull for Carolina.

Go Smurfs.

Saturday Addendum

Indiana hired Archie Miller today.

We passed on Archie, both last time (when we hired Gottfried) and this time (although some reports say Archie indicated he was no longer interested in coming to NC State).

With Archie taking over a storied, top tier, program - we will get to see if he can live up to his 'potential'.

I wish all the best luck to him.


** Really Virginia? What the . . ? That was just embarrassing.

Starting Over - Again

Basketball

This was supposed to be the year.

No more 'wait till next year'.

This was the year that we had very good returning players and one of the best (ranked as high as 4th) recruiting classes in the nation. Not quite Dook or UNC - but close. It was supposed to be the start of a resurgent NC State Basketball Powerhouse.

Didn't happen.

We didn't stumble - we didn't miss by a little - we failed miserably. Never even came close.

We even struggled during the 'warm up season' playing small, overmatched schools. We won - games that were much too close.

When the ACC season started it became painfully obvious we had serious problems. We played like the pre-season hype twice - against VT and Dook. The rest of the games - usually not even close. And set a losing score record over at UNCHeats. The wheels came off the bus.

It's just a game. But it's a game that I spend (what is for me) serious money on tickets and Wolfpack Club dues. I realize it's 18 and 19 year old kids out there - but this year's performance was inexcusable.

I have never been more disappointed since I joined the Wolfpack Club 30+ years ago.

Even still - I would have given Coach Gottfried another year to turn the ship around. It's clear he's made some serious missteps - but I still think he's a coach with unlimited potential.

AD Yow decided to make a change. The search is underway but results won't be known till after the NCAA Tournament.

I think State has to take a chance on an up and coming coach. There's about 6 guys out there that are excellent candidates.

My choice would be Will Wade at Virginia Commonwealth University. He'd be a great fit.

Anyway - I'll still enjoy the NCAAT. Like I did during the Sidney Lowe years. It's a ton of fun to watch.

Look out for Florida State.

ABC. I believe those rat bastards can win it all. Sigh . . .