GLENDALE, Arizona It was hardly surprise that NC State was regarded as the biggest underdog left in the tournament after prolonging their NCAA tournament run and emerging as the number-one seed in the round of 16.
With No. 1 UConn, No. 4 Alabama, and Purdue as the other two seeds, the No. 11 Wolfpack are once again the lowest seed left in the Final Four. That designation persisted through the Elite Eight and has been reinforced today.
“We may have been ranked as the 16th team in the round of 16,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts stated on Friday. “We are the eighth team in the Elite Eight round. We are the 4 team in the Final Four. For us, it’s kind of worked out.
GLENDALE, Arizona It was hardly surprise that NC State was regarded as the biggest underdog left in the tournament after prolonging their NCAA tournament run and emerging as the number-one seed in the round of 16.
With No. 1 UConn, No. 4 Alabama, and Purdue as the other two seeds, the No. 11 Wolfpack are once again the lowest seed left in the Final Four. That designation persisted through the Elite Eight and has been reinforced today.
“We may have been ranked as the 16th team in the round of 16,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts stated on Friday. “We are the eighth team in the Elite Eight round. We are the 4 team in the Final Four. For us, it’s kind of worked out.
It was really incredible to be back on campus after winning Duke in the Elite Eight and qualifying for the Final Four.
“Everything on our campus was on fire. The fact that so many of our students and their parents had not had the opportunity to experience what people went through in ’83 left everyone feeling quite energized.”
Keatts’ mentioning 1983 refers to the last time that NC State reached the Final Four, as that group emerged as one of the most improbable champions in tournament history. In 1983, No. 6 NC State upset Houston, the signature win in school history and a defining one for Jim Valvano, the late Wolfpack coach.
The vibes of that championship have rippled through this current NC State run. And while Keatts has kept an appreciative perspective, he also said the team is focused on capping the run with two more wins.
“We came here to win,” Keatts said. “I think a lot of times folks do get to the Final Four and they’re so excited about it, they forget here is the main ingredient. The main ingredient is to come here, work hard, the work that you put in, to win.”
Keatts said he has heard from many members of that 1983 team, and he’s appreciative of the comparisons. But his team is focused on writing its own ending.
