It was in the aftermath of a loss at Clemson two weeks ago that N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts offered a stark assessment of his first Wolfpack basketball team.
“We are not as talented as most teams in the ACC,” Keatts said, explaining the Wolfpack’s low margin for error.
After N.C. State’s next game, an 88-58 loss at Notre Dame on Jan. 3, senior Abdul-Malik Abu vowed the team would make the best of its remaining 16 games.
“We never feel like we are outmanned on the court or talent wise,” Abu said that night. “But something’s got to give.