Head coach Mark Gottfried of the NC State men’s basketball team addressed the media July 7 in his annual summer press conference, touching on topics ranging from NCAA rule changes to his big man rotation.
Gottfried’s summer press conference has been more informative during the past two years because of a recent change in NCAA regulations that now allows men’s basketball programs to work out their teams during the summer.
Most of the members of the 2014-15 Wolfpack returned for the upcoming season, with the entire coaching staff and three of the team’s starters back in Raleigh.
Gottfried said that kind of carry over from year to year was rare and welcome in today’s college basketball landscape.
The one absence from the coaching staff is assistant coach Rob Moxley who suffered a “very critical” injury May 6 and was hospitalized for several days afterward. Gottfried said Moxley will return when he has made a full recovery, saying, “the most important thing right now is that he gets better.”
Also absent from the Pack’s roster for next season is Trevor Lacey. Lacey declared for the NBA Draft in April, a decision which Gottfried said took him by surprise.
“We’re going to miss having a fifth year senior that could have been one of the two or three best guards in the conference,” Gottfried said.
Lacey’s departure, along with Ralston Turner and Desmond Lee graduating has left the Pack thin in the backcourt. Gottfried said he was concerned with his team’s depth.
“We’ve got to figure out who can handle the ball, whether it’s by committee or one guy,” Gottfried said. “If Cat Barber’s got 2-3 fouls in the first half or God forbid he rolls an ankle, we’ve got to figure out how we’re going to play.”
Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber will be the team’s first option on offense and has been greatly improving his shooting as well as his decision making, Gottfried said.
“In today’s generation of young guys, when you say to them, ‘Get better,’ they look at us like we have three heads,” Gottfried said. “Cat has been as hungry to get better as anybody we’ve had here. His leadership is better, and he’s shooting the three as well as anybody we have in the gym.”
With the shortage of ball-handlers, Gottfried said the coaching staff has begun developing Cody Martin as an option at point.
“Cody can handle the ball and pass it well enough,” Gottfried said. “He’s kind of the wildcard for our team. He’s just so active, and I like that about him.”
The Pack will also have transfer Terry Henderson making his debut in a Wolfpack uniform.
“Terry did a great job last year of improving while redshirting,” Gottfried said. “Whether he can step right in day one or not, we’re going to find out.”
Gottfried also discussed Lennard Freeman’s recovery. The big man had leg surgery June 3 to insert a 14-inch rod in his shin to repair an injury Gottfried said was caused by wear and tear.
“I hate it for Lennard,” Gottfried said. “He’ll have to make some time up. Hopefully he jumps back in with no complications, but you never know when you have surgery like that.”
Freeman is reportedly out for four months. In Freeman’s absence, BeeJay Anya has had to step up. However, Gottfried said the forward’s weight has become an issue once again, stating Anya’s weight “doesn’t start with a 2.”
“He’s got to get better; it’s real simple,” Gottfried said. “He has the potential to be a great rim protector, but he’s not where he needs to be with his weight. He’s getting challenged every single day. It’s getting to be a tired subject for me.”
