While beating the tar out of teams by 30 points is always fun, Kevin Keatts knew deep down inside his first N.C. State basketball team needed a test.
After all, the Wolfpack has to tip off with No. 3-ranked Arizona on Wednesday at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. That is no day at the beach.
Neither was Thursday night’s game with Presbyterian, one of Division I college basketball’s worst teams coming off a 5-25 season.
On the way to the expected lopsided win, Keatts’ Wolfpack got something it needed when the Blue Hose took a 44-36 halftime lead.