Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the “slow season.” As we wait for the NBA and NHL playoffs to die their slow, agonizing death and count the days until NFL training camp opens (i.e., when sports is legitimately “in session” again), there isn’t much to talk about.
This morning, Dan Wiederer outlines some questions facing the Pack this hoops offseason. Not really any news, but it’s at least something to read (and a fair summary).
Wasn’t Johnny Thomas, not JJ Hickson, Lowe’s first commitment?
I keep hearing that John Wall is not gonna happen. Is it because of us bad fans on the internet? Hell no, especially if he winds up at Kentucky. They ran off a NC winning coach.
It is, as you said, “Something to read.”
BJD: Yep, wouldn’t want to make you guys to think we forgot about you. God, I miss football (and, to a lesser but statistically significant extent, college hoops).
“October of 2006, when Hickson became Lowe’s first N.C. State commitment”
I think this is incorrect. Big Lew was Sid’s first signee, then Thomas was on board next.
Aside from that, this is a very fair article. The worst news for Lowe and NC State is that the poor 2007-2008 season appears to have negatively impacted recruiting. From my unscientific perspective, it appears that there are fewer elite players interested in us this year than there were last year. From what I can tell we’ve missed on a few prospects or appear to have lost some ground. In addition, our style of play in 2008 was even less attractive than the MPO - so that couldn’t have helped.
I also believe that due to the advent of the APR, identifying hidden gems, who are solid students and ball players who want to stay around more than one year is more critical than ever. The bad news is that there are very mixed returns for this staff for those type of players. You can’t judge a lot from 2 years, but it’s critical that Sid find some diamonds in the rough who are talented enough to raise our athleticism and b’ball IQ, yet don’t want to go to the NBA at the earliest possible opportunity.
I am hopeful that Mays and Williams will give us more athletes and will create a team that is faster, defends and rebounds better - which will result in a faster pace and more intense brand of basketball being played. If Lowe doesn’t show that this year, I think the recruiting prospects will be dim and I think the admin will have to make a move.
I notice that SFN doesn’t define the start of sports being “in session” by the beginning of any Wolfpack season - how appropriate with our dismal athletic department’s performance!
If you want something to talk about . . .
Junior College Transfers?!.
Hoosiers Score Juco Big
http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/756151.html
If you want something to talk about . . .
Junior College Transfers?!.
Hoosiers Score Juco Big
http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/756151.html
“The worst news for Lowe and NC State is that the poor 2007-2008 season appears to have negatively impacted recruiting.”
[Lee Fowler] It’s those darn interwebs I tell you. All of that negativity is hurting recruiting. [Lee Fowlup]
Just saw on draft net about JJ projected 29th NEXT year
Courtney 54th
I hope players can overlook last year and see Lowe as a great coach, but, my gut feeling is that in a very few years we will be looking again for the next basketball coach at NC State. I hope Lowe has great success and that I am wrong.
“Translation: the Wolfpack should not feel 100 percent secure with Leslie’s commitment until the ink is dry on the signature line in November 2009.”
100 percent secure, what’s that? They are talking about Leslie signing a “piece of paper” called LOI aren’t they? Did I miss something, or is Lee Fowler leaving the department?
While conventional wisdom says it takes a few years to get in good with the recruits, which is why many were looking toward the 2009 class, I think Sidney’s golden opportunity was last year, with the Hickson class. He was a clean slate, a guy with an NBA background and an NCAA title. There was a lovefest going on in Raleigh and he could do no wrong. Never mind that he hadn’t been battle tested yet.
Now the luster is gone and he’s got to talk a hell of a game to compensate for some of the crap we witnessed on the court. I hope he can, but anyone who wants to blame the internet for our recruiting trouble ought to rewatch some of those game tapes. Our offense was ugly for a significant portion of time, and our defense was MIA. Then our AD comes out and publicly acknowledges our coach “lost” his players. This adds up to recruits with other options going elsewhere.
I like Mays and Williams, though. They are winners and they look like the kinds of kids who will be here four years. Scott Wood, too. None of them jump out as a star, but they should fill important roles. We need players like this. But we need a couple of Julius Hodges too, and I don’t see that right now.
I would love to see Costner come back motivated to turn things around. No arguing that he had an even borderline season last year, but we all saw what he was capable of in 2007. So did everyone who voted him pre-season ACC last year. If he’s right, he’s damn good. If he’s not, well, we get a nine-game losing streak. We need you, BC.
The thing that is confusing to me is that there are some coaches who seem to be able to come into a program and build it up regardless of the teams record in the prior year(s). Not sure if that relates to their colege coaching and recruiting savvy or just a personal trait.
A bad record also seems to me to send a message to a recruit that he is highly likely to get a lot of playing time early in his career and that is desirable. Not really a downside.
I can see how a high profile player — like JJ who came in as a 1 year attendee, was showcased for his talent but in the end could not carry the team and may have lost first or second round draft points — could opt not to attend unless there are other top recuits who will also come.
I hope the Pack shakes this all off and the players learn to handle the ball better, eliminate the 7 or 8 minute no scoring streaks, and play some defense better this year and show that they are competitive. If not, then in a year or so — we are likely to see a change and continue with the cycle of another 10 years periods of non-competitiveness.
Rick, down deep, you know Lee Fowler is right. Just think if NC State had the same number of loyal fans still shelling the big bucks and not caring at all about performance or tradition, the world would be a much better place.
So let’s all get positive, and stay positive!!! Lee has finally convinced me that he and his entire athletics department don’t need to even lift a finger one way or the other. That I, redfred, and all by my lonesome, might just be able to bring home the next ACC title while kicked back in my living room and pecking on my keypad.
I think that might be kind of backwards there Coach Fowler, Sir. You see, it works like this, you and your bunch of lethargic cronnies do something positive first, then me and the rest of the lunatics will automatically change the tone of our typing. It’s kind of like magic. The better you do, the friendlier the wicked internet becomes. Hell, and I know this will come as a shock to you and your department Sir, but some people actually use the internet as a tool to further promote their own interests, like their businesses, or their products, and sometimes even something like a university. It’s crazy I know, but they do it, Sir.
Can’t wait to see Sid tomorrow night at the Wilmington Caravan.
I think he’s doing a pretty good job of recruiting, and I do like Scott Wood. (thanks Monte!) If JJ stays, there could be some positive things happening next year.
Thinking only positive thoughts…
Thinking only positive thoughts…
Thinking only positive thoughts…
Press Release from the future
“2016 — Lee Fowler announced today the hiring of successful coach Brad Doherty as the head Coach of the NC State Wolf Pack (sic). Said Fowler, “Brad brings a willingness to beat Carolina and will grow the NC State Family in ways it has never done.”
Lowe and Harris are good recruiters. I got a feeling we will be back to playing as a team this fall no matter who returns. We do that and success can follow. Results this season will put all this “we lost the team stuff” behind us. We do know Lowe can match X and O with anyone. Being a college head coach is a lot more than just X and O’s and hopefully Lowe and staff will come together with the team as a unified group this fall. But I can only agree with another person on here, the AD should not be feeding the media with negative stuff about our coach and his relationship with the players. I do admire Coach Lowe given his NBA background he is not going to be pressured by anyone to make stupid drastic changes in what he wants to accomplish and I believe he has no fear of getting fired. Which I think is a good thing.
WOW - I think part of Sid’s problem is that he was too tight w/ the reigns this year. When asked why his team didn’t run more - his response was that they couldn’t.
Well, here’s the problem - if any of these high school kids saw us playing, they didn’t see us running or try to run. As a result, when combined w/ a bad record, it’s a tough sell to an elite kid that A) You’ll have a good run in college and B) YOu’ll play an exciting brand of basketball.
Like you, I think Sid is more than qualified from X and O standpoint. Unfortunately, in the college game, those skills pale in comparison to scouting, recruiting, talent development, preparation, teaching and strong overall organizational skills.
Next year, I just want to see a team that plays w/ passion and heart. If I see that, I’ll be excited about basketball again.
I for one happen to be excited about the NHL Finals… but I am a bit of a hockey nerd…
but anyways I CAN NOT wait for Football season to start.
I can smell the beer and pork already.
=)
If a coach loses the players one year, what logic says he has any chance of getting them back the next - especially with the same players minus one or two! (BTW didn’t Foulup do a great job of throwing Sid under the bus!)
“We do know Lowe can match X and O with anyone.”
I’m willing to give him another year to prove me wrong, but honestly, based on what I have seen these past two years, I don’t think I can agree with that statement. If “x’s and o’s” means having one guy standing with the ball for a considerable amount of time while the other four don’t do anything, then there are a hell of a lot of great x’s and o’s tacticians out there. Furthermore, what concerned me the most last year was our lack of defensive intensity.
Yeah, I was sort of wondering about that too.
If I had heard stories about Lowe working his tail off, trying to right the ship and put last year behind him, I’d probably feel more optimistic than I do. Instead, I’m hearing the same kind of stories about Lowe this year that I heard about him last year.
Noah - I have heard the same thing in the past. I haven’t really asked for an update from the person who shared this info recently, but it doesn’t sound like any “shake-up” has taken place over the off-season.
We were led to believe by the man with the red jacket that JJ was a sure fire lottery pick ……..What he turned out to be is a 6′8 back to the basket center????
At best a chance to play in europe or a 11th or 12th man on an nba bench.
I have seen Sids Xs and Os,nothing happening at all on his staff there is neither and x or an o coach as well.
Perhaps you are talking about tic tack toe when you say “Sid knows his xs and os”
The only shot we have at walls is if he wishes to stay home so not really something to hang your hat on!
Maybe he meant, “Sid knows the difference between an ‘x” and an ‘o’.”
Since he’s a proud graduate of the University of Phoenix Online Tech, I’d assume that was true.
NOah^ so sid is spending more time on the golf course eh? that is frightening. what about the summer workouts that were so evidently lacking last year. are the players at least taking this seriously?
You boys need to cut Lowe a little slack, you don’t get two NBA head coaching jobs and land a job at a major university without knowing the game. Making fun of his degree doesn’t help either, do you really care were he got his degree from? Plus you the same kids that were raving about him coaching the kids to a win against Carolina outcoaching Roy that day. and the run in the ACC tournament his first year.
I realize we were really bad the second half of the season this past year. I think if Degand had not gotten injured we would have had a definite improvement over the previuos year. Hard to do much on offense when your point guard could not even get the ball up the court without help. What I hear is the season became very frustrating for the Bigs as Coach Lowe calls them cause they knew no matter how hard they worked on the offensive end the guard was not going to find them and we saw that time and time again. Certainly other schools learned how to defend McCauley and he had a tough year shooting around or over people to finish his shot. Costner got stage fright after his injury alomst appeared his afraid to go inside, you could see the coaches sitting on the bench shaking their heads. If he doesn’t get injured and plays over the summmer last year, I see him having a very different year. We have three seniors this year, couple of talented freshmen coming in, and with Degand healthy. I think we going to have a good year. Interesting the difference a year makes. A year ago we were hearing how great Coach Lowe was how players would run through a wall for him. I don’t think the players are as far distant from Coach Lowe as some people think, one thing is the players themselves don’t appear to be saying negative things about him.
I think the game at UNC summed up our problems. I heard Coach Williams talk about it. Someone asked him if he thought the State players had quit. He said Heck no, we pushed the ball on them and pressured the point cause they don’t have what they need at the point. He said point guard is toughest thing to do without in college basketball and the most important position.
Noah “Since he’s a proud graduate of the University of Phoenix Online..”
Noah, given your racial posts recently maybe it would best you not keep bashing Sid. Just keeps giving the perception that you have a problem with the color of his skin. So many big time college athletes never get a degree. Sid gets his degree while working and being a family man and you belittle that? I think its a testimony to his character and work ethic.
I believe wise old wolf has lost touch with reality.
“We were led to believe by the man with the red jacket that JJ was a sure fire lottery pick…”
Can anyone give me some insight into what a statement like that one^, is based on? Like a quote or something.
“We were led to believe by the man with the red jacket that JJ was a sure fire lottery pick…”
Can anyone give me some insight into what a statement like that one^, is based on? Like a quote or something.
Since when would “kyjelly” want to confuse the truth with facts????
^ Before the season started Sid did call him a sure fire lottery pick
We were bad when Degand was healthy. Or do you think N’awlins and ECU were such powerhouses that we shouldn’t count those games?
1) You are the only person who seems to suffer these delusions about what I think. And actually, YOU don’t even suffer them. You’re just being a douche…which I’m fine with, so if you want to call me a bigot, feel free.
2) Sidney Lowe’s “degree” is a testimony to his ability to write a check and for someone else to cash it. Nothing more.
3) Sidney Lowe is a family man? Really? You want to go there?
“You boys need to cut Lowe a little slack, you don’t get two NBA head coaching jobs…”
Two head coaching jobs and one of the all-time worst records of any coach in the history of the league (79-228).
Our differences stem from the idea that you’re giving him credit for getting the jobs. and I’m not giving him credit for doing his job.
As a head coach at State, he is 35-32, but just 9-23 in ACC play. If you want to be considered a good coach — prove it.
Noah, you a bigot. Since you fine with it, at least you admit it. Wolfdog not the only one that thinks it.
I think saying we bad cause we lost to a couple sub par programs is not fair to Coach Lowe. Since we best Vil. and won the Old Spice Classic does that make us good by the same logic? What was bad is the shape the program was in when Coach Lowe walked in the door. We were in for a couple rebuilding years no matter who walked in the door. Look at Coach K’s first couple of years, some bad losses. Roy had a couple of bad losses his first year at UNC and a real bad loss first part of the second season but went on to win it all. Rebuilding was/is going to take time. Lowe has recruited well so far. I don’t know why people bad mouthing Hickson, so what if he didn’t turn out to be a lottery pick yet, at pick 25 he still a first rounder that pretty darn good. Best big man recruit we’ve had in years. Wouldn’t have come to NCSU under the old coach. Some of the kids we have is cause Coach Lowe had to just get bodies in here since we were so thin.
I’ll say this. It’s obvious Sidney interviews very well. I also think he’s very charismatic. Unfortunately, those skills only help you get the job and a recruit here or there. I haven’t seen the other skills that are necessary to become a good college coach yet in Lowe. Maybe if he was actually involved in the college game before he got his first HC job in college the transition would have been a tad more smooth.
Hulk mad! Hulk avenge Coach Lowe!
Not to the non-paint huffers.
Noah. Who Huffed you? You a moron and a bigot. Why you want to bash people on here all the time. Can’t you make a point without being immature about it?
Signing up for more logins really doesn’t make your point stronger. Nor does your inability to grasp the purpose and use of verbs.
But I do enjoy the laughs, no matter how unintentional they may be.
Noah “I enjoy the laughs”
What an idiot and bigot, you got toasted on here. No one has their crap erased on here more than you, but no one on here more than you You got a job, if so clearly not an important one? You got nothing better than that? Just more of your 3rd grade logic and grammer.
After Lowe & staff land Favors or Wall with Brown, all will be good. Let’s see what the ‘09 class is before getting all over Sid.
If we don’t land Favors, we will need a “big”. Tracy will be a Junior and BC will be RS Senior. Big Ben and JJ will be gone, but I concur that we should wait to see the ‘09 and ‘10 classes. The ‘10 class will be “huge” in more ways than one…
hpd - If Sid can land Wall, I’ll w/hold judgement until Wall gets a chance to play. However, I thought he and his staff did an excellent job recruiting for the 2007 class - and the returns weren’t exactly earth-shattering. So I guess, what I’m saying is that even if we get Wall, I’ll have to see the wins before I’m convinced Lowe would deserve the 2009-2010 season. If we don’t get Wall and I see us play w/out passion this year, preparation and focus, I’ve seen all I need to see.
chop - Lowe will be at NC State for the ‘09-’10 season. He hasn’t had a PG for most of his days at NCSU, the most important position in his offense. Chemistry & Farnold going down killed us last season. Both should be back this year. We’re in the top2 for 3 of the top20 players in the ‘09 class. Hate to say it, but it’ll take Sid some time to get the program/roster where he wants it.
Wall is def. not the most important identified target for the pack. It’s brown, who would stick around 3 to 4 years. Wall is one and done. ask usc how having one impact point guard surrounded by mediocre players works out. state will not be competing for an acc championship during the one year wall would be here. it would just be another waste like this past season. i don’t know about favors’ pro potential, but sid would be wise to find some program builders who will stick around.
^ Favors’ pro potental is high, probably another one & done. Need to find a Hansbrough-type. All-American, but not enough upside to be a top NBA pick & not needing instant financial help.