The real story of the day may come from what was not said in Coach Lowe’s time with the media:
Q: Any other personnel changes?
A: Not that I can discuss at this point.
Q: Not just the players, but any other staff changes?
A: Not that I can discuss at this point.
The following are comments related to the 850TheBuzz interview:
Let me just say…I LOVE listening to Coach Lowe. Nobody is perfect, but I really appreciate his articulation of his perspective.
A couple of quotes from Coach Lowe:
“As a competitor, the only thing I was thinking about (at the end of the year) was getting started again”
“I really want to look forward”
In a morning show interview with candid answers, NC State basketball coach Sidney Lowe addressed a number of issues from last season and looked ahead to next season. Concerning the widely discussed chemistry issues that possibly stemmed from JJ Hickson’s playing time, Lowe placed blame all around, but focused on players accepting their roles in order to win as a team. Lowe, who is entering his 3rd year coaching the Wolfpack, also talks about what he has learned from working in the college game and the influences surrounding college players that the pros don’t experience.
* Good news is that the team only got 5 days off at the end of the year before being called back for conditioning. SFN Comment - This is in contrast to what appeared to be only 5 days of conditioning for the team for all of last summer.
* Adam Gold did a good job of probing what he wanted to probe. SFN Comment: This is not a criticism, but I would like to see that kind of probing
* Coach expects Brandon Costner to have a very good year. SFN Comment: We hope Brandon Costner has a very good year. However, the ONLY way that Costner has a year that resembles his freshman year instead of his sophomore year will be if he plays like a power forward who has a decent shot as opposed to plays like a wing forward who is too big and too slow forhis position.)
* AG brought up the post players and brought up Tracy Smith’s progress. SFN Comment: At first it felt as though Sidney sidestepped Tracy Smith which scared me due to the rumors that have swirled related to potential eligibility challenges. But, Coach finished his conversation about the post players with reassuring comments about Smith (particularly his
* Good question by Ovies near the end the interview about what Coach has learned/adjusted to?
I missed all but the end of the interview. Could someone paraphrase questions/answers? Thx.
You can listen to the whole thing here. http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/
I forgot about Tracy Smith. I have a good feeling about him. I’m also happy to hear that they’re hitting the weights.
Over all, it was a good interview. I sense that Brandon is hungry (not in a White Castle way) and that the Big Ben is going to be ready as well.
It makes sense to me how these players didn’t take too kindly to having to adjust around Hickson. I mean, they went from being key components on a team to being almost role players in a lot ways and it feels like they just lost themselves. A lot of that rides on the coaches shoulders for not being able to foster that; but to an extent-I think it would be a hard adjustment regardless. Like Lowe said, if there’s a five star-one and done-player, you would be stupid not to take him. It’s the blending process that needs to be refined by the coaching staff. I know from my own experience in working with At Risk Youth that one kid can totally change the dynamic of the group and as a counselor; you have to anticipate these things and adjust. The same goes for the coaching staff.
Intimations were made all year about the health of both Big Ben and Brandon Costner and I think light was shed on the whole Big Ben situation-in that he was more so hurt than we knew. As for Brandon, I think it was the combination of three things: being hurt, sophomore slump and getting his ego smashed. If there’s any truth to humility before happiness than perhaps Brandon Costner got his dose last year.
Call me crazy, eternally optimistic or anything else for that matter-but I actually have a good feeling about this year.
Pretty good interview … Coach Lowe doesn’t really say anything to any extreme (as you would expect) - though I’m not sure how much I liked hearing “… we should be ok at point guard as long as we don’t have injuries. The key is Farnold … ”
Not really sure what else he can say, but I’m not very optimistic about the point … at least Javi got a lot of experience …. Farnold seems to be progressing ok - so I guess I’ll hope for the best
I certainly hope everything he said about team conditioning is true … I hope the guys come back fit, angry, and motivated
Would like to have heard Adam or Joe ask about our non-existent ‘D’ or rebounding and how that *should* improve this season, but whatever … (if the D or the rebounding doesn’t improve at all that would be most distressing)
go pack
I just never quite understood how Costner and McCauley could not feel like critical key components on the team…I just couldn’t see that that we had anywhere near enough talent on the floor for people to be upset about the role or minutes. There was plenty of room for more stars - especially when you looked at UNC with 5 stars on the floor at all times. A situation like that is where you would expect to see chemistry/minutes and all that bubble up. I guess it all goes back to coaching and getting people in the right mindset, we just flat out tanked that last year.
Good interview. At least there was no hint of MJ playing point. Hopefully he can find his shot and settle into a part-time role in the #2 spot. This team should be playing for the respect they lost last year. They should utterly destroy the first few opponents faced. I’m pulling for you guys; but, you’ve got to show your fans you want to win. Go Pack.
Agree with it comes down to coaching and getting people in the right mindset. Keep in mind that no one at UNC is new to the idea of having new five star talent coming in. I think that whole process was definitely new to BC and Ben-especially after their roles in the prior year. I simply don’t think they were ready and having JJ, disrupted them just enough. Plus, I feel like injuries played a big role as well.
Lowe hasn’t yet cultivated the same type of system that UNC, Duke or any big time school for that matter has. Adjusting to new talent for those big time schools I think is in their “mindsets” already and each Five Star veteran player knows that they very well could lose minutes if they aren’t willing to adjust to the talent around them. Plus, if they are playing to their abilities of their Five Star status, they shouldn’t have to worry-because in a lot of cases, the rookies ease there way in as the year goes on-unless of course we are dealing with phenoms.
I think some of you guys are forgetting about Engin Atstur. I think made both Ben and Brandon look a little better. He made sure they were in right place and got them the ball where they wanted it.
No doubt Ben and Brandon should have adjusted better to playing with Hickson, but there was definately more to it than that.
Good point ncsu96. I’ve never really underestimated the importance of a good point guard and that was an obvious deficit last year. That explains how they looked lost with no steadfast court guidance. However, I do think there is still something to be said about embracing roles for the betterment of the team and excepting the role you make for yourself. If you’re not playing up to your caliber, then you sit. I do think though that with a good floor general, those roles would have been exploited more but It’s my belief that BC suffered some from injury, sophmore slumpage and having his ego smashed.
Point guard at our current talent/depth level is absolutely critical. You have to have a floor leader who can maximize the talent he has and recognize opportunities the opposing team gives him. If not, each player tries to do it all himself and we’ve seen that just won’t cut it in the ACC.
All that being said, I would rather take our chances with the way we were playing at the end of 07-08 than have a Hickson and look like we did this year.
I think our record last year proves that every player is a key component, whether they realize it or not.
It doesn’t help us to have great post players if we don’t have guards who can get them the ball.
PG is crucial, but we need to find a 2 guard that isn’t a complete cipher. Ferguson is limited defensively (due to athleticism), and MJ can’t shoot. So, Mays really needs to be much better than advertised.
Fells must play the 3, and only the 3. He’s the worst passer of any starting guard that I’ve ever seen at the ACC level.
Let us hope that Costner, the team and staff don’t embrace the ‘Big Lazy’ nickname anymore. What a ridiculous mindset for a ACC college basketball starter. Why not just go by ‘The Sloth”?
Wouldn’t it make more sense for Costner to give himself the monkier ‘Grim Reaper’ or the ‘Guillotine’? That would be a little more appropriate than letting other’s basically call you fat and lazy.
Here’s my guess….easily the #2 spot is the most “up for grabs.”
1. Degand — Javi/Johnson
2. Fergie — Mays/Williams
3. Fells — Thomas/Harris
4. Brandon — Horner
5. Ben — Smith
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Smith start and Brandon/Ben fight it out for the other post spot.
IF Brandon could legitimately handle the 3-spot then we could mask some of our talent deficiency and lead with an adequate starting five of Degand, Fells, Costner, Smith & McCauley.
But, I just cannot see Costner being able to handle the responsibility after what we saw last year. He cannot handle the defensive responsibilities of the wing and turns the ball over entirely too much on the perimeter.
Statefans,
I think you’re right about Smith/BC/Ben, but no way I see BC in at the 3. I think Fells will play the 3 because I believe Sid wants to speed up the tempo a bit. Just my guess….
no way BC & Ben don’t start. Mayes/Javi/Fergie/Fells all will play some 2 IMO. A lot will depend on JT & DeGand’s health.
Nice to hear that the summer workout sessions began 5 days after the season ended. I hope the staff is involved in the training process if this is NCAA approved.
Next year we need guards and big men that run the floor, and especially on defense.
Our big men also need massive lessons on boxing out so that some of the rebounds go our way and not to the opposing team.
I thought Lowe handled himself well and now the focus needs to be on improvement for next season. Nowhere to go but up.
“Fells must play the 3, and only the 3. He’s the worst passer of any starting guard that I’ve ever seen at the ACC level.”
I love Courtney, but this is so true … I have never seen more lazy passes come from an individaul player at this level of basketball … let’s hope fundamentals are being stressed a lot more over the summer months as well …
It would be great if we could use Costner at the 3 some, but I believe like most others that he’s a 4 and only a 4 … although, if what Coach Lowe has said about his conditioning this off-season (lost about. 15 lbs) we could see a much quicker (a la freshman) version of Costner … at the very least this should help his devensive and rebounding capabilities ….
“no way BC & Ben don’t start.” - I don’t know if I’d go that far … after last season, I would hope that all positions are wide open for who wants it the most … that said, if Ben and Brandon can start looking like an ‘06-’07 version of themselves (w/ a lot of help from solid pg play) then, yeah - I think they should start … I really like Tracy though …
Fells almost avgd a triple double in HS. He has the skills, he just needs to stay positive & up for an entire game.
BJD95: No offense, but what he did in high school is no longer really relevant. He’s been consistently awful with his passing and decisionmaking as a college guard for THREE YEARS. Now, he can be a solid scorer, rebounder, and defender if he pays attention and gives consistent effort. But he can’t be a guard anymore than I can be a duck.
With the way last season went, if this team doesn’t show up in October with a fire and work ethic to erase the memory of last year’s debacle, then there is something seriously wrong with this program. I don’t want to hear any reports of players showing up out of shape, and I don’t want to see lack of hustle and desire, even in the preseason exhibition games…
Year three is crucial for Lowe and staff. I’m an optimist but a realist too and I don’t see any justification in holding onto this staff if things don’t improve. By improvement, I mean: a well conditioned basketball team, a strong foundation of fundamentals, reacting and not thinking<<<of course you need some of the latter, a serviceable heady point guard, chemistry, heart, heart and more heart.
That’s not to say that I don’t believe winning is important however, I do believe that winning would follow suit if said above improvements were made.
I found this to be an interesting tidbit of information off of an interview at northcarolinastate.scout.com
Interviewer: Any other personnel changes?
Coach Lowe: Not that I can discuss at this point.
Interviewer: Not just the players, but any other staff changes?
Coach Lowe: Not that I can discuss at this point.
I found this to be rather encouraging as well; especially the last four sentences.
Interviewer: Can you talk a little about your goals for the guys coming back?
Coach Lowe: I think the first thing is I’m going to continue to hope we stay healthy. Not having Farnold obviously had a great impact on our team. I expect our guys to come back and be ready to play. I’ve seen that in them this summer. Now, part of it is because I demanded that. Guys are down in weight. They are getting down to where I want them, not where they want to be. They are in the gym, they are working out, and I think their mindset is going to be different.
We had postseason meetings. They understand me and where I’m coming from. It’s going to be my way and that’s it. It’s real simple. They are players and I’m the coach and they are going to do it my way. If they don’t, then they don’t want to be here.
Sounds like he’s more the coach and less an Amato-esc buddy. Granted-it’s a freaking interview and only time will tell-but maybe change is on the immediate horizon. Heck, maybe he had a little chat with Tom O’brien.
The only way you could start that “big” lineup is if McCauley played PG, and you shifted Degand to the 2. Fells can’t play the 2, and BC can’t play the 3.
Fells also has the tendency to not move very much on offense, which is more of a problem as a 2 than as a 3.
I think Ben and BC both start (if for no other reason than to avoid pouting), but Tracy will get almost equal minutes, spelling both. Horner will have trouble finding PT as the 4th big, absent foul trouble. Fells has no real backup, so it might be Harris by default. Nothing I have heard or read indicates that Thomas will be physically ready to play significant minutes next year, if ever. I also don’t see CJ Williams landing significant PT, although he could possibly fill or share Harris’ role. Just wish everyone played as hard as Simon.
PG - Degand (Javi as backup - hopefully just 5-7 mpg)
SG - Mays by default (Ferguson for offense, MJ for defense as backups)
SF - Fells (Harris)
PF - Costner (Smith, Horner)
C - McCauley (Smith)
Afterglow, Sid could have talked to TOB OR Dick Sheridan!
Has everyone forgotten about Thomas? I know we haven’t seen anything from him since he was hurt last year. I’m pretty excited to see what the kid can do. I hope that he sees some minutes in the exhibition/preseason games.
We definitely have the legs and talent this year, we just need Sid to put them all together.
Johnny’s not coming along as fast as Farnold at this point. He’s doing pool work outs and is running on the treadmill as well.
Thomas is a helluva athlete, he’s got size and (from what I remember) a 42″ vertical. He’ll be an excellent defender with those tools… I just hope his knee doesn’t kill that vertical.
I hate how everyone has given up on Javi… Hes NOT an ACC PG. No Shite. But it WAS Degand who was running the point when we lost to ECU and NO, and it WAS Javi running the point when we almost beat Duke.
Degands ONLY upside to Javi is his speed. We dont even know if he will have that next year. Javi has more heart then the rest of the team take away Ben. I know thats what I want to see.
Javi’s play did seem to pick up at the end of the season and I think with Degand (especially at first) we will see a lot of back and forth with this scenario. But, when it comes down to it-as great as heart is-you need speed in this league.
In fairness to Degand, I don’t think we really got to see what he had or did not have as he went down pretty early in the season. He may very well never live up to his potential with his injury. But in contrast, he may be pretty decent as well. Time will only tell. My bets are on Degand just based on how Lowe talks of him.
Javi was thrown to the wolves (so to speak) and after a rocky beginning he did start to come into his own towards the end. But even he coming into his own is not going to cut it. I think with him, you’ll basically see someone who will spell Degand.
In reality, if we had someone like Wall playing on the roster last year, the likes of Degand or Javi would only materialize for mop up duty or rests. I don’t really think that either one of them are that good. We’ve adjusted (lowered) our expectations of what a point guard is. Face it, if in the 05/06 year, BC or Big Ben weren’t around and we had no other formidable souls, we would having adjusted our expectations on someone lesser like that tall guy that was once on our team.
agreed about Javi. He became one of my favorite players to watch last year. I mean popped douchebag Paulus in the face with ball, thats enough to put Javi near the top of my list. I am pulling hard for Javi to continue improving and continue seeing the floor over the next 3 years.
^^We’re going to need Javi, no doubt - but Coach Lowe keeps stating specifically that having Farnold healthy is a (the) key to this teams’ chances … Those are his words … It sounds like Farnold will automatically fill the starting slot at the 1 when/if healthy, rather than having to beat out Javi
And I totally agree w/ ppf23 about Javi’s heart and competitiveness … I love that little guy … Favorite moments of last seaon were the elbow to Paaaaaulus and also Javi slapping Paulus’ hand check away … I heard the slap even up in my 300-level seats! Awesome!
Don’t take no **** from them!
Afterglow- I agree our standard are horrible for a point right now… but Degand seems NO better than Javi to me.
I really hope Lowe is speaking so highly of Degand because he REALLY sees something in him, and NOT because he is stubborn and wants to make it work. We saw how that worked with his substitution patterns last season… and for some reason I get the feeling that this is the same. I hope I am wrong. He is the COACH after all. I am just a fan.
packpigskinfan23-I honestly think it just comes down to Lowe working with what he has. Of the two there is a marginal difference with maybe speed being the key ingredient along with some other intangibles.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the fire in Javi and who knows, he may turn out to be the guy-but more than likely if he is-it will only be until a better point guard can be put into place.
I wouldn’t throw Javi out just yet… You’d be amazed what the off season can do to someone who has the drive to achieve. (*Cough* “Big Lazy”) The first UNC game I was cringing “ohhh noooo Javi!”… but by the end of the season he had really improved to the point where I was cheering “Fuck yea, Javi!”. He’s got an attitude and a hunger for winning, and besides, he’s a helluva ball thief.
He may not be a “John Wall” talent wise, but he’s got the attitude of a winner and it’s not like he’s chopped liver talent-wise. He’s got a good stroke from outside and doesn’t mind beating the crap out of other point guards either.
I too wish Javi the best this up comming year. His heart and all out effort was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disasterous season.
We definitely have the legs and talent this year
I’m sorry, but this just sounds like wishful thinking to me. State had issues at PG, team speed, defensive intensity, and rebounding last year. I’m going to have to see improvement in these areas before I become optimistic about next year.
I still think you might see Degand and Javi together on the court more than you want. One thing we lack is speed and both of them on the floor will be better and just one then Ferg. comes off the bench.
Fells MUST play the 3 position and not the 2….he is better suited and might get better shots if he is there as well.
Costner must play the 4…..he is NOT a guard even though he can shoot.
McCauley needs to come in FIRED UP to fill lanes, rebound, and scrap for points.
Unless attitudes and conditoning change we are dead last again and I fear that Coach Lowe is off the hot seat and into the fire.
I’m a Javi fan. I didn’t see enough out of Degand to make a fair judgment last year. I hope that the “we need a healthy Degand” is more than just a roundabout way of blaming our crappy year on his injury. It would be nice to have both of them ready to contribute, because we all saw MJ at the point and it wasn’t pretty.
It seems too late for a transfer and I can’t picture a staff change this late in the offseason, so I wonder if the potential change involves bringing in a late recruit. Does Bartosz have a brother?
Degand is MUCH faster (and quicker) than Javi, but that’s certainly not the MAIN distinction, let alone the ONLY one.
Degand is a much, much better defender. That makes a huge difference. Javi isn’t just bad defensively - he’s AWFUL.
^ While I agree, I’ll also point out that Greg Paulus might disagree with you on that count. If Javi played D like he did in the Duke game, well, that’s a horse of a different color.
I think Costner will have an entirely different game this year than last, much more like two years ago. From hearing all the work he has put in and weight he has lost, I think he is getting his body, and hopefully his mind, right.
I also am looking for T-Ferg to keep breaking out of that shell. Keep in mind that Javi played pretty good for a guy that should have been redshirting (in my opinion).
Agree BJ, defense is by far the biggest difference between Javi and Degand. Javi is so small, the opponent can just move to wherever he wants on the court. Degand is much bigger, and was much stronger (I expect Javi’s strength will be improved this year).
Lowe has been using Degand’s injury as an excuse for losing since early this year, even though Degand never looked that impressive to begin with. I hope he comes back better than ever, but based on what we’ve seen so far, I’d take Javi over Degand (as a starter). Especially if Javi keeps improving at the rate he did last season.
Javi can be effective offensively and at least passable defensively when he’s faster and quicker than the man he’s guarding. Unfortunately, Paulus is the only PG in the ACC who fits that description.
^ That is absurd.
When Degand went down we had won the Old Spice (by beating NCAA Sweet 16 Villanova), defeated Seton Hall on the road, and were in the process of beating Cincinnati at home. At the time of his injury we would have been an NCAA Tournament team if the Tournament were to start then.
All of this^ in DeGand’s FIRST games EVER as a college player. It was also obvious that he was making strong strides in the couple of weeks before the injury.
Not to mention the difference he made on the defensive end of the court with his height and quickness (that KILLED us when Javi was thrown into the mix).
I know we will have more wins next year. And, as great as Hickson would have been for State next year, I believe that the team will be much better without him. The chemistry was crap last year, and as some have already said, players felt like their roles had been downgraded. I wish Hickson the best of luck, but now it is all about the team again, and not Hickson and everybody else.
^^We were also painfully blown out by Michigan State and lost to ECU and NO with Degand as PG. Javi was also playing his first college games ever, and was still recuperating from an injury early on. We’ll just have to see what happens this coming season. They may complement each other well and we’ll see alot of both of them.
The chemistry issues had as much to do with other players (like Gavin Grant) than they did Hickson.
Gavin was leaving anyway…I would much rather have Hickson another year (and hopefully with more maturity) than not.
I don’t think Javi was really all that bad defensively. He really does more than what an average basketball fan thinks. He does give up strength and speed, but he gives maximum effort which is the most important part of playing defense. He’ll never be Bruce Bowen or Dennis Rodman defensively, but I do like his ability to get his hands on the ball. He swats passes out of the passing lane and strips dribblers better than anyone on the team. Javi is the best on the team defensively in those two key areas (effort, deflections).
I think Javi may be the starter this year. One situation you will probably see is Farnold starting against bigger guards and Javi getting the start in all other games. Lowe likes to adjust his line-up to the other team (the fact that I disagree with this strategy is a topic for another day).
I think that we will see a team that lines up more like this:
1. Javi/Degand Mays
2. Fells/Ferguson Mays
3. Harris/Fells Horner, Thomas
4. Costner Horner
5. McCauley Smith
In reality I think it would be better if the line-up was faster than this with Javi as a 1, Degand as a 2 (old school…both guards can handle), Fells as a 3, Costner as a 4 (though I’m still not over the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man and would rather start Harris), and McCauley as the 5.
I know most of you will disagree, but I think this line-up gives us some quickness. It gives a team that is suspect at the point two guys that can handle the ball. It allows for us to use Degand on the more athletic of our opponents two guards. It also gives us the ability to use Ferguson and Harris as effort players off the bench in the event we start out slow.
BJD - good point on Javi’s D. He is a little too small (in both height and overall size) and not quick enough to compensate for those shortcomings. (He actually reminds me a little of Daniel Evans - a person who does everything he can w/ his abilities, but the rest of team isn’t strong enough to compensate for his obvious weaknesses.) The good news is that he has an offseason to improve his strength, develop more physically and work on his quickness.
I do have share some agreement w/ Degand’s injury being used as a crutch/excuse for the collapse. If memory serves correct, we started 4-4 in the ACC w/ Javi at the PG spot.
Granted, Degand was stronger in a lot of areas where Javi struggled - and we certainly would have been a better team with him.
However, I do get concerned that once again Sid is pigeonholing folks into certain positions and hasn’t (to date) shown a lot flexibility in the line-ups he’s willing to offer teams. This surprises since V was an absolute master at controlling/forcing tempo and keeping the opponent off balance w/ various line up changes.
Just a correction to the above: The Seton Hall road win was the game following Degand’s injury. However to enforce your point, with Degand in the lineup, we defeated Davidson, a team that didn’t lose again until they almost took out the eventual national champs in the Elite 8.
I think we’ll see DeGand & Javi on the floor at the same time some this season. Fells will play the 2 & 3. Horner might play some three since he’s slimmed down & the other options are Thomas & Williams. Maybe MJ will play some 3, he’s similar to Fells in size & he’s not a PG. We do have many multi-positional players.
DeGand/Javi/Mayes
Javi/Fells/Mayes
Fells/Horner/MJ
Costner/Smith/Horner
Ben/Smith
The “chemistry issues” mushroomed in earnest a game or two after Degand’s injury (on the Seton Hall trip and its aftermath). So it’s hard to separate the impact of those 2 notable events.
Yes, MSU beat the piss out of us (and we lost to ECU and NO) even with Degand. But we also DEFINITELY would have lost to a pretty damned lousy South Carolina team without Degand’s game-saving performance.
My guess is that we PROBABLY manage to make the NIT or CBI if Degand stays healthy. But I can’t really be sure of that. The offseason complacency and in-season chemistry disruption were major, major problems.
Just a thought that I haven’t seen raised by the media concerning the upcoming bball season. How many bench jockies will Roy have to run off to make room for the incoming class since everyone is coming back? Also I feel better about the Pack’s season if you look at it this way…the core of the team that finished fairly strongly two years ago is back without the JJ distraction and will be looking to atone for last year’s debacle.Heck,between the progress of the football team under Coach O’B and the number of returning bball players we just may have a fun and exciting fall and winter!
^ Let’s hope that this is a very positive season of transition.
Glad to see I am not the only one who feels that way about Javi. I guess its just something that we are gonna have to let the Coach do his job, and make the decesions.
Like I said before, and many have added onto, I just feel like its Lowe’s stubbornness that is gonna make Degand the starter and not just by merit. I hope Degand comes back setting the court of fire… but we dont know what he will look like yet, and for Lowe to basically name him the starter already is a bit disheartening to me.
Can Javi fit in any other guard position? the 3 maybe? I am no basketball guru… so I dont really break down position by position, but it seems that Javi could offensively find a great open three. On defense his speed wouldn’t be as big of a liability? But then again I bring it back to Lowe’s stubbornness. I highly doubt he will change positions like that. He seems to have no flexibility.
Lowe hasn’t had a full roster to work with yet. Give the man time to re-build.
^^^Can Javi fit in any other guard position? the 3 maybe?
Most SF (3’s) in the ACC would post up Javi. He’s just not tall enough to defend other 3’s — actually would struggle defending most 2 guards, IMO.
….but I’ll add he’s one of my favorite players to watch. I love his tenacity and competitiveness.
Given Javi’s height - or lack thereof - he is one position player in this league. Degand - can play the two - and he could guard the 2 as well.
One of my complaints last year is that our staff recruited 3 guards who they would only play at the 1 spot. Truthfully, a good guard should be able to play both positions in a pinch. For a guard of Javi’s size, he’ll never be able to defend a bigger guard consistently. However, your guards should be able to shoot and penetrate well enough and think well enough to move away from the PG spot.
I think there’s a good change that we’ll have Javi & Degand on the court at the same time a lot. Who plays the 1 & who the 2 will depend on matchups. Fergie can provide some minutes at the 2 for sure.
If Javi hits the weights and puts on 10-15 pounds of muscle I think he’d be able to make up for his lack of height. I love the kid. He’s without a doubt stuck at the PG position though. I think a lineup of Javi/Degand/Fells/Costner/Mccauley would be exceptionally fast. All Javi would NEED to do is hit open shots to keep the defense on him and atleast make the opposing team’s point guard work for his points. Fells would have more time to worry about scoring and less about passing.
1: Javi/Degand/Mays/Johnson
2: Degand/Ferguson/Johnson/Mays/Thomas
3: Fells/Harris/Horner/Johnson/Thomas
4: Costner/Smith/Harris/Horner
5: Mccauley/Smith (I just don’t see Costner here, even if he is bigger than Smith)
That’s from Starter—>3rd/4th option
I love Harris and I hope he gets his minutes in, he’s a freaking BEAST and he gave Curry all sorts of problems when he was defending him.
I don’t see Williams/Johnson getting any PT next year unless they’re monsters. I don’t know where Horner is going to fit in either :\
Javi was the most mentally tough player on the court by season’s end, something we definitely need.
^got that right
“One of my complaints last year is that our staff recruited 3 guards who they would only play at the 1 spot. Truthfully, a good guard should be able to play both positions in a pinch. For a guard of Javi’s size, he’ll never be able to defend a bigger guard consistently. However, your guards should be able to shoot and penetrate well enough and think well enough to move away from the PG spot.”
Chop, now which staff are you talking about exactly? I mean, didn’t we already have a 2 guard who couldn’t pass the basketball, rarely forces the issue, and hardly ever penetrates, back before Sidney Lowe ever arrived? I don’t think I’d lay it all on the one coach who wasn’t at liberty to pick and choose, and had to pretty much settle for anyone he could get to fill the position.
It’s been sorely tested and almost rocked off it’s foundation, but I still have a good feeling about Sidney Lowe deep down. Considering that the learning curve of recruiting and managing kids on the collegiate level would be a colossal task for any mere mortal, and then starting it all out at a university that is an ACC member on top of that, I would have believe that the one man (who took the job with good intentions and after so many others had turned us down) still deserves our respect and some patience shown.
chop, I was admittedly trying to get a rise out of you in that first post earlier, but that last one was just a general statement, NOT pointed at you at all.
“Fells would have more time to worry about scoring and less about passing.”
Not to be a smart ass, but I think you meant to say that Fells could just shoot from way down town all of the time. I don’t think he’s ever been too “worried” about attempting much of anything else.