TORONTO, CANADA – Brandon Costner led four N.C. State players in double figures with a game-high 31 points, as the Pack came away with an 81-60 win at York University in the first of two exhibition games in Toronto this weekend.
Holding a 51-48 lead late in the third quarter, the State went on a 7-1 run to end the quarter thanks to six points from sophomore Tracy Smith. The Pack would then limit York to just two field goals in the final 10 minutes of play for the win.
Senior Ben McCauley did not make the trip to Toronto for conduct detrimental to the team according to Lowe.
But I thought I was reading too much into Ben’s comments this offseason?
Good ole Ben ME-cauley
Ok so now I’m confused. I thought the chemistry was messed up last year because of JJ. Why would Ben mess things up? I thought it was always Brandon, Courtney and him that were close? Sigh.
Btw, a 21 point win over YORK University? Not impressive. I’m guessing Farnold didn’t play either right?
This basketball team, on paper, looks awful. I am not sure our win total will reach the double digits.
Just a copy/paste of what I said in a earlier thread…
Stats of interest.
Costner:
11-24 2-6 7-8 9 reb 31 pt 2 assists 3 turnovers 1 steal
Costner may be back. He had a team high 34 minutes as well.
Javi:
0-5 0-0 0-1 3 reb 0 pt 4 assists 1 turnover 5 steals 25
No points is suspect, but I know javi can hit it from 3 pt. 4/1 a/t is good, and it looks like Javi is still a thief. Solid overall but needs more scoring.
Ferguson:
Still hitting it from 3p 2-4, 3 steals, couple of assists/turnovers.
Tracy Smith
3-10 Free throws. What? I thought he got better at the end of the year. Must be first game jitters again. That show’s he’s being aggressive though by the amount of fouls AND that all 5 of his rebounds were offensive, which is amazing. I think we’re going to like this kid.
Fells
5 rebounds, 7-7 free throw, 0-4 3-p. Fells shows he can rebound, but also that his 3-p shooting is streaky still.
Harris:
Rebounded, scored some. Not bad. About what we expect from him.
CJ Williams:
0 turnovers in 15 minutes? I’ll take it.
Mays:
Nothing too special, no points, a few rebounds/assists/turnovers. Played 16 minutes though.
Horner: Missed all his shots except free throws. Bleh.
Looks like we couldn’t put the ball in the bucket at all. I don’t know how good York university is (Probably trash) but they shot a lot of 3’s and it looks like our perimeter defense improved as we held them to 26% from that.
Mccauley doesn’t make the trip? Holy hell, I wanna hear more about this… maybe he was trying to start a fire with his comments? Good to hear Sidney isn’t taking shit, even from our seniors.
Just a guess - but not sure Sid liked Ben bringing up the personal rift between the team again. Maybe he told him to cool it after GoPack interview, but then he repeated the stuff (albeit more indirectly) in yesterday’s N&O.
Well, after an injury, one that was never really specified in any detail, and the added weight that MAY well have been attributed to that injury, Brandon Costner comes back and leads the team with a great performance that is reminiscent of the way he played two years ago. Then, there was the revelation yesterday that Courtney Fells MAY have really been the one with the worst attitude regarding JJ Hickson’s new role on the team. Now, add to all of that, Ben McCauley’s surprisingly not making the entire trip to Canada, because of “disruptive” behavior issues.
Man, that is just way, WAAAY, too much information to digest in one day. Based on all of these new events though, I think that maybe many of us, (((MYSELF))) very much included, have been way off base in trying to point the finger at any specific target(s).
I’m thinking of about four or five different scenarios which may have evolved over the past two seasons. Some of those scenarios could be laid mainly in the laps of the coaches, others mainly the fault of some of the original core of player’s who felt somehow “entitled”, and still other’s, a tangled combination of all of these factors. Maybe now though, I’m back to my original feelings about how long this thing will actually take. That maybe there needs to be added time allowed for a total purge of a few attitudes leftover from the past regime. But then, there I go with more blind speculation, once again.
Be sure to join us tomorrow, for the next thrilling episode of “_________________________”. (insert your favorite soap opera title)
“As the Stomach Turns”, or something like that possibly.
rf - ain’t that the damn truth.
Our only bright spot right now is recruiting. Of course, as Chuck taught us, a couple of 5 star signings and extremely talented players doesn’t mean that you’ll have a great team.
BM was a major cause of the chemistry issues last year. they only grew from there.
the monst recent incident occurred at practice before the trip…
maybe chemistry will improve when the core 3 egos are gone. they each have played big roles in the team sucking…
You must mean Ben, Fells, and Costner. Or Ben, Fells, and the departed Grant.
Be sure to join us tomorrow, for the next thrilling episode of “As the Turd Whirls”. I suggest this as the theme for NCSU basketball as it seems to be in the toilet.
chop, keep in mind Lowe hasn’t had very time with 5 star players just yet. But on the bright side, I am seeing more positive and workable attitudes involving the majority of “less sought after” players that Lowe has had to settle for in his early stages as the HC.
I guess all we can do is wait for this thing to run it’s course, hoping that this latest, heavily influenced by the NBA, version of Sidney Lowe, is still drawing upon the same values as that kid that we once knew in a WOLFPACK uniform.
It’s like a soldier who blew up the ammo depot last year because he was sneaking a smoke inside and trying to hide the smoldering butts…
And then a year later, after having been ‘convicted’ but shown tremendous mercy by the court…
he’s found playing with matches in the new ammo dump.
There really is no excuse–absolutely none. Without a public apology to the university and fanbase; and some community service by the student court; he should be sent packing and his scholarship revoked. There is no longer a place for toxic, dangerous behavior.
Unless people know specifics around the Ben McCauley issue I suggest people lay off. It’s not even the beginning of the year and people are getting all overheated over a situation we know nothing about. We could guess and make assumptions all day long but I highly doubt anyone really knows what happened. If you do, then let’s go off of facts.
Everyone inhale… and breathe. Let’s do some yoga. Take you left leg, place it behind your head, positioning it on the small of your back, and relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaax.
As for the game itself, it’s a pre-season pre-season game. I’m sure Lowe is playing with line ups and different game scenarios. I wouldn’t get to worried or excited one way or another.
I personally like that Lowe made a statement with Ben McCaulley. Let’s start now.
BJ- Ben Fells GG
Sadly, there is nothing more sad than recognizing that your team was terrible… and deserved to be.
Way to go, Ben, way to go.
Dam* it Ben, you’re a senior … wth? Great start …
“I personally like that Lowe made a statement with Ben McCaulley. Let’s start now.”
Amen to that … Time for the bball coaches to really take control of the team - not so sure “discipline” has always been at the top of the priority list under Sidney …
I am going to play the Devil’s Advocate here: Suppose Ben has a claim, but it isn’t being heard? Suppose there is junk going on around the program and the staff doesn’t want to hear it, and he refuses to stay quiet? I’ve always seen been as a high character guy. Whether or not that is true, I don’t know. But it is my perception. He plays the game the right way most of the time. Just a thought.
^Nope
so sf, you seem to have this pretty much figured out, how are you so connected into the program?
In the age of the internet I’m sure there are quite a few posters on here that are either A: Really good friends with a few players. or B: One of the 100+ people that help with the team and get to hear what goes on.
I like hearing such things, even though we can never really tell if it’s true
had some interesting golf games over the last year.
sf59, I’m really glad you did, but why now? Why didn’t you guys who are privy to this sort of stuff, let us in on it earlier?
That, I do not understand at all.
Any reports on tonight’s game? I’m kind of worried, Guelph.
You know this now I’m sure; Horner Leads Pack Past Guelph, 87-47. Pretty sound game all around. Again, it’s a pre-season pre-season game but still nice to have them play against someone other than themselves in a good packed house environment even if Guelph got beat pretty bad by East Tennessee State the night before. I think Guelph managed thirty points against ETS prior. May did well putting in 10 points, 5 assist and 1 turnover. The pack shot 55.2%. In any event, I’m reserving judgement/excitment either way but I do believe this early play will help in the long run.
sf59-Why are you so cryptic about this whole Ben McCauley thing? I respect your reasoning either way but I’m just wondering. If you know something, why not just come out and say it or for that matter, why say anything at all? Teasing people with a minute snapshot of what really happened just leads to a firestorm of speculation which seems unnecessary.
rf-i did not know earlier… all the run ins i had were post season/ early summer. we thought all was better with the upper classmen after jj left… so not much was posted. (no need to beat a dead horse) but given the most recent incident… it just makes sense to let fans know where the root of many of the problems lie. (ie not with the coaches or lottery pick but with a certain 2 upper clasmen and one departed sr…. and now 1 upper classman in particular.)
sf59: What most recent incident?
This crap actually makes sense to me. Big Ben’s interview with go pack did not give me a good vibe at all. You guys read it. He says he really wants to play well for Fells and the seniors…or players that might be on their last year or whatever… Sounded to me like its ME, Court, and Brandon against the world! I am so sick of it!!! Coach Lowe is to and Ben better get on board. I bet coach would rather not win a F’in game this year, than have this years team fall victim to this CRAP!!!
sf - Specifics please, or else you can’t really expect us to believe you. If you know something, tell us. If you are afraid to b/c you think it might blow your cover, then stop posting.
I also don’t see how any of this is constructive. Let Coach Lowe do his work and don’t feed the media. Don’t make things bigger than they have been. Sharing this kind of stuff can only be more divisive. I’m also very wary of cryptic posting which usually is agenda driven (i.e., somebody’s girlfriend wants to get something out there because she’s mad at how things are being portrayed) and it just builds and builds.
So, what we have are a few players who feel entitled, and who would rather bitch and moan rather than work harder to earn their playing time? This is NC State afterall, but how in the HELL do similar situations take place at different programs all over the country, yet in Raleigh, a few bad apples basically shut down the entire program?
Fells’ numbers, while playing against the likes of York and Guelph Universitys of Canada, aren’t good and they are not impressive at all. That guy, even with his freakish athleticism, just doesn’t have the head, or especially the heart, to play major college basketball. Courtney, if you’re looking in, keep and use your scholarship to get an education, if that’s what you want. But otherwise, give up, move over and get out of the way. With your lack of desire to make a difference, you were lucky to end up at NC State. A player with your inconsistency you wouldn’t have even sniffed the court half as much at any other major college BB program.
McCauley Sulkin, if all this stuff is true, transfer on out of here, or just go on HOME ALONE.
i won’t post specifics, i gave my word i would not. the only reaseon i post is to confirm the past culprits wtih chemistry porblems and to also confirm that this is not strike 1 with BM. The coaches are doing the right thing here.
thx to people like wulfpack anybody that has any info gets rail roaded because they won’t divulge their life story for the board to read. so instead what you get is a lot of crickets chirping…and peicing togehter quotes from month old player inerviews. have fun with that. sorry to have disturbed your board
True or not (and I think more true than not).
Given the time to have his recruits playing significant roles then we can judge Lowe fairly in my opinion.
I am forgetting, there is one thing still out there that ONE, well connected person volunteered to me many months ago. I only heard it once, from that ONE source. I haven’t heard anyone even hinting at it since, and I haven’t asked. Some things are just better left alone.
It may be…um…very interesting, to see what all shakes out of this before it is over.
sf59, I appreciate the stuff you are letting us in on. Don’t let one poster bother you about it.
I understand where wulfpack is coming from, it’s definitely frustrating to get bombarded with of this stuff all at once. But I also agree with bigwood, stick around sf59, your posts are finally making some sense of this childish mess.
I had just about decided that I wasn’t even going to make the trip to Raleigh this upcoming BB season, but if there is any truth to this, and it’s childish players versus coaching issues, then I feel I might want to be there in support of the younger kids who will have to struggle through some very tough times, while trying to make up for their more experienced/selfish/ASSHOLE teammates.
You gave your word that you wouldn’t state any specifics yet you come on here and post some blurbs that entice “Statefans Nation” to create its own judgments, rightly or wrongly, but really that’s all we can do. I can appreciate the fact that you don’t want to blow your cover but my hunch is if the folks you promised were readers of this blog then you would have already been identified. It’s just a little frustrating for someone to come on here and behave as if they know it all, but then won’t give up much information, other than that you’ve played a whole lot of golf with someone. Talk about crickets chirping. I’m not asking you to divulge any life stories like who you are playing golf with and whatever else. I’d just like to know what incidents you speak of. Again, I can appreciate your position but can’t accept it for much other than hear-say at this point.
As I have been scrolling down, reading the entries here, I’m kinda amazed at how quickly sf59’s comments were taken to heart and everyone started downing Ben….WTF? ALL basketball players have an ego (some more than others), no matter if they are NBA, D1, D2, high school, or playground. It goes with the territory. I can list a few…..Corchiani, Grant, Hodge, Sherrill…and the list goes on.
Whatever Ben did to warrant this, he WANTS TO PLAY BALL, and not making this trip will truly send him the message. Let it go.
Until the season starts in earnest, I am not going to throw negative comments out concerning this team. Let’s see the kids play first, then judge away. Go Wolfpack!
This is why I visit this blog: to attain information on NC State Sports, to read interesting viewpoints from varying perspectives, to discover interesting (factual) information on recruits-the drama of where they may go and whether they may be coming here and to read and partake in debates on interesting topics.
Perspectives are interesting and often times deceptive half truths. If you ask six blind men to describe an elephant your answers are going to be all over the map however, not necessarily totally wrong. I struggle with the scant divulgence of information because the potential manifestations are often negative and not factual.
I also prescribe to (one the oldest law in the books) the laws of attraction and believe negativity attracts negativity. That is not to say that such information (negative or positive) should not be shared but more so that the negativity it creates (should you allow it to) is contagious and destructive-the opposite applying to its counterpart. But that’s just my personal opinion and I respect any other views regardless.
BTW…..according to the official Guelph athletics site…..we are the North Carolina Wolfpack. I think I just threw up a little bit…in my mouth…just now.
I would like to go on record that if we cannot win an ACC Conference Championship in either Men’s basketball, Football, Women’s basketball, or baseball by 2015, that we should formally request that NC State drop athletics, and endeavor to become the NYU of the south.
blah…and blah.
I stick by original point about sf59 and if he, she it is that prissy about this, get some counseling.
That was nothing but deep throat pot stirring.
Gotta love a deep throat reference! Kinda funny, though, how a lot of posts following were increasing in negativity…..maybe that has something to do with the poor performances…karma or some such crap biting us in the hindquarters.
sf59 makes some good points and coincides with some things I have heard also, but I have not gotten details. The coaches have kept this thing very close to the chest. They made the mistake of letting Jed in on this and he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
Remember no one was more affected by JJ’s PT than BM last year. We know JJ didn’t bad mouth Lowe and our program, he has praised Lowe and has opened more doors to recruiting down in Ga. Costner has also been very loyal to our program and has kept very quiet about this whole thing. I think Lowe is doing a good thing although the public embarressment for BM is a tough thing for a young man at that age and I hope he responds to this instead of reacting. Williams over at UNC took control of his program after a very rocky first year. Mr. STD and bad team chemistry gave Williams fits his first year. Second year it was “my way or highway and they won it all.”
The info sf59 provided is not useless, patience will reveal the truth. Truth tends to be based on perspective, and there are 360 degrees around any situation. The info, while perhaps not specific or cited, will add 1 degree (or more) to that circle and thus we are closer to understanding.
SOMETHING happened last year with team dynamics, choose to believe what you will, but I think egos got in the way of the big picture. Since only two of those egos left, it stands to reason there are still some wounded egos. Seems Ben picked at the scabs, and Sid wanted the team to focus on letting it heal. If you look in the past too much, you can miss the present and ruin the future. Sid decided to leave Ben alone at home so he couldn’t poison what was a productive trip, adn spend some time priortizing what he wants out of his Senior season. BM can be a leader still, depending on how he chooses to move forward. I like our prospects a lot better with him than without him, I hope he swallows his pride and lifts his teammates rather than focus on his own desires.
I refuse to believe Ben is some terrible egomaniac “poisoning” the team. Listening to his radio interviews over the past 3 years he was always polite, down-to-earth, and modest - always giving his teammates credit. He’s an excellent student and used to put his hand over his heart during the National anthem, BEFORE it was mandated that the whole team should do it. We may never know what he actually did - maybe Lowe had banned the players from speaking to the press about last year’s issues and he let something slip that he shouldn’t have. This is just a guess obviously, as are all the other theories on this thread. He’s shown good character in the past and I am not throwing him under the bus for 1 incident. Nor do I believe he was the main cause for last year’s problems. He may not be perfect but he seems to be a great kid and I think he will be one of the major contributors this year.
Ben was invovled in chemistry issues last year. Know of one incident that happened during a league game last year. I am firm believer in locker room stuff staying in locker room. However, Ben’s suspension did not surprise me. Let us all hope that he gets his head on straight and provides the play leadership we so desperately need.
We sure need Ben and I want him to succeed on and off the court so I hope he comes out of this situation with his head on straight. This is one of those life lessons that can make a person stronger.
If he didn’t lern it from last season he will not learn it.
I may have jumped a little quickly after reading sf59’s comments, but at the same time, I was also thinking back on the individual play of last season, and those thoughts are what tipped the scale for me.
I don’t need to see ANYONE scoring 30 pts, to know they had a good or productive ballgame, not JJ Hickson, not Ben McCauley, or anyone. Somebody has to get out there and play D, fight for rebounds, loose balls, and try to clean up around the basket. That type of determination and hardnosed play is just as important, if not more, as lighting it up on the offensive end night after night. Especially when you can’t figure out that just scoring a lot of points individually, does nothing but equate to anything but more and more losses.
Either way, I did not see that type of hardnosed play being generated by any of the supposed “leaders” on last year’s team. Those players are also the same players we are questioning right now, and I see no other excuses for them not to have tried harder than the did, except for the childish reasons that we are discussing on this thread.
If anyone has any other ideas as to why these players, the oldest and most experienced players we had, couldn’t have fought and played harded, contributing in different ways, besides just worrying about who had the ball in their hands, then please, let me know.
^Man, have they shortened the correction period or what?
I’m in a hurry and my typing is even worse than usual, sorry.
^”Especially when you can’t figure out that just scoring a lot of points individually, does nothing but equate to more and more losses.”
In the end, all I want to see is a collective group of basketball players who may not win games in bunches for now, but who are going to stay aggressive offensively no matter what, and who will contest, to the best of their own abilities, every move that the opposition makes.
That, I can watch every night.