Fox Sports Article – Degand, Costner Tidbits

Here is the full article (Hat Tip to Pack Pride message boards). There’s a brief tidbit on Farnold Degand’s progress (still my bet to be the starter), but the most interesting part is Lowe’s acknowledgement that Costner could get minutes at the 3:

Lowe also mentioned that Costner could see some time at small forward this season with the addition of Hickson and Smith. “It’s possible,” he said. Lowe said that his goal for Costner is to improve his quickness and ballhandling prior to this season.

I’m thrilled to hear that. I don’t like the idea of Hickson, Costner, and McCauley (likely our 3 best players) only having 80 minutes to divide among themselves. This would also give us tremendous matchup flexibility, and make us nearly impossible to defend at times. I expect Degand to play point when Costner is at the 3 in our “big” lineup, due to his speed and overall defensive ability.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball Sidney Lowe

83 Responses to Fox Sports Article – Degand, Costner Tidbits

  1. packbackr04 08/17/2007 at 11:45 AM #

    niec find, great to hear, and i hope that Costner realizes he will have to work on this aspect of his game if he really wants to play in the NBA… as he is really a small forward for the NBA and will need to improve his quickness for the NBA

  2. RedTerror29 08/17/2007 at 12:36 PM #

    It’s good to hear Degand improved over the last two years. That’s certainly not a given when you’re not playing.

  3. brickman 08/17/2007 at 1:06 PM #

    just as long as we do not mess with the way we played last year it would be a big advantage on off. but on def. costner is way way way to slow and takes plays off to much.

  4. RickJ 08/17/2007 at 2:14 PM #

    “I’m thrilled to hear that. I don’t like the idea of Hickson, Costner, and McCauley (likely our 3 best players) only having 80 minutes to divide among themselves.”

    This point really illustrates the 180 degree change in challenge that Lowe & the players will face this year. Last year, the players had to be careful about fouling and conserving energy. This year, there is no reason for anyone to play with anything but maximum effort on every possession. In addition to the above three, where does and how many minutes does Tracey Smith play? He sounds more suited to the 4 but I know in one interview, Smith mentioned that Lowe had talked to him about taking his game to the perimeter this year.

    It will be a change for the fans too. Remember how we dreaded getting an officiating crew that called every little foul inside. I wouldn’t mind seeing that kind of crew every game this year.

  5. primacyone 08/17/2007 at 2:31 PM #

    ‘BRING ON THE HOLES’

    Yea, go ahead, leave Horner open in the corner for three. I dare you!

  6. primacyone 08/17/2007 at 3:30 PM #

    16 years is a long dang time. For some, this will be their first year. Amazing.

  7. Rick 08/17/2007 at 3:49 PM #

    ““He had a great year and is a talented player, but we want him to continue to improve,” Lowe said. “He’s got to come here in shape and he’s done a good job so far.” ”

    This is what I like to read. Not being happy with where you are. Striving to get better. Wanting to be the best and not afraid to tlak about it.

    I am excite dabout basketball right now.

  8. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 08/17/2007 at 3:57 PM #

    SFN: Not going to be a Sendek thread. Thanks.

  9. redfred2 08/17/2007 at 5:37 PM #

    I have to point back and say this about Valvano for the one thousandth time, you remember him, the supposed blight of NCSU athletics. Just look around at the GREAT success that a lot of his players had and are still having right now. You can win and be a positive influence at the same time without being as dry and lifeless as a tumbleweed.

  10. bTHEredterror 08/17/2007 at 6:45 PM #

    Good points SFN. I love the thought of Costner playing some three, and won’t be surprised if there are times he plays 5 as he did in spots last year. It will also benefit Brandon somewhat in that at his height and weight, he will probably be asked to play three if he gets to the next level. No surprise Sid is focused on the part of his game that will get him drafted, develop NBA players and recruiting becomes a little easier. I am interested to watch the PG postion this year, and if Degand is all that then great. I expect he will be solid at least, and is supposed to be quick as hiccup.

    But based on my personal experience, just about any D I player is going to blow up a pick up game. I’m sure many of you have played with a guy who played DI ball, and I imagine it was as startling for you as it was for me. I’ll reserve judgement til I see him play DI competition, but I doubt anything substantive, other than pure athletic ability, can be gleaned from a pick-up game.

  11. BJD95 08/17/2007 at 7:04 PM #

    I played pickup with Mark Davis on the outdoor courts my freshman year. He made us poor crackers look silly, and that was when he was holding back.

  12. RabidWolf 08/17/2007 at 10:11 PM #

    If Costner can improve his quickness, look out! I mean, he made many players look stupid on post moves and drives to the hoop (the UNX game @ RBC comes to mind) add some speed and ballhandling…OMFG!

    Degand, IMHO, will be a pleasant surprise to our opposition in the coming year, mainly because nobody has seen him play except his own team.

    September 1 can’t get here soon enough!

  13. redfred2 08/17/2007 at 10:53 PM #

    Maybe his interior ball handling could use some work but Costner already has some definite basketball handling skills for a guy his size. Nobody is forgetting that last season he was the go to guy when the press shut down the other options. I seem to remember a the three quarter court, dribble behind the back, around two defenders, finish, with an exclamation point in the face SLAM, just to finish it off.

  14. JimValvano 08/18/2007 at 9:40 AM #

    Costner might be lacking the quickness to play the three in man-to-man, but lets not forget that Sid comes from the Valvano coaching tree and knows how to switch to zones. Early in the season as they work on Costner’s speed and quickness…I suspect we’ll show people a zone defense while letting Costner play the small forward position on offense. I am not very concerned about the defensive end at all when I think about the situation like this.

  15. brickman 08/18/2007 at 10:19 AM #

    let us not who the guy that made the team go last year . (ben) everyone thinks costner is second coming of dt .sure he had a good acc tour . but then turned in some sub par outings in nit come on 9 and 10 points when we played let us just say lower level teams.that was his down fall last year he would go missing some games .

  16. redfred2 08/18/2007 at 1:08 PM #

    brick, I agree with that McCauley has pretty BEN left out of the conversation around here and I don’t quite understand why. I’m not diminishing Costner’s skills and I think he can, and will, be unstoppable in the league this season. Maybe the reason for all the talk about Costner is because young NC State Fans are shocked to see kids just PLAY the game, and really accomplish things in their NATURAL POSITIONS. Afterall, there’s a whole generation of NC State fans who have no idea what a truly talented individual, when played properly, can do for a program.

    Go back and read some of the comments before last season started, it’s a real eye opener to see how some people’s perceptions of last year’s lineup have changed since. The good thing is, is that we are just beginning to play like we are capable of playing. I can’t wait to see all five positions really start to improve under a new coaching philosophy!!!

  17. BJD95 08/18/2007 at 1:22 PM #

    Costner is the consensus all-ACC player, and POY candidate. He damn near single-handedly won the ACCT for us, and was robbed of tourney MVP. It’s only natural that he’s the subject of the most buzz.

    However, I noted in my entry that it’s important for Costner to play some 3 BECAUSE McCauley and Hickson are so good, that we want to be able to have all 3 guys on the floor together at least once in awhile.

    We also had numerous “Ben McCauley appreciation” threads last year. He’s not a forgotten man, by any stretch.

  18. redfred2 08/18/2007 at 1:32 PM #

    BJD

    I think maybe what brick is saying is that a lot of people are touting Ben as the sixth man with the arrival Hickson, I don’t about that. I do know that if one player can improve, as is the subject of all the talk about Costner, then so can the others. McCauley has too much court savvy, phenomenal passing ability, and leadership with his hardnosed play that I can’t see him out of the starting lineup.

  19. brickman 08/18/2007 at 2:44 PM #

    bjd ‘ ben led team in steals blocks and one asst. away from leading team in that . costner in know way he single handed won the acc tour.for us. i think grant had good tour. to. there is a lot more to bball than scoreing.

  20. redfred2 08/18/2007 at 3:42 PM #

    I just took my own advice revisited the “Sidney Lowe” archives. It’s really amusing to think back on what some people were thinking (or not thinking actually) when Lowe was first announced as the new head coach at NC State. I guess there were just too many years and too many X and O’s, without any feel for what the game is truly all about. No intangibles to consider, ntohing about true rivalies and what they mean to a program, no mention of heart of desire, team chemistry, or any of those aspects involved in many of the posts back then.

    But, that was then, all is forgiven now.

  21. BJD95 08/18/2007 at 4:18 PM #

    Big Ben was easily our best player midway through ACC play, but trailed off at the end. It’s very difficult to go from 1.5 minutes a game to 35+, and it took something out of Ben at the end.

    Still, he’s a tough, gritty competitor and absolutely essential to our success next season. Having Hickson to share the lowpost “banger” role should only make Ben more effective.

    Grant had some nice ACCT moments, but he was the same old Grant – great for 20 minutes, then awful for 5. Costner was the constant throughout the tourney, and was really a force of nature for 160 minutes.

    I expect each of McCauley, Costner, and Hickson to play 30+ mpg next season (absent foul trouble), and be interchangeable front court parts. It won’t matter who starts, although I expect them all to do so (Grant first man off the bench – I think he’ll be more effective that way).

    BJD’s starting lineup:

    PG – F. Degand
    SG – C. Fells
    SF – B. Costner
    PF – B. McCauley
    C – J. Hickson

    Grant will play starter minutes, and Javi will get about 15 mpg. Grant will play some 2 and some 3. Horner (zone buster) and Smith (rebounder) will have well-defined roles, but playing time may fluctuate depending on matchups and foul/injury trouble. MJ should see time in every game as well, and could be our defensive stopper. 10 legitimate, ACC-caliber players. We should play with high energy all the time. I love it!

    Naturally, all of this is subject to change, but this is what my gut predicts.

  22. redfred2 08/18/2007 at 4:46 PM #

    BJD

    As far Grant goes, I’ve already gone out on a limb and predicted a breakout final season for him. These upcoming lineup options are hard to sort out for sure, but I’m not complaining, it’s a refreshing change. I know that Grant doesn’t really fit in as a true #2, but if Fells doesn’t come out of the gate very early this season with a different attitude, more intensity and determined to be factor throughout the WHOLE ballgame, then I would much rather see an overly aggressive Gavin Grant, turnovers and all, out there trying to force the issue.

  23. brickman 08/18/2007 at 7:22 PM #

    bjd / you must not have watched nit . ben had a great nit . when other teams key on your best player .other players should step up .what ben did in raleigh against the assholes the way he played d on handjob till foul trouble and he went to beanch .and assholes made a run .should let you know what kind of player we have in ben .like i said if a player takes plays off and dose not give 110% in no way should make aii conf. i am not the only one that can see it . look at how weak the 4 spot is in acc . nba draft boards do not even have him in second round. i like the kid but he is in acc that means giving 110% every second .that is what makes a player good or great!!!!!!!!!

  24. redfred2 08/18/2007 at 10:12 PM #

    I think he has already shown what he is made of and that McCauley has all kinds of potential. He is the type of player that personally challenges the opposition on both ends of the court, and he draws their attention away from our players other because of it. His offensive stats may suffer sometimes because of it, but it helps to give others open lanes and helps to get whole team better involved in the offense. He made some ungodly passes last season that ended up looking foolish because the intended receiver had no idea the ball was coming their way. I’m hoping that with more practices together that the others will start to recognize that he can thread the needle, and that they’ll be more ready when he has it in his possession. Especially when his pass is perfectly placed and the ball goes zipping right by their turned heads.

  25. brickman 08/18/2007 at 11:41 PM #

    now we are talking .and glad someone else knows bball to .

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