Fayetteville Observer – Critical Offseason for Lowe

08-09 Basketball Sidney Lowe50

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).

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08-09 Basketball Sidney Lowe

50 Responses to Fayetteville Observer – Critical Offseason for Lowe

  1. McPete 05/20/2008 at 2:33 PM #

    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.

  2. howlie 05/20/2008 at 2:41 PM #

    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).

  3. choppack1 05/20/2008 at 2:42 PM #

    “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.

  4. old13 05/20/2008 at 2:49 PM #

    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!

  5. primacyone 05/20/2008 at 3:07 PM #

    If you want something to talk about . . .

    Junior College Transfers?!.

    Hoosiers Score Juco Big
    http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/756151.html

  6. primacyone 05/20/2008 at 3:10 PM #

    If you want something to talk about . . .

    Junior College Transfers?!.

    Hoosiers Score Juco Big
    http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/756151.html

  7. Rick 05/20/2008 at 3:13 PM #

    “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]

  8. mcpack 05/20/2008 at 3:22 PM #

    Just saw on draft net about JJ projected 29th NEXT year

    Courtney 54th

  9. graywolf 05/20/2008 at 4:27 PM #

    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.

  10. redfred2 05/20/2008 at 4:49 PM #

    “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?

  11. Rochester 05/20/2008 at 5:01 PM #

    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.

  12. BoKnowsNCS71 05/20/2008 at 5:01 PM #

    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.

  13. redfred2 05/20/2008 at 5:48 PM #

    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.

  14. Sw0rdf1sh 05/20/2008 at 6:43 PM #

    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.

  15. gopack968 05/20/2008 at 7:25 PM #

    Thinking only positive thoughts…
    Thinking only positive thoughts…
    Thinking only positive thoughts…

  16. BoKnowsNCS71 05/20/2008 at 8:22 PM #

    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.”

  17. Wise Old Wolf 05/20/2008 at 8:24 PM #

    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.

  18. choppack1 05/20/2008 at 9:41 PM #

    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.

  19. packpigskinfan23 05/21/2008 at 12:35 AM #

    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.
    =)

  20. old13 05/21/2008 at 6:43 AM #

    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!)

  21. Wulfpack 05/21/2008 at 6:44 AM #

    “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.

  22. Noah 05/21/2008 at 8:30 AM #

    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.

    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.

  23. choppack1 05/21/2008 at 9:35 AM #

    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.

  24. kyjelly 05/21/2008 at 9:52 AM #

    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.

  25. blackdom 05/21/2008 at 10:03 AM #

    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”

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