Lowe's squad shows some defensive improvement
Nov 30, 2008
It’s too early to draw any grand conclusions, but one issue to watch for the N.C. State men’s basketball team is how it plays defense.
“That’s one thing coach [Sidney Lowe] has been harping on us, to play defense,” State’s Ben McCauley said after Sunday’s win over UNC-G. “We want to get stops and get rebounds. If we can get stops, we can get out and run like we want to.”
The Wolfpack has played a light schedule, to say the least, so far, so the 4-0 record is deceiving. But still, State is trying to right itself after being a dismal defensive team last year. State allowed opponents to make 42.4 percent of their shots last season, and ACC rivals hit for 47.0.
So far, NCSU is holding teams to shooting 35.4 percent from the field. That number surely will rise, but just how high it goes will be a key indication of how much progress State makes in its third season under Lowe.
