WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Ferguson to dress for State, but Lowe won't announce starter at point

By Ryan Craig

Jan 16, 2009

Trevor Ferguson will dress for N.C. State’s home men's basketball game with Georgia Tech on Saturday but may not play much, coach Sidney Lowe said Friday.

Lowe said Ferguson will play with a pad on his left (non-shooting) hand, which is affecting his shot.

The third-year coach, however, would not discuss who will start at point guard when State plays Tech Saturday at noon at the RBC Center. True freshman Julius Mays played extensively at the position in the loss to Florida State as Lowe moved away from Farnold Degand and Javi Gonzalez.

"I can't tell you right now. I was going to say 'I don't know,' but I really do know", Lowe joked. "I'm honest about it. I'd rather not say right now - there is a decision that has been made though.

While Lowe said that Gonzalez and Degand need to stay confident in themselves and not over-play when they're on the court despite losing playing time recently to Mays, he admits that playing time will always be earned and not simply assumed.

In listening to Lowe talk about his young floor general, It certainly sounds like Mays' minutes will be hard to steal back.

"I think Julius has done a great job - to be as poised as he is as a freshman," Lowe said. "I talked about this when we first got Julius in here - I talked about his basketball IQ. You can see that he knows how to run that position."