WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Lowe wants State to match Duke's intensity

By Ken Medlin

Jan 20, 2009

Raleigh, N.C. — Sidney Lowe knows exactly what will be in store for his N.C. State team Tuesday night – a relentless Duke team that has yet to drop a game in conference play.

Lowe is looking for that same kind of ferocity from his squad when it makes the slippery trip to Durham.

"We have to be tougher, more aggressive and play hard," Lowe said. "You have to establish yourselves and let everyone know it's a ballgame. You have to match [Duke's] toughness."

It will take every bit of that toughness for State to handle Duke's pressure defense. The Wolfpack is averaging nearly 19 turnovers per game in ACC play, and a Duke team that leads the conference in scoring defense at 60.6 points per game will try to exploit that.

"It's a challenge for everybody they play," Lowe said. "It's not what they do, it's how hard they do it."

"Just take care of the ball, period," N.C. State freshman C.J. Williams said. "In every game, turnovers are going to happen, you just have to get back on defense and get it right back."

One thing in the Wolfpack's favor is momentum. State's coming off the Pack's first ACC win since Feb. 5, 2008.