WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Fells will dress, but his ankle injury a concern for N.C. State

By Ryan Craig and Tim Hall

Jan 29, 2009

Courtney Fells will dress for N.C. State’s home game with North Carolina on Saturday, but Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe is concerned about how effective Fells will be.

"I don't see this injury preventing him from playing on Saturday, how effective he'll be, we'll have to see " Lowe said.  "He's getting treatment on it (ankle) today, he'll get it tomorrow and then we'll see how he is on Saturday, but he will be suited up."

N.C. State plays Carolina at 3:30 Saturday in the RBC Center.

The Wolfpack is coming off an 84-81 overtime win over Miami Tuesday night. Fells moved back to shooting guard in that game and responded by hitting six of nine 3-pointers in scoring 24 points.

But Fells suffered an ankle injury toward the end of the contest, putting his status for Saturday’s game in jeopardy.

The injury comes at a time when Lowe has been struggling to find consistent play from his team. Lowe said he wanted to limit how many players he used and focus on playing the ones who were most effective. He started a big lineup against Miami that included Tracy Smith at forward and Fells on the wing. That lineup was critical to State’s strong play.  But will he use that big lineup against North Carolina?

"I'm not sure, we haven't decided yet," Lowe said. "Certainly it gives us a different look, I just don't want to say too much."

This Wolfpack team, big or small, has seen many different starting lineups this season.  Eleven different players have seen the starting five.  Recently Julius Mays and Farnold Degand have swapped starting roles at point guard.   Trevor Ferguson has been coming off the bench since his hand injury.   Lowe is ready to have regular starters at this stage of the season.

"We'd like to get it down to get it down to where we get a starting lineup and we can stick to it," Lowe said. "It's certainly based on our starts, how we come out, our energy, are we controlling the boards if we go with the big lineup, but we'd like to stick with one (lineup)."

Former North Carolina big man Eric Montross does the color commentary for the Tar Heels and he told 99.9 The Fan that this is always a dangerous game.

"Certainly it's like going to Duke, you go to State and you throw everything out," Montross said. "  If they go in and don't control their turnovers, if they allow State to establish themselves and impose their will as a couple teams have against the Tar Heels, then there's certainly a great possibility the Tar Heels will lose."

Montross also said if the Heels are patient with its own offense and get the low post game going early, it will propel them.  Either way he's enjoyed the close games in the ACC recently.