Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

North Carolina State University

Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

By Dane Huffman

Oct 17, 2009

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Sidney Lowe enters his fourth season at N.C. State as a coach still looking to swing his program around. Last year, the Wolfpack was 6-10 in ACC play and 16-14 overall.

The top three scorers from that team – Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells – are gone. But Lowe likes what he has seen so far of his current young team and realizes how Wolfpack fans howl for a winner.

“I went to school here. So I know. I know what it’s all about,” Lowe said. “But I can’t worry about what other people want. I cant put any extra pressure on myself or on my team.”

Lowe even declined to talk about any problems with the squad last year, saying he wanted to talk about this season and these guys.

But several Wolfpack players were quick to say the attitude on the team wasn't what it needed to be last season.

This year, Julius Mays said, "We have no individual just about themselves. When I got here, we've had players that have been more about themselves. They'd rather score 30 points than N.C. State win the game.

"You can't win like that. We've also had players that try to turn other players against Coach to get them on their page instead of Coach's page. You can't win like that."

Tracy Smith, who will be a key player inside, agreed.

"Last year and the year before that, everybody wanted to come in and play their own way," Smith said. "I don't think we'll have that problem. Everybody's on the same page."

And these players, Lowe believes, have a chance to show some promise. He’s particularly excited about moving to a faster-paced style.

“We’re going to get up and down the floor a little more unless they show me they can’t do that,” he said. “But if you’re going to play up-tempo, you can’t play seven guys.

“We’re going to have to count on 9, 10 guys. And the minutes will fluctuate, depending on the game.”

Forward Smith enters his junior season as the key player on the team after starting just 12 games last season.

And Lowe is really high on Dennis Horner, who averaged 6.4 points in 18.9 minutes per game last season.

“I expect Dennis to have a big year,” Lowe said. “I didn’t say that about any else, but I do.”

Point guards Farnold Degand, Javy Gonzalez and Mays continue State’s eternal quest to replace Engin Atsur.

“Julius is making that transition to be more of a point guard,” Lowe said. “He obviously can shoot the basketball but he’s trying to do a better job of controlling the game and getting the ball to the right people. He’s doing that. But I don’t want to take away from his ability to score.”

C.J. Williams, a 6-6 forward from Fayetteville, will be competing for minutes, as will a five-man freshman class.

That class, and some recent success recruiting current high school freshman, has Lowe confident about the program’s future.

“There’s no question we have great coaches, but you look around, you see players making plays,” Lowe said. So stocking the roster with talent, he insisted, is critical.

“We’re heading in that direction,” he said.

Of course, the challenge N.C. State faces is its ACC neighbors are dominant. Lowe said the fact that Duke won the ACC title and North Carolina won the national title didn’t affect him or his program. He also noted that he travels often in the summer.

But he did say he runs into UNC and Duke fans often, even when he travels in the summer.

“They catch you on the plane a lot. I always have one of those Duke or Carolina guys sit beside me,” he said.

“They are always cordial, though.”

Most Recent Comments

RE: Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

State will be better this year. They have more experience at the point. Hickson being gone should help the attitude of the team. I think they will upset some people this year. Maybe later in the season, after they gain some experience.
- Posted by tarheelbasketballfan

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I don't think State will be better THIS year. After this year of experience, I hope for better NEXT year, though. We just don't have a great PG, and we will suffer again because of that. Plus, we'll be making freshman mistakes as well. I'm OK with this year not being great. I like what I see coming in next year -- more missing pieces to the puzzle!

RE: Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

I am a Carolina fan but the only player that seemed selfish to me was JJ Hickson, with his me, myself and I holier than thou attitude. I am sure Sid and the boys will be more relaxed and refreshed this year. Should be an interesting year in the ACC!!

RE: Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

They should win the NIT this year.
- Posted by bathroom_monkey

That would be a GREAT appetizer for the national championship we're going to win in 2010-11. heh heh!

But seriously, considering where we've been the last few years, I'd GLADLY take an NIT championship. That means we're making progress in the right direction.

I think we State fans might like this year's team. I've heard good things about them, like one player or another being the first player practicing in the gym one day, and also the last one to leave. These guys just seem more motivated than in previous years. And I believe them when they say some guys were selfish last year, caring more about their own numbers than winning games. I could totally see that being true.
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returns

It's often easier to be a critic than a supporter, and it's hard to tell which Sid has had more of. But one thing is true of both types. They are on the outside looking in, and they can't see everything that's going on. It's not always easy to spot selfishness, even when you are right there at gametime.

I like the fact that Sid won't use that as an excuse, but I am inclined to believe the players who have spoken up. In any transition, there are always likely to be some who feel no loyalty to the new coach, and feel justified in looking out for themselves first. That's why we need to give the new coaching team more than a few years to build their program.

If, after five years, there is still little talent and no team unity, then by all means make a change. But for this year, Pack fans would do themselves a favor if they bite their tongues and just show unequivocal support for the players and coaches we have right now. They might be surprised at the results.

RE: Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

If that was the case, then that reflects very badly on Lowe. It is up to him to get those egos in check. UNC has been through the same thing and you see what can happen when a coach comes in and takes charge of the situation. Sidney can get the job done at NCSU. He just needs to let the players know he will not tolerate those kinds of attitudes on HIS team.

RE: Pack basketball players say last season's squad was selfish

So this article looks bad on kool aid man no matter what...

If he knew of the selfishness mentioned in this article and didn't do anything about it..they he is a bad coach
If he didn't know, but his players knew...then he is a bad coach...

The bottom line is that Kool aid man is not a good coach, he micro manages the game with that stupid whistling, almost as if he out there running the show....when he decides to coach up the team in practice and let them play the way he wants them to, they the Bovines will get better. Otherwise it will take a new coach...and if anyone thinks this team is going to be any good this year....they are drinking the kool aid

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North Carolina State University