Lowe Praises Wolfpack for Duke Effort

WRALSportsFan

Lowe Praises Wolfpack for Duke Effort

By J. Mike Blake

Mar 3, 2008

comments

N.C. State, still on a seven-game losing streak, walked away from Saturday's game against Duke with surprisingly more positives than negatives as even coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledged that the Wolfpack (15-14 4-11 ACC) outplayed his team for the majority of the game.

State’s 10-man rotation may have played its finest all-around game all year, shooting 54 percent from the field, 52 from 3-point range and winning the rebounding battle.
It was just the second time in coach Sidney Lowe’s coaching tenure his team had lost after scoring more than 80 points.

It seemed as though the Pack may have responded to their coach’s words just three days earlier, when Lowe described his team’s performance against Florida State as “just awful.”

"Certainly you hope that your team responds in that fashion. As a coach when you say something like that it's more just out of frustration and you're only talking about that particular game,” Lowe said.

“Whatever the reason was they came out and played a great game. They played hard; they played with a lot of passion and a lot of desire - and pride more than anything. And that's the way we need to play.”

His team will have the full week to prepare for the regular season finale at Wake Forest (16-11, 6-8 ACC) on Saturday. A loss would mean a .500 season and depending on what other teams do before then, it could be a game that the Pack must win to avoid last place.

The week off could come at the perfect time for the Pack, whose players were noticeably drained after expending so much energy in an emotional Senior Day loss to Duke.

It comes at even a better time for Lowe, who will now be able to spend more time with his mother Carrie Lowe, 74, who suffered a heart attack on Wednesday.

Lowe said he was able to bring her home Saturday night after the game.

"She's doing better,” Lowe said. “She's doing OK right now, she's got to go back this week for some tests then they'll decide whether to keep her or not. But right now she's doing OK."

Most Recent Comments

Hey VTFlyGuy, who is making excuses? No one is sugarcoating this hideous season. Go ahead and hate State and the fans all you want. We don't want your support.

And in 1-point games, bad calls DO cost you the game. State has had a hideous season, but we absolutely were robbed by the refs for this one.

I'm a huge ACC sports fan (football and men's basketball) and follow our local teams very closely. I know I'm beating a dead horse but it's always the same thing from State fans. Next year will be our year or we played with great pride and effort but.... or we've got lots of talent but..... It's sad when you have to sugarcoat a loss that way. I guess that's all you can do this season. I work with a bunch of rabid Pack fans and game after game, year after year, always the same lame statements and excuses! Makes me want to hate State. Moral victories are for losers. I'd be very angry with all aspects of this team and season if State were my team. I'd still root for them but I'd hang my head low and keep my mouth shut especially with Duke and TarHole fans.

And......when you play well and really beat a team, bad calls and refs don't change the outcome of the game.

TBK was right on with his assessment - even the commentators agreed.

okay TBK...i didn't think you would stoop as low as the tarheel fans to start making excuses for your loss. i'll give it to state, they played their best game from start to finish but they just dukeblue

you must really envy UNC because you talk about them as much as your precious coach does. why do dookies always change the subject....youre acting like a woman

(or maybe the ACC tournamet, but i sure ain't betting on it)

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan