Lowe Encouraged by N.C. State's Path in Charlotte

WRALSportsFan

Lowe Encouraged by N.C. State's Path in Charlotte

N.C. State Coach Sidney Lowe agrees with a call in the first half.

By Dane Huffman

Mar 10, 2008

comments

POST VIEW

The bracket says it’s No. 5 vs. No. 12, but N.C. State’s first-round game against Miami actually pits the lower-seeded Wolf pack against an opponent it beat earlier this year.

State beat the Hurricanes 79-77 in overtime in Raleigh on Jan. 19.

If State wins Thursday at 2 p.m., it would play Virginia Tech Friday in the quarterfinals. The Wolf pack beat the Hokes 73-63 on Feb. 5 in Raleigh.

Given that, the AC Tournament draw is encouraging to N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, whose team has lost eight straight games.

“This is a new season basically. No one has a win yet, no one has a loss yet. So we’re going into those wide open,” Lowe said.

“But from an encouraging standpoint, the fact that we did defeat them, that’s something we can look at and feel good about.

“Now having said that, [Miami] has played well and they are capable of beating anyone. We have to be ready to play and play hard for 40 minutes of basketball.

“But it’s something we have to hang our hat on, that we certainly can win this game.”

State has struggled to get consistent play and balanced scoring this season. But it had one of its better efforts against Miami. Four State players scored in double figures as Gavin Grant had 22 points, Brandon Costner 16 and both Courtney Fells and J.J. Hickson 14.

N.C. State shot 44.6 percent for the game but did shoot 11 of 18 from three-point range.

“We got stops when we needed, but we scored the basketball. We made plays,” Lowe said. “When we needed a basket, we got a basket.

“They were scoring at times and we got a stop when we needed to. But we were able to score and keep it at bay. When we’re scoring the basketball, our defense seems to pick up.”

Miami is led by guard Jack McClinton, who went 9 for 17 in that first game and scored 26 points.

“He’s so tough,” Lowe said. “You can’t give him anything easy, No. 1. He’s going to hurt you, he’s going to kill you. You have to always stay with him, try to deny him at times, and keep him out of a comfort zone. A guy like that, you’re not going to shut down. He can do too many things. … You can never ever relax on him.”

Most Recent Comments

But I might be encouraged if I thought the path in Charlotte had the Pack vs. the other teams' mascots (in full gear). It takes more effort than that given the last half of the season (except for the Duke game).

I'm not encouraged.

These stories from WRAL are starting to just be a sick joke.

This team is finished for the season. These kids need to take the time off to figure out if they really want to play or not.

rumbleehockey03 - You are so FULL OF IT! Heels fans backing State? What ##ucking dream world do you live in? Why did you even get on this story? You're an idiot!!!

You know, I have just about heard enough from these so called Wolfpack fans (and I use the term lightly here). Yes, we are all mightily disappointed with the season. Yes, we all wish for better things from our teams and our school. But publicly stating we should lose and go home with our tail tucked between our legs? Come on, no real Wolpacker thinks this way. If Sidney is encouraged by having a path in the tournament that leads through two teams we have beaten, give the man a break. Sometime you have to find a positive viewpoint in the worst circumstances. And I were Sidney having to listen to all of this firing talk (in my 2nd year, no less) maybe he should ask to have a few fans fired starting with PackFn17 & Private Pyle.

Go Pack!

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan