After Brandon Costner slumped at the end of last season, some N.C. State fans hinted that the team might have been better without him if he didn’t return as a senior.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Losing its leading scorer in addition to seniors Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells was a significant blow for a team that finished 16-14, and 6-10 in the ACC.
When you look at the roster the Wolfpack has returning, it’s impossible to deduce that the team will be better off without Costner and reserve guard Trevor Ferguson, who also is leaving.
In the frontcourt, Tracy Smith is developing into a strong low-post scorer, and Dennis Horner demonstrated promise at the end of last season.
But N.C. State will be counting on freshman Richard Howell to add depth as three players rotate in the two post positions. That’s just enough talent to get by, but still one injury away from a crisis.
At point guard and the wings, though, N.C. State won’t have anybody who’s averaged more than seven points a game in a college season.
Sophomores C.J. Williams and Johnny Thomas will have to play small forward, perhaps with help from Howell. Athens Drive’s Josh Davis, who committed to N.C. State on Monday, might take a year or two to develop into a contributor in ACC play.
At point guard N.C. State will have the same players (Javi Gonzalez, Farnold Degand, Julius Mays) who struggled in 2007-08.
Lorenzo Brown of Roswell, Ga., the top recruit in the Wolfpack’s class, might play both point guard and shooting guard. And freshman Scott Wood could get into the rotation at shooting guard, where Williams might also be a factor.
As a whole, this roster will not scare North Carolina when it gets off the bus next season at the Smith Center. Against the rest of the ACC, N.C. State might hold up OK, because there is a lot of backcourt talent leaving from the traditional middle-of-the-pack schools.
Toney Douglas, Tyrese Rice and Jack McClinton all were seniors, and Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez has already announced his intention to test the NBA waters.
But hoping the competition falls back to N.C. State’s level is not where the Wolfpack hoped to be in coach Sidney Lowe’s fourth season.
Lowe’s incoming recruiting class might turn out to be his best yet. But the members of his past classes will be sophomores and juniors next season, comprising the bulk of N.C. State’s roster.
Lowe’s initial difficulties gaining a foothold as a recruiter after coming to N.C. State from the NBA look like they will come home to roost next season.
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Get Ready To RUN BOYS!!!
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 20:16 — WolfpackPrideGuySidney is in town, he's got the whistle, and get ready to run. Next year's NC State Men's Basketball Team will be the biggest 180° turn that is possible. We will run with reckless abandon, with or without John Wall. We will rebound with 3 guys who actually BOX OUT, then the quick outlet pass to one of the 2 guards who will be looking to RUN! We will begin to play a 3 guard, 2 athletic forward system, much like the Florida repeat championship teams. Athleticism will be on display, not the crowned jewel of set shots, the 3 Point Shot off of an inverted screen. I look forward to the beginning of the next chapter. It is NOW Sidney Lowe's team.
we all knew this was coming.
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 15:57 — mad_maxwe all knew this was coming. hate to see such a talented player leave, but it's definitely not time to panic. we're saying goodbye to the last of sendek's recruits, but that also means we've got nothing but lowe's guys left, who have been recruited to play in lowe's system. it would have been nice to plug costner into the 3/4 spot next year, but i see this as a fresh start and an opportunity for some of our new young players to step up. we will have a little experience coming back, as we will probably start gonzalez, williams, and smith. perhaps somebody like horner or a freshman can start for us as well. doesn't look good right now, but the guys we got do have things to offer. gonzalez has grown up a lot this year, and he and williams can knock down plenty of 3s for us. and we've all seen tracy smith beast some decent competition at times. keep your heads up pack nation. now we get to see what lowe can do. no distractions, no excuses, just lowe's players in lowe's system. let's see what happens.
So what is North
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 16:12 — GoHeels1984So what is North Carolina State College at Rawlee's plan to be competitive in basketball? What does the coach think? Athletic director think? Fans think? What about recruiting? What is the strategy? What about competing with UNC and Dook half heartedly for that matter? What is the strategy to compete in the ACC? To make the NCAA tournament? Should cow college just give up on basketball? What are your thoughts?
A question for you
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 19:13 — mikbarrettDid an N.C. State student knock up your girlfriend or something back when you were (apparently) in school? Man, what a jerk.
Plenty of thoughts, just one question.
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 17:04 — JPDOhioWhere have you been all this time? Apparently, with your head up your baby blue butt.
Stick around and you'll find many different thoughts presented. That is, if you have a brain to process them, you imbecile.
Kendell Smith
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 13:29 — hatman30Do we see him developing into a guy who plays regular minutes? If so, he could be a help at 6'8".
KW, not sure how you can say
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 11:09 — elvispKW,
not sure how you can say revolving door.. the last coach was here for 10 seasons and the current coach will begin his 4th. That compares to three coaches over a 6 year period recently at another school close by.
I had hoped BC would stay but at the same time, barring injury to Smith, I don't think it will make much difference.
Sendek...Amato...next up...Lee Fowler
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 07:32 — KWCoronaThe reason that Sidney Lowe is even getting a pass after four years is that he is a former NC State basketball star and because the boosters need to prove to themselves they were right to invite a coach with 3 consecutive 20 wins seasons to leave because he didn't have a winning record against Duke or UNC. The current coach doesn't even have a winning record over EAST CAROLINA...in basketball!
Mark my words, The next guy on the chopping block will be Lee Fowler. He should have saved these people from themselves a long time ago and locked up good coaches like Herb Sendek, rather than watch them leave.
I agree...
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 11:39 — JPDOhioExcept for the "hoping BC would stay" part. One more key besides no injury to Smith (or the other two bigs). Howell has to contribute in a major way. I wish there was one more big to add to the rotation, but you gotta go with what you got.
What was lost ?
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:49 — Baller87The bottom line is that nobody knows what the future will hold for Sidney Lowe and the Wolfpack team. What is know is that Trevor Ferguson is a hustle guy that does not have the talent to play in the ACC and Costner played like a holdover from the Princeton offense days. He was completely out of sync the last two years in this offense and his lack of effort was appalling. I have never seen a player take the ball in the paint more timidly or weaker than he does. Maybe he will find a team in Europe that will allow him to stand 25 feet out and jack up shots. He cannot play on the inside in the NBA.
These moves allow for 2 more scholorships to be given out and for the team to play a wide open game. Ferguson was not athletic enough and Costner did not give the effort to do this. It is not like either of these guys ( or Fells and Costner) were difference makers in any big wins this year. So I say play the Freshmen and Sophomores (Gonzales/ L. Brown/Smith/R Howell) with Horner and begin the future now. These are Sidneys guys for him to sink or swim with. Regardless of the outcome I am OK with that.
Are you kidding?
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 12:54 — acc_hoops_fan73178You say Ferguson doesn't have the talent to play in the ACC? That can be said for half our roster! What was lost? How about experience and a decent outside shot... both of which we'll be lacking next year. Brandon Costner may have his issues but he's easily the most talented guy we would've had on our roster next season. BTW, isn't it the coach's job to motivate players and get them mentally ready to play? You're looking through rose-colored glasses if you think losing your most talented player is somehow a good thing. Everyone said the same thing when Hickson left after 1 season. I think "addition by subtraction" was the popular phrase. How'd that turn out?
How did it turn out?
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 13:18 — kenmetzgerIt gave the team a better record.
This program deserves what its getting.
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:25 — KWCoronaThe Boosters were happy to see a coach that went to 5 straight NCAA tournaments leave. The revolving door they create sends a very clear message to quality coaches around the country, and its not a good one. I think Norm Sloan and Jim Valvano look down from the big skybox in the heavens and are embarrassed at what they see.
(No subject)
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:36 — JamesinWillowSpringsYes!
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:48 — FurbishLousewartYou don't know how big a smile it put on my face to see that we're bringin the waahmbulance back!
Would you like some wahmburgers and french cries?
Hahahahaha!
Agree
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:03 — SurferState losing anybody with any experience is not a good thing. They really need all the help they can get. On the other hand, if it frees up minutes for other players to get better, it may help in the long run. Looks like Sid's recruits will have an imediate impact (good or bad). The ability to recruit potential NBA type athletes who will stay 2 or 3 years is what State needs. That seems to be what they have been lacking for some time. Take Josh Davis for example. He has a good upside, but was not highly recruited in the ACC. Time will tell.
Sorry, Ken.
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:03 — JPDOhioOn paper, from a strict intellectual standpoint, your conclusion cannot be argued with. But that doesn't mean State would be better if Costner stayed.
I can't imagine anyone being surprised by this decision. For the last two years, Brandon has played like someone who has totally lost his passion (if he ever had any) for playing at NC State. Whatever his issues were, valid or not, he did not consistently bring his A-game when his team desperately needed him to.
So, yes, his leaving leaves State woefully short of bigs. But at least we know what we are dealing with now and Sid can plan accordingly.
Mooooooooooo
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 09:41 — festerI believe the biggest travesty is Trevor ferguson leaving the team. He he he he. This is a big blow, Tracy Smith has zero help in the post now.
Cow College
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 09:33 — Steven252525Good one. You mean the college that puts out engineers and scientist? Not the one that puts out French poets and philosophers?
Probably smart on their
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 09:16 — GoHeels1984Probably smart on their parts to leave early. Nothing really to gain by staying at Cow College with no commitment to competing in basketball. Can't blame them...