Defense aside, Pack making progress

N.C. State's not a bad team, not since the first seven ACC games anyway, it's just a team with no margin of error.

When veterans Brandon Costner and Courtney Fells combine for 18 points, like they did Thursday against Wake Forest, there aren't many ACC teams N.C. State's good enough to beat. That's even with above average contributions from Tracy Smith (18 points) and the point guard position (20 points from the combination of Javy Gonzalez and Farnold Degand), which State got in Thursday's 85-78 loss against a good Wake team.

State's problem is it's not good enough to win games with its defense. Ergo, it has to outscore the opposition (as opposed to holding it to fewer points). That means when scoring leaders Costner, Fells or Ben McCauley decide to take a powder — as they have been apt to do in the past two seasons — the chances of victory go with them.

State's a passive defensive team by design. Coach Sidney Lowe would rather contest shots in the lane than pressure the perimeter. That strategy has its merits but creating turnovers and points is not one of them.

State ranks 12th in the conference in steals, 10th in blocks and 10th in field-goal percentage defense. Those are not the marks of a good defense. That's the down side for State fans.

The bright side is better athletes usually make better defenders (save for the anomaly that is Wayne Ellington) and Lowe's next recruiting class upgrades the program's talent level.

Any questions about whether Lowe can coach have also been answered in the past six ACC games, which State is 3-3 since a 2-5 start. Lowe's coaching success at his alma mater will ultimately depend on how well he can recruit and overcome the speed bumps he has hit in transition from the NBA.

If he doesn't make it in the college game, it won't be because he was out X-and-O'ed. Lowe is what Will Ferrell would call an above-average "strategerist."

Thursday's game offered both ends of the spectrum in offensive philosophy. No team in the ACC runs more halfcourt sets than N.C. State. State runs a wider variety of plays (for example, than Boston College) and more player-specific plays (for example, than UNC) than any other ACC team. The problem, since Engin Atsur's departure in 2007, hasn't been the design but execution.

Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio uses less structure and, at times, no structure — or even a screen — on offense. That's not necessarily a knock on Gaudio, who has done a commendable job in the most difficult of circumstances. When you have talent like James Johnson and Jeff Teague, sometimes the best play is "get out of the way."

That being said, it would be an interesting experiment to put Teague, who averages 20.3 points per game, in Davidson's offense, which runs screen after screen for Stephen Curry. At some point, and soon, it wouldn't hurt Wake to use more of the pick-and-roll (or pop) with Johnson and Teague.

Lowe, with his NBA schooling, has no such problems setting up the two-man game. Raycom's Mike Gminski, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA himself, noted as much in the second half when Degand executed the same high ball-screen sequence twice when State needed baskets (and Lowe had just called a timeout).

Lowe's learning curve has been steep in managing personalities and minutes. Since a 79-68 loss at Boston College on Jan. 24, he seems to have a better handle on his roster. He moved Smith to the starting lineup, going big in the process, and shortened the bench to eight players.

Both moves that should have been made earlier, but it's called trial-and-error for a reason. Besides, 34 years into it, Mike Krzyzewski's still grappling with the put-your-five-best-guys-on-the-floor concept.

State's 4-4 since that BC loss. If Lowe manages a split in the next four ACC games, which would include the ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack should find its way into the NIT, a fate that ultimately could be aided by former coach Les Robinson, one of the former coaches who helps select the NIT's more exclusive 32-team field.

Wake, with no such assistance, was left out of the field in 2008 despite a 17-13 record and seven ACC wins (which would be the same for this State team with two more wins).

The postseason not only represents progress for Lowe a but chance for the returning players — Smith and the improving Gonzalez especially — to get more time together. You have to walk before you can run and, at least, State and Lowe are up off their knees from the 2007-08 knockdown.

Staff photo by Ethan Hyman