Freshman guard Ryan Harrow played more minutes and was more productive than senior guard Javier Gonzalez for N.C. State in a 75-66 loss at Boston College on Tuesday night.
The freshman found himself on the bench for a key sequence in the second half, though, because of a defensive lapse, Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe said.
Down a 60-57 after a Tracy Smith beat Josh Southern in the post at 4:20, Boston College ran a high ball screen for senior guard Biko Paris. Harrow got lost on the screen and Paris drained an open 3 at 4:03 to tie the game at 60.
Harrow had scored nine of his 11 points in a 4-minute span to ignite State's offense after it fell behind 50-42.
"It wasn't what he did on offense," Lowe said, specifically citing the Paris 3-pointer for the substitution.
Lowe subbed Gonzalez, who finished with no points in 19 minutes, for Harrow at the 3:41 mark. On State's next offensive possession after Paris' 3, Lowe called a timeout and had 18 seconds on the shot clock.
Lowe called two successful plays out of an inbounds set for Scott Wood earlier in the second half, but this set ended with Gonzalez taking a wild 3-pointer from about 35-feet in a futile effort to beat the shot clock.
BC got two more 3s, one from Corey Raji who lost freshman C.J. Leslie on a similar set, and then a second from Paris, this time at Gonzalez's expense. Lowe was flummoxed by the defensive lapses.
"We somehow didn't communicate," Lowe said. "We didn't talk it through."
Lowe did bring Harrow back in at 2:13 with State down 66-60. After a timeout, the Pack got the ball into Smith but he turned it over and Reggie Jackson capped off a 12-0 run by hitting 3-of-4 free throws on consecutive trips.
State finally ended the drought when Leslie hit a 3 with 1:13 left but it was too late.
Harrow finished with 11 points, two assists and no turnovers in 21 minutes. Gonzalez, who defended Jackson (29 points) in the first half, finished with no points, two assists and no turnovers in 19 minutes.
Lowe has tried to protect the sleight Harrow on defense and likes the concept of bringing him off the bench. Clearly, until Harrow's defense catches up with his offense, Lowe is intent managing Harrow's minutes like he did against BC.
Comments
Everyone is missing the point!!!!!
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 09:28 — smoody7155One important question has not been asked to the coaching staff, nor been mentioned in reports. Did the coaching staff remind the starting five during the timeout how many seconds were left on the shot clock? From outside observation, the players seem not to know….especially since there was a ½ court shot to beat the buzzer. THIS WAS THE TURNING POINT. That's coaching 101......and so far, Lowe is failing.
bottom feeders!!
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 13:12 — bluecat69bluecat69SKID HAS GOT TO GO!!! GO DUKE- CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!1
Agree
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 12:51 — SurferWithout a doubt, "the point" is a major issue with this team. Kind of odd, in that both Sid and Towe played that position. Now that I think of it, maybe that is the problem, Sid is trying to play point guard from his spot on the bench (reference constant whistling to call a play).
I don't know if this has been pointed out
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:17 — gvillegatrbut you have to understand El Sid is a product of the old school. If you are young, you are going to have to sit and watch your elders play unless you are head and shoulders better than the junior/senior. In this case Harrow is not. And sometimes it can be moot even if the freshman is better than the junior/senior; He is still going to get limited minutes.
Sid Javi take em both out!
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:13 — shharrisThe biggest defensive lapse here is Lowe's. Running through the play a couple of times at the shoot around before an away game is NOT preparation; especially not for a young team. His bench coaching is deplorable. His substitution pattern seems designed to slow the Pack's momentum.
Javier is supposed to be playing like a senior. Instead he has senior moments. Letting Ryan come off the bench merely keeps the pressure off, His speed and penetration sometimes takes the opponents off guard. Javi just goes to the left side of the court and dribbles 20 seconds off the shot clock.
Playing defense for 4 or 5 minutes does not count. Ferret face's dookies play defense every minute or they ride the pine. Sid has never produced even one defensive scheme to even approach what Valvano taught him game after game. A good team defense can hide individual weaknesses.
Winning on the road is tough. Falling apart the last 4 minutes in a close game has become routine for Lowe's teams.
If Javi was...
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 16:41 — tcb2000If Javi was a Freshman he would be buried on the bench. I don't care how many turnovers you aren't committing, if Harrow was given the 19 minutes that Javi got or to split it with Brown I'm sure they would have scored at least a couple of baskets and that could have made all the difference in the world.
hUH?
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 12:20 — JPDOhioManaging Harrow's minutes? I get that. The kid needs to mature physically before he can handle 30+ minutes a game effectively.
But benched for a defensive lapse? Why single him out? Leslie gets schooled regularly, but he was only removed once for it that I noticed. Besides, there would have been a substitution every 5 seconds if Sid subbed for every defensive lapse that happened yesterday.
Ryan Harrow is rapidly improving and will be a star in the ACC until he graduates. It is important for his minutes to be watched this year, but, unfortunately, Javi has not delivered as consistently as a senior should. That sequence that led to the shot clock violation late was inexcusable. At this point, I would rather see Lo Brown running the point to spell Harrow, with CJ Williams at the two.
Harrow isn't being singled
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 17:40 — bppackHarrow isn't being singled out. he is not the first one to be benched for poor execution. Sid did the right thing. unfortunately, Javi, who played well in the first half, then went in and made the same mistake.
it's funny. there are many who criticize Lowe for lack of discipline. then there are others who criticize him for disciplining players. he was a bit more understanding early in the year. by now, I can understand his frustration. time for the 3 FR to learn this ain't HS anymore!
just to be clear
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:10 — JPDOhioI am fine with Sid applying discipline. He was lax his first couple of years and the teams' performance reflected it. But I was somewhat puzzled by this focus on Harrow. He gets out of control sometimes, but it has been happening less and less. If we are talking about mental errors and lack of effort, Ryan Harrow is not your biggest problem.
I agree with that - Lo Brown
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 12:46 — ProwlingWoofieI agree with that - Lo Brown for Harrow with CJW as the 2.
If Gonzalez isn't contributing offensively and gets burned defensively, then he doesn't need 19 minutes a game...
Javi
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 13:22 — SurferDidn't Javi have a number of productive offensive games last year? Maybe Sid is more concerned with keeping the turnovers down?
yes
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 13:39 — JPDOhioBut not so far this year. He has been invisible offensively and erratic on defense.
Javi has had spells where his play has been acceptable and he has cut down on his turnovers, but he has not delivered the consistency that you need from a senior point guard. He has had enough chances.
No answer
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 16:34 — SurferTotally baffling on this one. I don't know maybe Javi is more "in tune" to Sid's whistles?
Not sure it's as specific as
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 16:52 — mad_maxNot sure it's as specific as the whistles, as you have comically pointed out lol.
...but I do suspect that Lowe is having a tough time handing the reigns over to freshman Harrow, while the senior Javi sits and watches. I respect Lowe's loyalty to Javi, and I understand how difficult it must be to keep everyone happy and focused on the same goal, but at some point, we have to let Javi go and play for the future with Harrow.
I feel like if this wasn't Javi's last year, Lowe would not have yanked Harrow at that critical point in the game.
In many ways, Lowe dealing with Javi/Harrow is a lot like our fanbase dealing with Lowe and the possibility of a new coach. The tangible facts and stats are telling us to switch it up and start moving on, but our hearts won't quite let us give up on a good man that has shown us a lot of heart himself.
Agree
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 17:14 — SurferVery good assessment. Bottom line, it will be tough to let Sid go, but as JPD says, there is still a lot of the season to play yet. For those that want him gone, to bad he can't graduate. For those that want to give him more time, there probably is some improvement this season, if not already, then on the horizon. Pretty much clear as mud I guess.
The one thing that I have
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 18:42 — unc098The one thing that I have noticed about Sid is that he really gets pumped for ACC play and his teams tend to hit their stride in the ACC schedule. I suspect State will be OK and Sid will survive. It will take a 20 win season and dancing to do it though. Maybe not, it all depends on what the freshmen do at the end of the season as well.
yep
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:25 — JPDOhioAnd this is the year to do it. I had to quit watching the Wake-Md game, it was so painful. So the opportunity is there for the taking, but they have to step up now. They have used up all their mulligans.
Used up all their mulligans
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 22:50 — gvillegatr... This leads me to believe they cannot do it. There still is half the season to play.
half a season to go
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 00:58 — JPDOhioAnd they have to be spectacular to make the dance. Anything less and it is NIT at best.
DIDDY!
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 16:02 — bluecat69bluecat69what is wrong with NIT--- the whinning tarholes did real well in the losers tournament last year. go DUKE CHAMPS!!!!!!!!
Agree
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 12:39 — SurferYep, "real" and "spectacular". Oops, sorry another sitcom reference to which you are not in tune with.
SITCOM reference
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 15:24 — JPDOhioI looked it up and you are correct.
Yes
Wed, 01/12/2011 - 12:44 — YAR8packHear, hear!