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Lowe: Pack's wounds 'self-inflicted'
Submitted by kentysiac on 01/12/2009 - 12:38
"Self-inflicted” is one of the most frustrating hyphenated words a coach can utter.
That’s how N.C. State’s Sidney Lowe describes his team’s problem with turnovers. Entering Saturday’s game with Clemson, the Wolfpack had 19, 18 and 18 turnovers in its three previous losses.
Give N.C. State credit for consistency. Despite having a week of practice to work on breaking Clemson’s press, the Wolfpack committed 18 turnovers again in a 63-51 loss.
“A lot of it has been poor decision making, really,” Lowe said, “not being strong with the ball and not making the simple pass.”
The last person struggling N.C. State point guards Farnold Degand, Julius Mays and Javi Gonzalez needs to see is guard Toney Douglas, who visits the RBC Center on Tuesday night with Florida State.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was so impressed with Douglas during the Blue Devils’ win Saturday at Florida State that he said Douglas should be a candidate for national defensive player of the year.
Lowe said N.C. State might try to help its point guards get the ball up the floor by having its forwards set screens on Douglas.
“It’s going to be very important,” Lowe said. “He’s a very good on the ball defender. He’s got really quick hands. He’s got his hands on you and he’s bothering you all the time.”
The post players and wings also bear some responsibility for N.C. State’s turnover problems along with the point guards, Lowe said. He said point guards handle the ball so much that they’re bound to lose the ball sometimes.
“We can’t have other players turning the ball over,” said Lowe, a former point guard himself. “That’s when you get in trouble.”
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Ken Tysiac
Ken Tysiac has covered the ACC for The Charlotte Observer since 2003, and spent the previous eight years covering Clemson for the Anderson Independent-Mail and then The State in South Carolina. He grew up in Rochester, N.Y., and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
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Comments
State Still a Winning Record!
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 00:26 — jeromfitzNC State still have a good winning record so far for Coach Lowe. If he have a hard time with turnovers, maybe he just throw the guy with most turnovers in practice a try at some real action. You never know what the out come might me. It can't get any worst. Those freshmen got be release to play sometime.
I would start mays at least
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 16:57 — aideanI would start mays at least he can add some offense/scoring as he showed at the end of the clemson game. He isn't scared to shoot like javy and doesn't seem to over dribble like degand
Agree, kind of
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 10:59 — JPDOhioI think Mays has potential and certainly has the best shot of all the point guards (from the field and the foul line). I am still a little worried about his ability to handle defensive pressure, but, then again, it's not like the other pg's do any better. In any event, whether he starts or not, he should get serious playing time to gain the experience he needs.
I've defended Javi in the past, but his performance lately has been just bad. Whether its his health or his head, I don't know, but something's going on there. As far as Degand goes, I don't know what to think. At times he looks like the answer, other times he seems lost. We shouldn't still have those questions about him at this point and the injury can't be used as an excuse any more.
Come on Sidney!
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 13:42 — mrbonnThe sole reason our team has so many turnovers is the lack of recruiting and the coaching of point guards. Sidney spent all that time recruiting JJ Hicks and where did that get us. Then Sidney spent more than ample time helping JJ get in the pros. Then the absolute audacity to say the guards handle the ball so much they are permitted to have turnovers while the front court can not even make one. Sidney has lost all perspective and is driving his team on a downward spiral by blaming his shortcomings on the players.