With another win over Wake Forest on Sunday, N.C. State’s Sidney Lowe evened his record for the season at 2-2 against the ACC’s first-year coaches.
Lowe, in his fifth season, lost earlier on the road to Boston College’s Steve Donahue (75-66, Jan. 11) and Clemson’s Brad Brownell (60-50, Jan. 25).
Lowe’s mark against the league’s newcomers is something that will become part of the conversation this week and in the remaining few games.
Lowe gets his return shot at Brownell’s Tigers (17-8 overall, 6-5 ACC) on Thursday (7 p.m.) in the RBC Center. There’s not a second regular-season game against Donahue and Boston College.
But State’s trip to Virginia (12-12, 3-7) on March 1 falls into the same general category.
Last season, Tony Bennett’s first at Virginia, ended with a 5-11 league record, but two of the five wins were against State — 70-62 in Raleigh and 59-47 at Virginia in the Pack’s worst offensive performance of 2009-10.
Against the foursome — Brownell, Donahue, Wake’s Jeff Bzdelik and Bennett — Lowe is 2-4.
It’s understandable that State fans expect more from a coach in his fourth and fifth seasons, which just underscores the need for a win Thursday against Brownell.
Losses to the league’s big three — Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, UNC’s Roy Williams and Maryland’s Gary Williams — are explicable if not acceptable for most fans.
But the last thing Lowe needs at this point in the journey are additional losses to Brownell and Bennett.
Columnist
Comments
since we are on the subject
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 01:28 — JPDOhioDespite my frustation and negative ruminations lately, I would love to see Sid and the Pack prove everyone wrong and finish the season with a string of wins. That's not a prediction and all evidence argues against it. But still I will be cheering Sid and the Pack on.
Why? Why not. Sid has, at least publicly, handled the whole situation better than most anyone could. And, if the Pack somehow does pull off a miracle, I guarantee you won't hear an "I told you so" from Sid.
Like his coaching or not, give the guy the respect he has earned and lend some needed support to this team.
Sidney
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 23:27 — jhar44Remember when Herb was there, he was ran off by fans who wanted to be like Duke and UNC. Sidney was the best State could do. The next coach could be worse. This is nota job that is going to draw your big name coachesw. Thank Sidney for his five years of hell.
in other words
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 19:59 — melvinfurdIn other words, State is 2-0 against Wake (8-17) and 1-7 against everybody else in the ACC.
Don't overlook the fact that
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 16:02 — ProwlingWoofieDon't overlook the fact that Brownell, Donohue, and Bennett had previous college coaching experience, unlike Sid, who had zero and had to learn everything about the position in the line of fire. So it's not exactly comparing apples to apples.
No, Sid doesn't need to be losing to the league's first year coaches, but they are not in their first year of college coaching.
Maybe if Sid had completed
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 18:13 — anonymous2010Maybe if Sid had completed his college education before 2006 he would have been a college coach before NCSU. Only NCSU would offer a contract pending completion of 9 hours of courses to a coach. And Bzdelik has previous college coaching experience as an assistant and a head coach. And the 'line of fire' as you call it..welcome to the ACC. He was ill-prepared and unqualified. NCSU was in love with Sid. The honeymoon is over and so is Sid's career at NCSU.
telling signs
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 18:39 — SurferFrom what I can tell, Sid is making plans....
what plans?
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 19:51 — JPDOhioPlease share.
Three letters
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 20:07 — SurferAcronym.
speechless
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 01:13 — JPDOhioAnd clueless.
Don't overlook the fact that
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 16:02 — ProwlingWoofieDon't overlook the fact that Brownell, Donohue, and Bennett had previous college coaching experience, unlike Sid, who had zero and had to learn everything about the position in the line of fire. So it's not exactly comparing apples to apples.
No, Sid doesn't need to be losing to the league's first year coaches, but they are not in their first year of college coaching.
mrbonn who???
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 15:28 — hat_in_handDo not discuss mrbonn.....that is what he wants you to do.
desperate
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 13:58 — saltydawg1only state would have tolerated Sid this long!!
irrelevant
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 13:50 — JPDOhioForget about losses to the "new wave". A loss to anyone at this point just adds one more nail to the coffin.
Agree
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 13:55 — SurferBut my first thought is that this is just embarrassing.
new venue
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 12:00 — mrbonnone win! what Lowe and Towe need is a new venue. i heard the retirement home down the street from me is looking for a new coach. perhaps Lowe could help the guys and Towe could coach the ladies team. on second thought, that could be beyond their grasp. i'm very anxious to see what Yow does after the season.
Tarhole
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 14:39 — WolfpackPrideGuyYou must be a Tarhole trying the ole' anonymous disinformation strategy here. You're embarassing to the entire state. No one gains from this garbage. Sidney knows more about basketball than you ever will, so your trivial jargon about him only brings shame to you and your ilk. Look it up, Einstein, I know you need to.
too bad some alleged fans
Mon, 02/14/2011 - 14:24 — bppacktoo bad some alleged fans can't be fired. then again, this couldn't possibly be a State fan as no real fan would use this disgrace of a newspaper - with its long history of trashing NC State - as a venue for voicing a negative opinion - especially one so juvenile - about 2 NC State legends like Towe and Lowe. go embarrass yourself elsewhere if you feel the need, junior.