Brandon Costner didn't leave N.C. State to go to Europe.

N.C. State's leading scorer in 2008-09 said his goal is to play in the NBA. He has spent the past month training in Arizona, trying to get the NBA's attention.

"I think my [NBA] chances are good," Costner said. "If I have to go to Europe, it wouldn't be a bad option but I expect to get a look from the NBA."

Sidney Lowe's fourth team at N.C. State will be the first with his players.

The challenge of recovering from consecutive disappointing seasons with a young roster, filled with players he recruited, appeals to Lowe.

"I'm excited about seeing our young guys and seeing them grow," Lowe said before the Wolfpack Caravan stop in Raleigh on Wednesday night.

Brandon Costner, N.C. State's leading scorer this season, will not return to the basketball team for the 2009-10 season, N.C. State announced Monday. Reserve guard Trevor Ferguson will also forego his final season of eligibility.

Costner, a fourth-year junior, will graduate in May and go through the NBA Draft process. The forward averaged 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 30 starts this past season.

From Talking Points: 

Playing with a heavy heart three days after his paternal grandfather passed away, Brandon Costner was held without a point for the first time since State’s ACC Tournament loss to Miami last season and seventh time in 96 career games.

Over the past three seasons, State is 1-4 when Costner fails to score. He’s State’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game after the 72-67 win over Virginia.

“I hope the percentages go in our favor,” State coach Sidney Lowe said. “If he didn’t score this game, maybe he’ll score big in the next game. The good thing about that is we were able to win.”

Read more here. 

Playing with a heavy heart three days after his paternal grandfather passed away, Brandon Costner was held without a point for the first time since State’s ACC Tournament loss to Miami last season and seventh time in 96 career games.

Over the past three seasons, State is 1-4 when Costner fails to score. He’s State’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game after the 72-67 win over Virginia.

“I hope the percentages go in our favor,” State coach Sidney Lowe said. “If he didn’t score this game, maybe he’ll score big in the next game. The good thing about that is we were able to win.”

N.C. State didn't just lose to Florida State on Tuesday, the program appears to be falling apart at the seams. Again.

Sidney Lowe benched stars Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner for the bulk of the second half. Without its top two scorers, State actually took the lead. When the two were put back in the game, State fell apart.

Lowe called out McCauley and Costner after the loss and talked about "team" issues. These are the same issues that plagued last year's team, which finished with nine straight losses.

Sidney Lowe fired a warning shot across the bow of some of his veteran players after Tuesday's loss to Florida State, his postgame comments leaving little doubt what was said during a lengthy locker-room meeting after the game.

When Brandon Costner (16 minutes) plays less than C.J. Williams (17), Dennis Horner (24) and Johnny Thomas (18), Lowe didn't really need to amplify the message. Nor did he after benching Farnold Degand for the second half and leaving Ben McCauley out as well for much of that half.

But he did anyway.