Glenn Wilkes Classic Preview: NC State vs. Akron

NC STATE WOLFPACK vs. AKRON ZIPS
When: 3:30pm
Where: Daytona, FL
Records: NC State (1-0), Akron (0-1)
Television: None (Online Streaming from GlennWilkesClassic.com)
Where To Watch In Raleigh: The Brickhouse Sports Bar and Grill (3801 Hillsborough St.)

On Friday afternoon the Wolfpack will take on the favorite to win the MAC, the Akron Zips. Sporting a senior laden line-up, the Zips are an experienced squad looking to notch their first win of season. Last week, Akron fell to Austin Peay (whom the Pack will play on Saturday) in true heartbreaking fashion. With 5:26 left to play, Akron held a 12 point advantage, only to see Austin Peay reel off the next 17 points, en route to the victory.

With the Zips, it may not be the starting five you need to focus on. In their opening game, the bench players out-scored the starters 47-30, led by junior guard Steve McNeese with 14, and the infamous three point threat, 'Humpty' Higgins with 12.

Friday will mark the third time NC State has faced Akron. The Pack has won the first two contests rather handily (in 1947 and 1969). NC State also owns a 3-0 record against all MAC teams.

The Wolfpack will most likely be without senior Farnold Degand (coaches decision- grades) according to head coach Sidney Lowe at his weekly radio show. The absence of Degand, the fastest player on the squad, could certainly hamper the Pack's attempts to push the pace. This will mean finding ways to score out of the half court set, when forced to do so. Lowe is tinkering with a few ideas, including moving the sharp shooting freshman, Scott Wood, to the two, enabling him to get more floor time. He also mentioned allowing Tracy Smith to operate out of the 4, meaning freshman Jordan Vandenberg could see extended time this weekend. Vandenberg has been a shock to fans who figured his lack of recruitment equated to a lack of talent. That theory has been put to rest as Vandenberg is now a fan favorite thanks to his presence in the middle, his intense nature and his sneaky athleticism.

Another reason you may see a bit more of Vandenberg is to off-set Akron's 7 foot freshman, Zeke Marshall. Marshall, a heralded freshman who shunned schools such as Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech for Akron. Ranked as the 7th best center in the nation, he chose Akron, in part, because he wanted to bring a small school to national prominence and doesn't think you need to play in a power conference to get drafted.

"A lot of high-ranked players are starting to go to smaller schools," Marshall said to ESPN. "You can make The League without going to a big school."


Although, at the end of the day, the team with the most baskets win, limiting turnovers and pressure defense will certainly be a deciding factor in this one, as usual for NC State. The Zips only committed 9 turnovers in their first contest, a number expected for an experienced roster. The Pack also, surprisingly, only had 9 turnovers in their opener. A surprisingly low number, taking into consideration the amount of freshmen logging minutes for State.

The Glenn Wilkes Classic will certainly be a test for this young NC State team. Playing three games in three days away from home will tell a lot. It will help head Coach Lowe get a gauge of who to play and when to play them. It will tell if this young team is ready for to compete against the big boys, and it will test the togetherness of a team that swears by their chemistry. It should be an exciting weekend. Stay tuned, as we're in Daytona covering it every step of the way.

Recap of Coach Lowe's Radio Show (11/16/09)

-Coach Lowe talked about how this weekend's three-game stint in Daytona, FL, is a good chance for the team to spend time together and to gel a little more. He anticipates it being a great experience.

-Question: "What have you learned about this group?" Coach Lowe described this group as eager to learn and puts forth consistent effort in practice. There is a great team attitude and atmosphere amongst the group.

-He stressed the fact that they worked hard on defense this off-season. From day one they worked on their defensive set first, and then their offensive set. They want to dictate the game from the defensive end.

-Coach Lowe talked about how he put all of the new guys on one side of the court early on to help them get familiar with the offense. He specifically noted that Wood and Vandenberg were quick learners. He said that he can deal with one mistake, but he doesn't want to see the same mistake repeated. When Coach Lowe came to NC State as a player, he was prepared well at Dematha, and therefore had a head start. His mother also taught him to strive to please his elders, especially his coaches.

-Coach Lowe has been vocal in the past about wanting to have a point guard who knows what to do without looking to coach. He mentioned that Javi has really improved and is doing a better job pushing the ball up the court.

-He said that they wanted to run an "inside-out" offense. This team is very unselfish. Tracy Smith is coming along, but he still needs to be more patient. He had a great summer and works on his free throws every day in practice. Smith is going to get fouled a lot.

-Degand will probably not play this weekend. Coach Lowe is still not satisfied with his academic effort.

-Coach hinted at the fact that he might mess around with the lineup a little bit. Wood could see some time at the '2' and Smith could see some time at the '4'.

-Richard Howell practiced for the first time this Monday and is looking good. He could be ready to go by next week.

-Coach Lowe said Ryan Harrow is a 'special player.' He came all the way to Raleigh to sign his letter of intent so the fans could be a part of it. He then drove back in the rain so he wouldn't miss class. That's the type of kid he is.

-He also talked about how Josh Davis contributes in a lot of ways besides scoring that keep him on the floor.

-This team likes each other...they listen to each other. There is no single leader for the team at this point. Horner leads by example and has a tremendous work ethic. Smith has become more of a vocal leader this year.

-Coach Lowe talked about watching Lorenzo this past weekend in Lousiburg. He said that he made some electrifying plays and glides when he moves. Brown is deceptively quick.

Coach Lowe After Georgia State

Tracy Smith After Georgia State

Tracy Smith battled foul trouble in the season opener, but still managed to post a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. The statistic that was the most impressive for Smith, was the fact that he hit 10 of his 12 free throw attempts.

Julius Mays After Georgia State

Julius Mays was big for the Pack in the second half, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second period. Mays logged 21 minutes and only had 1 turnover. Even though he shot 50% from the field (3-6), but it was his clutch free throw shooting that made the biggest difference, sinking 10 of 11.

Dennis Horner After Georgia State

Senior Dennis Horner stepped up for the Wolfpack in a big way in the season opener versus Georgia State. He logged the most minutes of anyone on the team, with 34. He also scored 15 points, knocking down shots at a 60% clip (6-10 FG, 1-2 3PT).

Wolfpack Comes On Late, Defeats Georgia State 69-53

The Recap
For a young NC State team, they'll take a win any way they can get it. Playing for the first time all season in the RBC Center and without senior guard Farnold Degand (academic reasons), the Pack faced a veteran ball club in Georgia State, and while they stumbled out of the gate, they came on late to notch the victory 69-53.

The Pack went to work early, feeding Tracy Smith on the block for a few easy buckets, but it wasn't long before Georgia State began sagging men in the paint and forcing the Wolfpack to beat them from the perimeter. Throughout the first half, the Pack struggled to do so, could not find a rhythm and were unable to establish themselves on the break. It wasn't until their lone senior stepped up and took control that the Wolfpack finally got it going. Horner went onto a run of his own, scoring 7 straight points and helping the Pack stay afloat, and go into halftime with a slight lead 32-29.

The Wolfpack came out of the tunnel in the second half knowing that they had to put the game away early and not allow the veteran Panthers to hang around, however, an early 3rd foul on Tracy Smith (18 points, 11 boards) sent him to the bench.

"He's thinking about getting pressure on the ball and getting his hands on it. He's got to be smarter about the personnel he's matched up against. We can't have him getting unnecessary fouls" said Coach Sidney Lowe

Without their star center, Sidney Lowe was forced to turn to his guards, something he's had to do in seasons past, but to no avail. Tonight, however, the guards answered the call. Javi Gonzalez hustled, scrapped and fought his way to 8 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds, while sophomore Julius Mays dropped 16, 14 of which came in the second half. In the end, though, it was the defense keying the Pack's late game run, which closed the door on the Panthers for good.

"We made a nice run and came at them defensively. We went after it and got some rebound and steals, made some stops and that really allowed us to open up our game. Our offense took off from there." said Coach Sidney Lowe

The defensive pressure, and a few long rebounds, helped the Pack get out on the break, extend the lead and cruise to a 16 point victory.

The Player Rundown

Overall the Pack played decent, but there is certainly a whole lot of room for improvement. Tracy Smith did what Tracy Smith is going to do, he punished the opponent in the paint any time he was isolated one on one. He drew fouls, got to the line and played very physical.

The big story of this game was the guard play. 12 assists to only 9 turnovers. That stat alone will show you why NC state was able to hold off the Panthers down the stretch. Without Farnold Degand, and with Smith in early foul trouble, it was up to Javi Gonzalez, Julius Mays and CJ Williams to run the show. While Williams was unable to get things going tonight, Javi Gonzalez showed maturity and poise, as he dropped 8 points, grabbed 8 boards and dished out 8 assists, all while only committing two turnovers. A very impressive performance that got the attention of a guy who might know a thing or two about the position, his coach, Sidney Lowe.

"Javi was great. Two turnovers, eight rebounds. I thought he played great. I think he realized that we didn't have Farnold and that he was going to have to play both positions and play both positions well. He was outstanding. He went in there and got a couple key rebounds for us. He defended the ball, passed the ball, and overall played a great game. "

Mays also was great down the stretch. For a good deal of the first half the Wolfpack basically ran their sets and passed it around the perimeter, looking to drop it to the post. There was very little attempt at creating by the guards until Mays began pushing the envelope and making things happen on offense. His 14 second half points were huge in the Pack getting this victory.

Another player that really stood out was Josh Davis. Although Davis doesn't have much to show on the stat sheet, aside from 3 rebounds, he was so active on both ends of the floor. He crashed the boards, dove for loose balls, and moved with a purpose on the offensive end. In fact, all of the freshman really deserved to be recognized for their effort. Jordan Vandenberg, Scott Wood and DeShawn Painter all played their hearts out, but the bright lights and the excitement of the home opener seemed to shake them a bit. Wood finished with 8 points, but was an uncharacteristic 1-6 from three. Vandenberg slotted in for Smith nicely and really played some important minutes for the Pack. His length alone is game changing, add in the fact that he's aggressive and you have yourself a piece that should play an important role on this team as the season moves forward.


KEY STATS OF THE GAME
-12 assists and only 9 turnoevers
-NC State shot only 18% from beyond the arc


BOXSCORE

Pack Beats Georgia State 69-53

Tracy Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Julius Mays had 16, and Dennis Horner had 15 points as the Wolfpack came on late to beat Georgia State 69-53. We'll have the story shortly.

GAME PREVIEW: Wolfpack Set To Open 100th Season

NC STATE WOLFPACK vs. GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS

Tip-off: 7pm
Location: RBC Center, Raleigh, NC
TV: None (Pack Pass, Gopack.com)

Basketball season is finally upon us. The Wolfpack play host to the Georgia State Panthers tonight at 7:00pm at the RBC Center, in their 100th season. Tonights game is the first game of the Glenn Wilkes Classic, which will continue with three games in three days in Daytona Beach next week.

The Pack open the year riding a 15 game winning streak of season openers, and have done so by a respectable 21 point margin of victory. This, however, will be the first time that the Wolfpack has faced the Georgia State Panthers. They narrowly defeated Shorter College in their only exhibition game, 72-68. While you may not be very familiar with Georgia State, you certainly should be familiar with their point guard Marques Johnson. Johnson played with the Wolfpack during the '07-'08 season before deciding to transfer to Georgia State. This will be his first game with the Panthers, and strangely it will be against his former ball club. Johnson played 21 games with the Wolfpack, in which he averaged 2 points and 1.2 assists per game.

The Wolfpack will take the floor tonight coming off an impressive performance against an over matched opponent in St. Paul's College in last Thursday's exhibition. NC State dominated in all aspects of the game, with a solid inside performance from Tracy Smith and the long range sharp shooting of freshman Scott Wood. The Wolfpack ran up an impressive 84 points. On defense, they worked hard, racking up the deflections and playing textbook help-and-recover defense all night long. Tonight, the Pack will face a bigger, faster and more experienced opponent in Georgia State.

The Panthers are led by 6'1 senior guard, Joe Dukes, who also has his own ACC connections, transferring to Georgia State from Wake Forest. They are an experienced group, who will rely on the backcourt trio of Dukes, senior guard Trae Goldston and Johnson for a majority of their scoring. It will be up to the Wolfpack guards to make sure that doesn't happen. Javi Gonzalez, Farnold Degand, CJ Williams and Julius Mays will all need to step up and shut down the dribble penetration if they want to run away with the victory.

A lot of new faces will see their first regular season game action tonight as the Pack will introduce a few freshman that are looking to make immediate impacts. Scott Wood, DeShawn Painter, Jordan Vandenberg and Josh Davis are on tap to see the floor and get their first taste of playing in front of the home crowd at the RBC Center.

It's hard to say what you can expect form this young Wolfpack team, but if the exhibition game was any indication, you can certainly expect them to play hard, play smart and play uptempo. Three things the Wolfpack faithful are certainly looking forward to.

2009-2010 Basketball Team Preview: Center

Name: Tracy Smith
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 247
Class: Junior

For the Wolfpack, the center position is surly the most solidified position on the floor. Tracy Smith is coming into his junior year fresh off of a breakout season that saw him average 10 points and almost 5 rebounds per game as a sophomore. What is even more impressive is that he did all of that damage while only logging 18 minutes per contest. Smith is a scoring machine who isn't afraid to mix it up in the middle.

As a high schooler many projected Smith to be a top-25 recruit, however his weight ballooned during his sophomore year, and had him playing at an enormous 285lbs. As the weight increased, big time programs began to back off, questioning his motivation and work ethic. During the latter part of his junior year, Tracy decided that it was now or never if he wanted to fulfill his dream of playing college basketball. He cut out fried foods and soda and began to put in work in the weight room. The intense training and disciplined eating paid off as Smith came into his senior season down nearly 30 pounds. With a new found work ethic and increased production on the floor, college coaches once again came knocking. In the end the highly touted big man chose NC State.

In his first season, Smith showed glimpses of what he was capable of in his sparse minutes of playing time, scoring with ease whenever he got the ball in the paint. Last season, with star center JJ Hickson moving on to the NBA, Smith was the first big off the bench, playing behind upperclassmen Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner. Smith immediately made the most of his opportunity, shooting an impressive 54% from the field and pushing the Wolfpack's experienced frontcourt for minutes down the stretch.

This season the Wolfpack are without McCauley and Costner, and with Smith stepping in, there isn't any reason to expect a decline of production in the paint. An off-season of intense weight training and grueling conditioning, courtesy of new trainer Wright Wayne, has Tracy ready to become a bona-fide star in the ACC.

"Last year I would say it was tough with Charles but Wright Wayne, he really put it on us. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since I’ve been at NC State and I think it’s going to show in our stamina, the way we run the floor and everything." said Smith during media day

In the exhibition versus St. Paul's College, Tracy did not disappoint, shooting 9-11 and dropping 21 points in only 21 minutes. He showed off a few new tricks, as he took it to the opposing 'Bigs' with both power, advanced footwork and a quick baseline spin move he's been working on this off-season.

Tracy will be the #1 option in a Wolfpack offense that still has a lot of questions to be answered. Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe preaches running the offense from inside-out, but if Tracy continues to improve, there won't be much need for the 'out' part of that equation.

Name: Jordan Vandenberg
Height: 7'1"
Weight: 238lbs
Class: Freshman

Surprise, surprise, Jordan Vandenberg isn't a project player after all. The unknown 7'0" Aussie inked with the Pack late in the recruiting process and had many State fans wondering if Lowe was playing the desperation card with the signing. It turns out he wasn't. Vandenberg is 7'0" tall and still extremely raw, but anyone who's watched him has seen that he's already capable of causing a lot of problems for ACC opponents. His tenacious style of play, and coordination on the floor has caught a lot of people off guard, including his teammates.

"Jordan surprised me when he got here. He's not your everyday 7 footer. He's a lot better than what I expected, because you know, a lot of times 7 footers that you haven't heard of usually don't have it all together. Jordan, he does." said Farnold Degand

The fans found one of their new favorites when Vandenberg stunned the crowd by winning the team dunk contest at the Red Rally two weeks ago, and again when he punished St. Paul's 'Bigs' during a stretch where he threw down a drop step dunk and followed it up with a ferocious block out of bounds on the other end.

The fiery big man will surely provide some much needed depth to the Pack front court this season and should definitely open a few eyes in the process. Although still very raw, his size and athleticism alone will keep teams honest in the paint and have opposing guards altering shots when they get in the lane. The future is very bright for the young freshman who still must learn to compete in the ACC, but he knows that if he keeps working he could be a very big piece to not only this years team, but the future of the program as well.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The center position is the easily the strongest part of this young Wolfpack team, thanks to Tracy Smith alone. The success of this team will depend heavily on whether he can shoulder the load the coaching staff will trust him with. His ability to score and rebound will need to be on display night in and night out if the Pack wants to be a dark horse in the ACC race. With the capable Vandenberg also in the mix, the center position seems to be sizing up nicely for Sidney Lowe and the Wolfpack.

Coach Lowe: After St. Paul's College

Javi Gonzalez: After St. Paul's College

Tracy Smith: After St. Paul's College

Scott Wood: After St. Paul's College

New Look Wolfpack Crushes Overmatched Tigers 84-42

The Wolfpack opened up the basketball season on Thursday night with a bang, beating the St. Paul College Tigers 84-42. Although it was only an exhibition game, there was an excitement that filled Reynolds Coliseum, as students and season ticket holders showed up to catch a glimpse of the new look Wolfpack.

With plenty of new faces and a brand new up-tempo offense, Sidney Lowe wanted to show the Pack faithful just why he's been so excited this offseason. Soon after the tip, it was pretty apparent. Tracy Smith went to work immediately, maneuvering in the post and powering to the rim to notch the first 5 points of the game, and he didn't stop there. Smith kept up that pace all night, and although he was facing a much smaller, weaker opponent, he was impressive to say the least. Jump hooks, drop steps and great body control helped Tracy to a game high 21 points on 9-11 shooting. Smith looked stronger, quicker, and more lean than he did last season, all of which he attributes to hard work this offseason. (He also went 3-3 from the line, a place where he struggled last season)

When Smith wasn't punishing St. Paul's from the paint, Scott Wood was reigning down threes from the outside. The heralded freshman known for his sharp-shooting, showed NC State fans what all the fuss was about, as he was a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc. His quick release and confident nature had the crowd dialed in every time he touched the ball. Starting at the SF position, Wood not only shot the ball well, but he did his part on defense and didn't commit a single turnover in 22 minutes.

Both Smith and Wood were impressive, but equally as good was junior point man, Javi Gonzalez. After two years of taking lumps and learning what it takes to play point guard in the ACC, Gonzalez looked in control and eager to push the pace. His quick hands and aggressive defense led to a team high 4 steals, which helped the Pack get out on the break. When the pace picked up, Javi didn't look the least bit overwhelmed, making the right passes at the right times and ended up with 6 assists with only 3 turnovers. This gave Javi an impressive 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, which is great news for a guard plagued by turnovers early in his career. Gonzalez also pitched in 5 points and 5 boards for good measure.

The faster pace and smarter play was refreshing to the 5,000 in attendance and gave a preview of the style of play Sidney Lowe has been talking about since he was hired in 2006. Although it was only the opening exhibition game, this Wolfpack team seems like a smarter more athletic group than last years team.

While there were many bright spots for the Wolfpack, there were also a few areas where improvements will need to be made. In the first half the Pack struggled to out-rebound the smaller Tigers, and went into halftime with the rebounding totals dead even at 20-20. A Sidney Lowe halftime speech later, and State's rebounding was on point, out-boarding St. Paul's 30-14 in the second half. While much of the rebounding was accomplished by team effort (eight players with 4 or more rebounds) a lot of the praise can be given to two freshmen 'bigs'.

DeShawn Painter and Jordan Vandenberg were not in the starting line-up, but you can believe, if Thursday was any indication, they will be seeing their fair share of court time this season. Painter was a jolt of energy off the bench and provided Sidney Lowe with a different look at the four position when senior Dennis Horner is on the bench. A true trouble maker around the rim, DeShawn was relentless on defense, altering shots and pulling down rebounds in traffic. He even pulled his weight on the offensive end with 8 points. Painter is still very raw, but his non-stop motor and aggressive nature will certainly make him hard to keep off the court.

Vandenberg is another player who turned some heads with his play in the exhibition. The 7 footer from Australia, who many envisioned to be a 'project player' was anything but. A thunderous dunk, a soft midrange two, a perfectly executed high-low , and a block and stare down that had the Pack fans on their feet, were just a few examples. Although he did get a little sloppy with 5 turnovers (most of which were bullet passes to cutters at close range) that can likely be chalked up to the first game jitters, Jordan was impressive. Down the road you can bet Jordan will most certainly be something special for the Wolfpack.

With a week to prepare before the season opens, Sidney Lowe will have to make a few interesting decisions. CJ Williams played a solid game, but so did his backup Farnold Degand. Degand really pushed the pace and gave the Pack another quality ball handler in the backcourt, while Williams is the bigger more physical of the two. It will most likely come down to match-ups, but Degand was really impressive dishing out 4 assists and only being responsible for one turnover. Even better news than that was that Farnold looked to be 100% after two years of knee troubles.

Box Score (click to enlarge)

Wolfpack Wins Exhibition 84-42

The NC State Wolfpack took down the St. Paul's College Tigers 84-42 in impressive fashion. The Pack showed off their new up tempo offense to  a crowd of students and season ticket holders in storied Reynolds Coliseum. 

The crowd came away impressed as Javi Gonzalez and Farnold Degand pushed the pace all night long, leading to easy buckets and an some exciting highlights. Tracy Smith led all scorers with 21, and freshman Scott Wood pitched in 12, going 4-4 from three point range. 

We'll have a detailed recap coming soon.

2009-2010 Wolfpack Basketball Preview: The Power Forwards

Name: Dennis Horner
Height: 6'9
Weight: 226
Class: Senior

Dennis Horner won't quit on you. Sidney Lowe found this out first hand when he was hired at NC State. Previous coach Herb Sendek had a top notch recruiting class coming in, including highly touted prospects Dan Werner, Larry Davis and Dennis Horner. Upon learning of Sendek's departure Werner and Davis reneged on their commitments, leaving Horner as the lone freshman in Lowe's first season. Lowe knew he needed Horner. With the loss of Andrew Brackman and Ced Simmons to professional baseball and basketball (respectively), he had no one to turn to but the loyal, true to his word, Dennis Horner.

Three years later Dennis is a senior and has been a solid contributor every step of the way. With the Pack now quicker on the wing, Lowe and the staff decided to make a decision to move him from the wing to the post, where he could exploit bigger, slower defenders with his ability to shoot the ball from deep or attack off the dribble. Horner accepted the role and has added close to 15 pounds of muscle this offseason (now up almost 40lbs since his freshman season), enabling him to match the physicality of opposing ACC four men.

The Wolfpack is young this season, and with the loss of their top three scorers, they will look to Dennis to shoulder a little more of the scoring load than he did a season ago. Last year, Horner averaged 6.4 points and almost 3 rebounds in about 18 minutes of court time per game. This season he should see a generous increase in minutes being the only senior amongst this years front court.

There aren't many questions surrounding the 6'9 forward. He has been a consistent contributor throughout his career and you can always count on getting 100% out of him when he steps foot on the floor. The test for Horner will be to see if he is ready and willing to step up and lead this young NC State team. He knows the ropes, he knows what to expect, but will he be able to deliver in his senior season? The answer to that question could mean a lot in how the season turns out for the Pack.


Name: DeShawn Painter
Height: 6'9
Weight: 213
Class: Freshman

It's easy to forget about Painter. He was the last freshman to sign and came without the fanfare of some of the other recruits, however, Painter may very well be the most important one of them all.

Early in his prep career, DeShawn was one of the most highly touted players in his class. His versatility, aggressiveness and athleticism had big name programs and scouts drooling over the high ceiling that he possessed, but things changed when he was injured the summer before his senior season. A small back injury nagged Painter and put a hold on the growing hype surrounding him. A few poor AAU performances against some big time big men and the bloom was suddenly off the rose. Many schools backed off and decided to take other directions, but not NC State. Lowe continued to pursue the talented PF, understanding that when back to full health, Painter had the ability to be a dominant force in the ACC.

Before the Pack could make a final push, DeShawn signed with Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators. A little bit later, Painter had second thoughts about his commitment to Florida, and re-opened his recruitment. Soon after, Painter inked with the Wolfpack.

Painter is a high energy, highly skilled athlete who excels on the wing and facing up his defender. He is a very strong rebounder and loves to mix it up on the boards, much like his idol, Kevin Garnett.

"I’m tall and long and I can do a lot of what KG does. I mean, I know I’m not as good as him or as strong yet, but that’s the player I pattern my game after. I always say I want to be better than KG, but of course I have a lot of work to do. I just want to play the game as hard as I can and get better. Even Coach Lowe told me he saw a lot of Garnett tendencies in my game. I guess you can say I like to shoot it and I can shoot it. I like to face up and attack the basket too. I’m not too much of a back to the basket guy but,I know if I get stronger I can be." Painter said. 

The Wolfpack would certainly love to see those Garnett tendencies on the court come game time and will be counting on DeShawn for some major minutes backing up Dennis Horner. Early practices have seen Painter become a big surprise for the NC State staff. His versatility is a lot better than what most had reported, so good even that they have flirted with the idea of working Painter out on the wing some this season. For now Painter will be called on to provide energy and an aggressive body on the block to help with rebounding.

The knock on Painter is his thin frame. He will need to prove that at 6'9, 213lbs, he can bang with the big boys of the ACC. If he can prove to be effective at the four, Painter will be a gigantic boost for the Pack who will need all the help on the boards that they can get. It may be a season or two before we really see how great DeShawn Painter can be, but a speed boost in that learning curve would help tremendously.


Name: Richard Howell
Height: 6'8
Weight: 265
Class: Freshman

With the Pack's starting front court gone, they will need every big body they can find to provide help on the blocks. That's where Richard Howell comes in. Howell, a freshman from Atlanta, is a big bodied, highly skilled power forward who can score effectively from the blocks or the wing. He has a soft jump shot and already possess the size to mix it up in the middle.

This pre-season Howell has fallen victim to a few minor injuries, but hopes to be ready when the season rolls around. Sir Rich is a not only a gifted athlete, but also possesses a high basketball IQ and a solid work ethic. Howell is known for being a unselfish player that goes hard all the time. While he isn't much of a high flyer, he makes up for it in his strength and body control. In the paint Howell can break you down with an array of post moves, or he can step out and keep you honest with his improving midrange game.

There is no question that Howell is a fighter and will do what has to be done to win basketball games. He is relentless on the glass and isn't afraid to throw around his 265 pound frame. The question with Howell is about his health. If he can overcome these early season bumps and bruises, he should be a sure bet to contribute at the four spot for Sidney Lowe. As with any freshman there will surely be a period of adaptation, but sporting an ACC ready body, it will be mostly a mental thing for Richard.


POSITION OVERVIEW
With the experience and outside shooting of Horner, the sheer athleticism of Painter, and the size and tenacity of Richard Howell, Sidney Lowe has a nice array of tools to work with at PF. All three of the options will still need to prove that they can handle some of the scoring load and shut down opposing bigs, but there is no question that they will give it every once of effort they can muster. Horner, Howell, and Painter all go hard to the boards and never back down. This is a position that the staff will look to for consistency and hustle, and most likely they will get it. As with the SF position, PF is a deep position that has a lot of versatility and will more than likely take a few games for the staff to get a real feel for what the younger guys can do.

The importance of this position is a lot greater than many realize. Tracy Smith is a great rebounder, but as you saw last season, he will need some help. These three options will be key in controlling the glass, an extremely important factor for a team looking to get out on the break. In a round-about way, I guess you could say that a lot of the Pack's visions of running a fast pace offense will rest on the rebounding efficiency of these three players.

2009-2010 Wolfpack Basketball Preview: The Small Forwards

Name: Scott Wood
Height: 6'7
Weight: 170
Class: Freshman

Scott Wood can score. The 6'7" forward is another product from Marion High School in Indiana, the same school that produced Wolfpack point guard Julius Mays. Coming from a winning program, Wood is known for his intensity and drive to win. He's probably even more known for his quick release, and long range sharp shooting. Wood possesses a jump shot that was one of the most feared in the 2009 class, and which helped make him to be ESPNU's #1 signing day sleeper last November.

Wood's ability to score in bunches will certainly help a Wolfpack team who hasn't had a consistent three point threat the last few seasons. His release is as quick as they come and has been compared to that of former Davidson sensation Stephen Curry, who's hair-trigger release made him a nightmare for anyone who attempted to guard him. The ACC, however, is a whole new ballgame and will take some getting used to for Wood who is still a bit slender by ACC standards. That's not to say that Scott can't attack the basket. This summer he surprised his teammates with his ability to put the ball on the floor and finish with authority. The key to Wood's overall success on the offensive end will be showing this ability come game time. Teams will certainly make a point to keep tabs on Wood and to eliminate open looks from long range. With opponents looking to press up on him, Wood will need to keep them honest with his dribble-drive and ability to finish in traffic.

When he signed with NC State, ball handling was one of his weaknesses, however, he was forced to take over at point guard his senior season when Marion's starting point man was ruled ineligible. He told us earlier this off-season how being moved out of position was a blessing in disguise.

"Playing point last year definitely helped me. Now, I'm more confident with the ball when defenders pressure me and am able to take them off the dribble on the wing." Scott told us.

Offense is something that Wood has never truly struggled with, and given some time, he should adapt to the ACC game and become a big time scoring threat for the Pack. The only question for Wood then becomes playing time. With a high basketball IQ, a motor that never stops and the ability to put the ball in the hole, you'd think there was no way Scott could be kept off the floor.

One thing the Wolfpack will need to focus on this season is defense. With their top three scorers gone from last season they will need to keep opponents in check if they want to be successful. With Wood, it's not a question of desire, but like with any freshman, there will be a learning curve on the defensive side of the ball. There is no question that, at points this season, Wood will be matched up against a quicker opponent on the wing. He will need to show Coach Lowe that he can make stops and stay in front of quicker, more athletic forwards if he wants to stay on the court.



Name: Josh Davis
Height: 6'7
Weight: 205
Class: Freshman

Sidney Lowe has made it a point that he wants guys who will buy into the program and give 110% every time they are on the floor. With Josh Davis, he has just that. Davis grew up a Wolfpack fan and has always idolized the past players that donned the red and white. Now it's his turn. The athletic forward was a late bloomer at Athens High School in Raleigh and went unnoticed by many big name programs and recruiting services, however, he didn't slip past Sidney Lowe.

"He’s the type of player that you don’t have to call a play for, he just makes it happen. When I talked about the ball being on the floor, he’s the first one to go on the floor, the first. He’s going to be a guy that it’s going to be hard to not have him on the floor, because he does all the little things. He defends, he rebounds, he runs, he’s going to get those loose balls and he’s a finisher. He gets on the break, he’s gets the ball and he finishes. He’ll get the offensive rebound, go back up and get fouled. He’s been fun to coach." said Lowe in his preseason press conference.

That is an outstanding vote of confidence from a coach who puts more stock into hard work and effort than he does into pure talent. While playing the same position, Davis and Wood are completely different players. Josh is not a go-to scoring threat, but that does not mean he can't put up points. As a senior at Athens, he averaged over 25 points per game and pulled down over 8 rebounds. Although the staff isn't looking for Davis to put up those type of numbers in the ACC, they are hoping that he can bring his hustle, heart and athleticism every time he steps on the floor, something they've been very pleased with thus far in the preseason practices.

At 205lbs, Davis already has the build to compete in the ACC and has shown the staff that he wants to be on the floor, showing a positive attitude and a willingness to work. He is only a freshman and will certainly have to get acquainted with going up against great players every night, but the coaching staff has been surprised at how well he's adapted thus far. It's strange to say this with Davis being such an unheralded recruit, but as of now, he has the least amount of questions surrounding him at the SF position for the Pack.


Name: Johnny Thomas
Height: 6'6
Weight: 206
Class: Sophomore (redshirt)

If Johnny Thomas gets a lane, your best option might be to move. Thomas is a high flying forward who possesses elite athleticism coupled with a never quit attitude that has the coaches ready to see what he can do in his first healthy season. The fact is, Thomas has never gotten a chance to show the Pack fans what he's capable of. Redshirted in his first season at NC State with a serious knee injury, Thomas came back last year to provide some help and some hustle at the SF spot. Unfortunately for Johnny, his knee continued to act up and he was forced to miss a majority of the season.

This year he is fully healthy by his own admission and could be a key piece for a Pack team in need of a scorer. Watch Thomas play when healthy, and you catch glimpses of a young Gerald Henderson. From the build, to the shot, to the insane hops, JT has it all. The question is not whether it's there, but whether he can harness it and whether his knees will allow him to.

Thomas has spent the off-season strengthening his knee and honing his jumpshot, in hopes of filling the vacant SF role for the Wolfpack. Last season when Johnny stepped foot on the floor, he was aggressive, physical and active on both ends, but never quite looked full-strength, thanks to the knee. If he is able to overcome the injury woes and shows off the new found jumper that he flashed in the 'Red Rally scrimmage,' Thomas could be a pleasant surprise and a true team leader. If, however, his knee acts up again and his athleticism is hindered, he may find himself fighting harder than he thought to find court time.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The small forward position is easily the most versatile position on the floor for the Wolfpack this season with an array of new faces that possess a wide range of talents. Scott Wood, Josh Davis and Johnny Thomas will compete for minutes at this slot and all three bring a different dynamic when they're on the court.

This position battle may be more about match-ups than it is about finding one player to log most of the minutes. Wood will certainly make teams think twice about going zone, while Davis and Thomas will be the ones Lowe looks to when he needs a stop or he wants to push the tempo.

The SF position is really one to watch and one that could prove to be vital for the Pack. Like with the shooting guards, the small forward position has it's questions, but with three capable options, it seems hard to believe that Sidney and the coaching staff won't be able to find an answer.

2009-2010 Wolfpack Basketball Preview: The Shooting Guards

Name: CJ Williams
Height: 6'6
Weight: 218
Class: Sophomore

Most tend to forget how good CJ Williams really is. He was an early commit to NC State during his junior season at Jack Britt High School in North Carolina. Williams hadn't had many offers at the time, but Roy Williams and UNC were regularly communicating with him and keeping tabs on the four star combo. The Heels backed off after CJ announced his college plans and the rest is history.

A back injury prior to his senior season at Jack Britt dropped Williams off of the radar for most scouting outlets, as his numbers dipped considerably in his senior campaign. He explained to us about this injury earlier this off-season.

"Well actually at first it was misdiagnosed. They first thought it was a pulled hamstring and they treated it for that. It didn’t get better, so then I went to get another opinion and they said it was a pinched nerve, and that wasn’t it either. Finally, I found a doctor that knew what it was. It’s actually called the sacroiliac joint, the SI joint. It’s a joint in your back that when you jump, it bears all your weight. That joint was actually out of place and they say if that joint is only 1/16th of an inch off, you’ll be on a pain scale of a 9. In my case the bones were actually stacked on top of each other. The pain would shoot from my buttocks all the way to my knee so I had to get surgery." Said Williams

Finally healthy, CJ came to NC State with the intentions of re-establishing himself as an elite do-it-all guard. He was arguably the top freshman last season (along with Julius Mays), logging over 14 minutes per game and chipping in almost 4 points per game. Williams is a tall guard who will interchange at the three spot for the Pack when necessary. He's a heady player that understands the game and plays within himself when he's on the floor. His .06 turnovers per game was a team low for players averaging more than 12 minutes of floor time.

Last season, Williams at times seemed timid and reluctant to force the issue, a certain symptom of being a freshman in the ACC. This season things will change, according to CJ.

"Last year I settled for a lot of jump shots and that's not really my game. In high school I liked to attack the basket and get in the lane for a pull-up." Williams told us.

Although attacking the basket in high school is a lot different than attacking the basket in the ACC, Williams has made the proper adjustments over his months off the court.

"I spent a lot of time in the gym this summer, getting stronger. I know I'm going to have to play more aggressive this year on offense so I worked on my ball handling which will help me with that." he told us.

With the loss of Courtney Fells, Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner, NC State will need someone to step up the scoring from the guard position and the staff is looking to Williams to provide that boost. This off-season Williams played in the Durham Pro-Am league, a highly competitive league that consists of former college players and current NBA stars. Williams, one of the younger players on the court each night, held his own and then some. Those in attendance could noticeably tell the work that CJ had put in. Improved strength, better ball handling and a dead eye jumper helped him become one of the leading scorers on his team, even pouring in 32 points in one contest. The experience of playing in the Pro-Am has given him a renewed confidence, something Sidney Lowe and the NC State coaches are hoping is carried over into the season.

Williams will certainly be a key piece for the Wolfpack, someone who will be looked to for leadership on and off the court. With no true scoring threat from the guard position, CJ will need to be aggressive and embrace the scoring role if the Pack wants to have success. If this summer was any indication, we don't think it will be much of a problem.



Name: Farnold Degand
Height: 6'4
Weight: 170
Class: Senior

The roller coaster ride that has been Degand's career at NC State is in it's final run, and Farnold is hoping it will be a good one. A transfer from Iowa State, Degand has been either redshirted or injured (for at least a part of) the past three seasons. This year he finally can claim that he is 100% healthy and ready to go. Two years ago, the Pack thought they had found the answer to the point guard woes that had plagued them since Engin Atsur left the team three years ago. Unfortunately, Degand's knee didn't cooperate and he was forced to miss the greater part of the last two years. With the knee problems behind him, he has readied himself for one last push.

Thought of mostly as a point guard over his years in college, Sidney Lowe has optioned to move Farnold to the two guard in hopes to alleviate ball pressure, give the Pack better ball handling on the perimeter, and put more speed on the floor to push the break. The move to shooting guard should take some pressure off Degand, who has had trouble handling the ball in the past. Last season he was third in turnovers per game at 2.2, a high total considering he only averaged 18 minutes per contest.

The question with Degand is whether he will be looked to for scoring and if so, is he capable. No guard on this year's NC State roster averaged over 7 points last season, meaning someone will have to take on that challenge. It's yet to be seen whether Degand has what it takes, but he's shown glimpses in the past of being able to get to the rim with his quick first step and had people taking note when he drilled 50% of his threes over the first 10 games prior to his injury.

Defensively Farnold has the ability to become a lockdown defender, but last season a sore knee hindered his lateral movement, making him an easy target for quicker guards. This year with the knee 100%, all Degand will have to focus on is playing smart, as his athleticism and quickness should take care of the rest.

"I've definitely improved my focus. This year I've made sure to correct things that have been wrong in the past. I haven't necessarily had the best success doing it the old way, so I figured I should go about it a little different this year and I've decided to take that route." Degand said during media day.

It will surely be interesting to see how the move to the two guard effects Farnold. If he is able to chip in on the scoring and alleviate the point guard's pressure, then Lowe will look like a genius and the Pack will be one of the faster ACC teams from end to end. If Degand falters and is lost at the off-guard spot, then I'd be curious to see if he moves back into the point guard rotation with CJ taking over primarily at the two.

POSITION OVERVIEW
There are a lot of questions at shooting guard for the Pack, simply because there are a lot of unknowns. Will CJ mature into a constant scoring threat for the Pack? Will Farnold Degand adapt to the two spot and allow the offense to really push the ball down the court form either backcourt position?

This position certainly has the most flexibility, as you may at times see Julius Mays or Scott Wood slotted in here if the situation presents itself. The staff certainly hopes, however, that CJ or Farnold will step up and grab the reigns. The best case scenario would be the Pack finding a legitimate scoring threat from the two spot, as well as a consistent ball handler that will help cut down on backcourt turnovers that plagued them a season ago.

2009-2010 Wolfpack Basketball Preview: The Point Guards

With the basketball season set to kick-off this Thursday, we'll be taking the next few days to preview the current team and take a look at each position, it's strengths and it's weaknesses. Today, in our first installment, we'll be looking at the point guards.

Name: Javi Gonzalez
Height: 6'0
Weight: 175lbs
Class: Junior

It may sound crazy, but there might not be a more experienced point man in the ACC. Javi Gonzalez went through baptism by fire during his freshman season when he was forced to fill the starting point guard role vacated by an injured Farnold Degand. Then last season, he again played a bigger role than expected, winning the majority of the minutes over freshman Julius Mays and an on-again, off-again injured Degand.

Last season had more highs than his freshman campaign, but still was marred by a high turnover total, something Sidney Lowe just won't stand for. "Playing for Coach Lowe, he expects his point guards to be perfect. No mistakes at all. I mean, he knows we are going to make a few here and there, but in practice and in games he wants us to be perfect." Javi said. Not surprising coming from a former point guard who holds the school record for assist-to-turnover ratio.

This season Javi is a year older and is looking to take the reigns as the opening day starter for the Pack. In order to prepare himself Gonzalez spent the off-season working hard on his areas of weakness. "All off-season I worked on getting stronger and creating off the dribble. The coaches wanted me to be able to attack more and keep the defense honest, so I've gotten a lot better at that." he said.

Late last season Gonzalez showed the Pack fans a glimpse of what may be in store for the '09-'10 season as he averaged over 11 points per contest over the final eight games. Javi gives the Wolfpack another viable option from beyond the three point line. Last season he connected on over 42% of his threes and was the go-to shooter down the stretch.

Gonzalez is now in his junior season and will be looked to for consistency at the point. The fiery son of a boxer has the heart, the quickness and the ability to be a solid option for Sidney Lowe, but will have to put it all together and cut down on the turnovers if the Pack wants to be successful with Javi at lead guard.


Name: Julius Mays
Height: 6'2
Weight: 190
Class: Sophomore

Mays is a competitor, there is no way around that. His refuse-to-lose attitude showed up on occasion over his freshman season, as he hit a game winner against Miami and poured in 18 points, 2 assists and zero turnovers against Maryland in the Pack's first round ACC tournament loss. Julius came to NC State knowing nothing besides winning. His Marion high school team went to the state championship game two seasons in a row and was the champion his junior season.

His first season, however, had it's share of ups and downs. Mays showed signs of becoming a beacon of consistency for the Pack backcourt, but freshman hiccups and an inability to defend quicker guards forced him to the bench down the stretch. This season Mays is quicker, stronger, and has a better grasp on his role with the Pack. "I worked a lot this off-season on getting quicker and stronger. I did a lot of agility drills and worked a lot in the gym. Coach Lowe wants us to able to push the ball this season, so I worked on conditioning a lot as well." Julius said.

While Gonzalez may be the quicker of the two, Mays is certainly more crafty. His ability to create space and score off the dribble, two things he excelled at last season, will be the things that Coach Lowe will need to see from Julius this year as the Pack will look for scoring wherever they can find it.

The key to Mays' success will be his ability to defend the smaller, quicker guards in the ACC, something he was not able to do consistently a season ago. Lowe and the Wolfpack have the personnel to match up man-to-man with most opponents, but penetration from opposing point guards haunted them a season ago, and will be key to their success again this year.

POSITION OUTLOOK

The success of the point guards will go a long way in dictating the outcome of this season. If the these two can stay consistent, take care of the basketball, and defend, the Wolfpack will surely be able to turn some heads. If neither Javi nor Julius step up, Lowe will have nowhere to turn and NC State may be in for a long season, however, the two guards have taken the off-season to make sure that doesn't happen.

Javi's weakness has been his size and his composure, but his age has to be taken into consideration. Gonzalez will be an upperclassman with two years of experience under his belt, and with an off-season of weight training, he just may be ready to come into his own.

Mays' was a fan favorite, however, his speed caused problems for the Pack last year. On numerous occasions, the only way Mays was able to get on the floor was if Lowe went to a zone. This season, Mays has proclaimed to be quicker and stronger, which if true, would be a gigantic boost to the Pack's point problems. Will to win, attitude and an eye to score will again be no problem for Mays, but his ability to adapt to a fast paced offense will be something that will need to be watched.

From all accounts, the biggest problems from last year were this off-season's top priorities. With a staff of former lead guards, there is certainly no lack of coaching advice, the question is, can Gonzalez and Mays blossom into the consistent team leaders that the Wolfpack is looking for.