Remember the Andy Katz article from a couple weeks back, about Coach Lowe turning down NBA offers to continue coaching the school that he loves. Well, this article from Brett Friedlander of the Star News piggy back's right on top of that one. Here are some excerpts from the article, but make sure to click here to read it in its entirety. After the Star News pointed out the fact that it wouldn't be unreasonable for someone in Coach Lowe's position to consider a back-up plan, they had this to say:
"But judging from both his published comments and the things he's been saying at a series of recent Wolfpack Caravan stops - including one Monday night in Fayetteville - Lowe isn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon.
While that clearly shows Lowe really does love his alma mater as much as he says he does, his decision to stick around and try to finish the job he was hired to do is also an indication of how excited he is about his incoming freshman class and the impact those youngsters could have on the future of his program."
Also, after quoting a portion of the previously mentioned Andy Katz interview/article that had Sidney saying "We've got a great opportunity now and we're moving in the right direction," the Star News had this to say:
"That's an interesting comment for a coach who just lost his top three scorers and two best rebounders from the previous season.
But when those players comprised the nucleus of a team that never completely fulfilled its potential - or qualified for the NCAA Tournament - maybe it's not so bad to clean house and start over fresh.
Especially when for the first time in his career, he'll finally be coaching a team made up almost entirely of his own recruits."
Thanks for the article Star News! We appreciate the objective article.
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10 Responses to "Sharing the Wealth: "Lowe Not Looking For An Exit Strategy""I don't get the non-stop talk about Lowe leaving NCSU. He just got there, and is starting from zero. Matt Doherty started with someone else's team and went into the tournament with it, and then had the mighty UNC recruiting aura to help him. If he had not had other issues, he'd have been fine with recruits. Lowe is starting from nothing trying to turn a Princeton offense into an ACC offense. Plus his second year his two main recruits that could play his system blew out their knees. Last year's State team was one of the most fascinatingly mismatched teams I have ever seen. They had a Princeton front court and a completely stopgap backcourt comprised of players returning from injury and freshmen. You State fans will have to bite the big bullet and let this play out if you want to turn into an ACC-style team with fast, intelligent ball-handling and scoring perimeter players.
I can see where the coach is going. He will definitely not get there next year. He will probably get there the year after that. In three years, UNC will start worrying about the State/UNC rivalry again.
But, hey, Coach Lowe, if no one is criticizing you and trying to get rid of you in coaching, you're not doing anything! He seems to take it all with a good-natured humor, which is great for him. Like the guy who called his show and said he should not take the injured Fells out of a game and play him 40 min. I was thinking the guy should smash his ankle with a sledgehammer and run up and down his driveway for 40 min and see if he needed a break. Fells was obviously dead on his feet for stretches last season in TV games. He would come down on offense and slump in the corner trying to get some feeling back in his ankle.
State fans, I think Lowe's plan is going to work. Stick with him. I like the players he is finding. UNC and Duke will get the big-big name players, but State is getting some really good players who can handle the ball and play as a team. Lowe can get the best out of these guys, and his ability to coach was established by getting 6 wins out of absolutely nothing last year.
Thanks for the post UNCfan,
just to warn you, many might throw your opinions out the window based on your loyalties, but we feel its good to have opinions from the outside and you seem very knowledgeable about the game of basketball and the situation we're in. Thanks for the post.
UNCFan, part of the "non-stop" talk regards various rumors around our blog sites and discussion forums. Either way, Lowe is here to stay next year for certain. Second, it's pretty short-sighted to make a comparison between Lowe and Doherty, when from everything I've read indicates the players were instrumental in removing Doherty. So far, the players have not had that type of control in Raleigh. Also, if memory serves, it was Doherty who was abrasive with past elements of the UNC family. In Lowe's case, he was the first to actually embrace past players to come back to the fold, and help. Although I don't disagree with your assessment of Lowe's teams these three years, I am not at all surprised that you still present a tremendous discrepancy between the types of players UNC and Duke get and the kinds of players NC State will get. Your comment regarding UNC is unquestioned; as for Duke, who exactly have they brought in over the last two years to match-up with UNC? Singler? Nolan Smith? Sorry, for the next two recruiting classes, NC State's is 2nd in the Triangle. Whether they will pan out in ACC play is another story. Thanks for your comments. Feel free to chime in again.
Chokes me to say it, but TheUNCFan's analysis is right on, and I often has those same thoughts as I watched the Wolfpack run (limp?) last season. Coach Lowe has a learning curve of his own to deal with, and I for one am glad he's doing it with us. I can't wait for it all to come together over the next couple of years.
TUNCF - I agree with the large majority of what you are saying. You must be married to a State fan! (Listening to Lowe's radio show?)J/K!
I also, though, agree with Mr. Clodfelter's comments regarding recruiting. Lowe is not done with '09/'10 classes, yet. No one is going to keep up with the Jones' (UNC) recruiting right now. But, if Sid can put together the next two classes, he has a opportunity to surpass the level of recruitment going on in Durham. At least we can all (NCSU and UNC fans) rejoice if that happens. I never thought I would say these things about Duke, but Clodfelter is correct in his assessment. I equate Duke's rise and fall (not that either program has fallen that far) to that of FSU Football. Folks have figured out how to play against them to give them the best odds at beating them. That may only happen 20% of the time, but they have the formula. And, recruiting has a snowball effect, whether it is rolling uphill or downhill.
Great comments recently. Keep it up. And, BTW WPH, not all State fans are frothing at the mouth. I second your comments on the subject. TheUNCFan is welcome here, IMO. There is a civilized faction in Raleigh.
^ Ppack, I totally agree. I just thought I should give fair warning to the UNC fan.
I think we have a very civilized, positive group over there that can really debate basketball with fans of other teams without getting all fired up and unruly.
Normally, I take Carolina fans' opinions with a grain of salt. They ALL seemed to like Herb (and why wouldn't they -- he rarely beat the Heels!) So on the surface, when Carolina fans like Sidney, it could be for similar reasons that they liked Herb.
But TheUNCFan has well-reasoned comments. I think he really wants The State-Carolina game to mean something again. I'm sure he doesn't ever want Carolina to LOSE to State, but he understands that the wins are that much better when you at least have the FEAR of losing. Plus, if we're all honest, it's a bit of a shame that we are barely a rival to them any more.
I remember many moons ago, State had just beaten Carolina for the fifth year in a row in football. I was actually thinking, "come on, Carolina! It doesn't need to be this easy!" I wanted them competitive. Then Carolina won the next SEVEN in a row against us. It was a case of being careful what you wish for!
I do think we need to get behind Sidney. We finally seem to have some momentum going with recruiting. If that translates into more wins, then the ball could really start rolling.
To abandon Sidney now would be a huge mistake and another huge setback for the program. Why do that when there's some momentum going now?
I remember the UNC students used to wear "I support Herb Sendek" Carolina blue t-shirts. Of course they did ;) But I do think UNCFan is right about our situation and genuine about his thoughts on Sid Lowe.
Every "true" Carolina fan I know, not the ones who have been sucked in by the ESPN month long Duke-Carolina hype machine, really want the UNC-State rivalry to come back into fashion. It's such a more natural rivalry considering the large alumni bases in the area. How many Duke grads actually stay in NC?
If State can hold up our end of the bargain, when Coach K retires I think we'll be in a prime position to retake our spot in the ACC pecking order. I think with the way he's been recruiting, and the way his offense looked at times, Sid is the man to get us there. I just hope we give him the time to do it.
Um, I am a State fans and I liked Herb. I also like Sidney and I support him 100%. He deserves 2 more years to get this thing going in the right direction. Heck, even last year was an improvement from the year before.
I hear what you're saying, Montana. And I used to hate the "UNC loves Sendek" crowd. But, Sidney brings a passion for the rivalry that Herb just didn't possess. He has a vested, emotional interest. I love that about Sid. Sadly, those things really don't matter unless it translates into wins.
Chuck Amato was a good example of a Super State Alum, whose passion and drive couldn't carry him through a couple of tough seasons, and his win totals fell a little short. It happens.
I believe Sid has the intangibles, to get the program back on track. But, then again, I thought the same about Amato. Who knows? Nobody. That's why we take the chance. Because you never know. One thing that you can be sure of is that Sid loves NC State. And, there is always something to be said for that devotion.
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