Lowe: Duke was Aggressive

Sidney Lowe and Monte Towe did not like the officiating on Saturday. It was obvious throughout the afternoon by their reactions to things on the bench. Of course, officiating had nothing to do with Saturday’s result…but, who says that it won’t be important in the future?

In short, I liked what I saw from the coaches working the refs on Saturday. The following quote was in the N&O on Sunday. (Link)

“They were very aggressive,” NCSU coach Sidney Lowe said. “They were doing whatever they had to do — push, grab, hold, whatever. I don’t mean anything illegal. They just play hard.”

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06-07 Basketball General Quotes of Note

58 Responses to Lowe: Duke was Aggressive

  1. Rick 01/22/2007 at 8:01 AM #

    This is the Duke MO especially given their lack of offensive firepower.

    How does Paulus get away with constantly keeping his hand on the player dibbling the ball? He shoves and holds when beat. It is obvious but yet they never call it.

  2. choppack1 01/22/2007 at 8:22 AM #

    I mentioned this in another thread – but if there was one thing encouraging about this game, it was the fact that Sidney isn’t going to sit there and take it. Nor is he going to go about this the way that Swofford would prefer him to – sending a nice videotape to the ACC office w/ a letter complaining about the officiating.

    Coach K has it right. You must treat officials like dogs. Being nice to them does you no good. I’m glad he made these comments. However, I’d like to add – I hope we play D like this some day soon.

  3. RickJ 01/22/2007 at 8:28 AM #

    Duke committed 23 personal fouls to our 15 in the game. They were 10 – 13 from the line while we were 24 – 27. This seems like a total reversal from what usually happens against Duke – not that it did any good.

    It still goes back to not having enough players and our most important one being injured. We have done a good job this year of avoiding foul trouble but I think this is being accomplished by throttling down on our defensive aggressiveness. At this point, I’d take more foul trouble for a better defensive effort.

    By-the-way, Lowe’s quote about the officiating is almost identical to one made by Pete Gillen after a loss to us during the Inge / Thornton years.

  4. Mr O 01/22/2007 at 8:34 AM #

    I was going to point out the same stats as Rickj. The officials called 11 fouls on Duke in the first half. We got plenty of calls in that game IMO. We just played like crap.

  5. Rick 01/22/2007 at 8:40 AM #

    “I was going to point out the same stats as Rickj. The officials called 11 fouls on Duke in the first half. We got plenty of calls in that game IMO. We just played like crap”

    I am not blaming the loss on the officials but to say “we got more calls so it was a well called game” is just plain wrong.

    If they commit 50 fouls (as an example) but only get called for 11 then that is a poorly called game. Like I said before, they hand check contantly, which is supposed to be illegal and yes, they did get some fouls called, but not near what they committed.

  6. Par Shooter 01/22/2007 at 8:46 AM #

    The thing is that Duke fouls on nearly every single possession during a game. And not in the vain of “you could call something every play”. They commit fouls that are generally called on most teams on nearly every trip down the floor. But they know that the refs simply will not call a foul every trip – especially w/ K on the bench and Duke on their chests. I think they would almost get more fouls called against them if they played half of the possessions straight up since there would be some disparity when they did hand check or hold a cutter.

    In years past, the travesty of calls against their D was matched only by the number of offensive fouls they got away with. In the past, the moving screen has been THE staple of their offense. Interestingly, I didn’t notice many of these at all on Sat and I wonder if that isn’t part of their offensive trouble this year.

    I was pleased that Sidney and Monte worked the refs some on Sat but honestly it is going to take much more. A lot more. Remember K’s first real watershed moment as an ACC coach was calling out the refs for the way they treated Dean and unc-ch. In a league w/ K, Roy and Gary, Sid is going to have to establish himself w/ the officials. Herb never did and we paid the price. I was hoping like hell that he’d get a tech (maybe 2) during the Duke game. Can you imagine the standing O that he would have gotten from our fans? And he needs to send the message that he will show up the refs if they aren’t doing their jobs.

  7. Dan 01/22/2007 at 9:02 AM #

    Their are two ways to beat Duke. Run all day preventing them from setting up on D. But if you dont have the firepower to do that, you have to match their intensity on D. We didnt.

    You know though, with Hickson and Smith coming next year, we “might” have a decided advantage in the paint over Duke without having to double down. (Will McRoberts even be back next year?)

    I think the one challenge Sid can focus on this year is getting the guys to play hard for 40 minutes. The previous regime’s method here was really was to bench a kid (Sherrill and Cam) until he would commit on defense. Sid doesnt have that luxury, and Sid isnt that type of dictator. Sid will get it done, and I really think Saturday’s game will be the best teaching tool yet. I dont even know if I’ll be watching the score from here on out. I just want to see them play hard. (Who am I kidding?)

  8. packpigskinfan23 01/22/2007 at 9:12 AM #

    “I was hoping like hell that he’d get a tech (maybe 2) during the Duke game. Can you imagine the standing O that he would have gotten from our fans?”

    I was saying the exact same thing to my girlfriend during the game. I cant wait to see Sid get a tech. I expect it during the UNC game if things start to get our of hand he will not be afraid to show some emotion. thank god for that!!!!

  9. Wulfpack 01/22/2007 at 9:33 AM #

    “They were very aggressive.”

    Translation: they were more aggressive than us.

    Say what you want about the officiating and K’s supposed intimidation tactics. But the bottom line is K’s kids play with heart. They play with passion. They get pissed off when teams score on them. They just get down and dirty. Despite any physical limitations, they stick their nose in there and go to battle. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s completely necessary. I admire that. I can say without hesitiation that Duke played much harder than us. This game meant much more to them. Until that mindset changes, we can expect more of the same. We all know Lowe has the heart of a champion. It’s going to take some time for his players to get it.

  10. legacyman 01/22/2007 at 9:39 AM #

    dook plays harder because they have 10-15 players who will play if those ahead do not. Several days ago coach K took all of the dook paraphanalia out of the dressing room and blasted his team for not playing like dook plays. I want our kids to get in people’s faces but I know it won’t happen when you have five players. Better times are ahead for I guarantee you that Sidney and Monte hate to lose as badly as anyone.

  11. ShootingGuard 01/22/2007 at 9:41 AM #

    ^^^^^

    Guys who point out that more fouls were called on Duke than us miss the boat and also show why statistics can be used to prove anything—often incorrectly…

    It’s not the NUMBER of fouls that is a problem when you are playing Duke—or UNC—it is the STRATEGIC PLACEMENT of those fouls…i.e. WHO the fouls are actually being called on and WHEN…

    For example, McRoberts was hacking like hell down low all through the first half, but all of the fouls were called on the less important Thomas. That is very meaningful if you actually ANALYZE the numbers rather than just throwing raw numbers out…

    As another example, Paulus and Scheyer were allowed to grab and hack out front without many calls being made. It is hard enough getting into the offense and making good passes without a point guard and even moreso when the runts on the other side are allowed to wrestle with you while you are trying to play basketball…Would Duke have made that backbreaking run at the end of the first half if Paulus and Scheyer weren’t allowed to go lacrosse on our shooting guards trying to play point?

    As a final example, how many hang on the rim dunks did you see this weekend that weren’t called as technicals? The game was officially over and done with when that tech was called on Fells in the second half. Thanks, Zebras, for wasting the rest of my afternoon…

    Make no mistake, we lost this game because Duke is a better and more complete team and because they played better than us…

    But, if you don’t think Duke benefitted from STRATEGIC PLACEMENT of foul calls on Saturday as well as for the last 23 years (since Coach K’s famous “double standard” rant at Dean Smith), you are delusional…

    The only positive that can be taken from Saturday is that it appears that Sid & Co. aren’t going to sit there and take it, which is more important to future wins than it would have ever been for Saturday’s game. If we want to change the dynamic and hierarchy in the conference, Sid needs to go after Duke-UNC and the ACC about the double standard…I’m sure Gary Williams and others would be happy to have some company and chime in…

  12. Dan 01/22/2007 at 9:46 AM #

    You know, I havent seen this mentioned yet, but when I re-watched the game on DVR, it was nice to see TOB flanked by the Simms boys. I hope he lands Matt.

    Stats of the game for me:

    Of our top four players (Costner, Grant, Fell, McCauley ), no one had more FG’s than turnovers. Only Fells had more FG’s + Assists than turnovers, and that was only 4FG + 1 Assist versus 4 turnovers. That is rough. For the game we had 14 FG’s, 7 assists, and 20 turnovers. Duke had 31 FG’s, 16 assists, and 11 turnovers.

  13. Wulfpack 01/22/2007 at 9:47 AM #

    “As a final example, how many hang on the rim dunks did you see this weekend that weren’t called as technicals? The game was officially over and done with when that tech was called on Fells in the second half. Thanks, Zebras, for wasting the rest of my afternoon…”

    I agree with many of your points SG. However, when you miss a dunk and hang on the rim trying to throw another one in, that’s a sure technical in any league anywhere.

  14. ShootingGuard 01/22/2007 at 9:47 AM #

    “Say what you want about the officiating and K’s supposed intimidation tactics. But the bottom line is K’s kids play with heart. They play with passion. They get pissed off when teams score on them. They just get down and dirty. Despite any physical limitations, they stick their nose in there and go to battle. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s completely necessary. I admire that. I can say without hesitiation that Duke played much harder than us. This game meant much more to them. Until that mindset changes, we can expect more of the same. We all know Lowe has the heart of a champion. It’s going to take some time for his players to get it.”

    Yeah, I remember an ACC Tournament Title game where Julius Hodge and Josh Powell were playing incredibly aggressive…they ended up on the bench with fouls watching Duke’s “aggressive” and “heartful” key players play…

    Ask Paul Hewitt about that foul call at the end of his ACC Tourney Final vs Duke…

    Etc Etc Etc

    It is very frustrating to have the other team beating on you with their aggression and no calls on the key guys actually doing it while your aggression and/or retaliation is rewarded with fouls…

    That has to change…

  15. BoKnowsNCS71 01/22/2007 at 9:49 AM #

    I would be aggressive too – against a team that has problems handling the ball. The game sort of reminded me or the Alabama game that I went to earlier in the season. Sloppy ball handling and lots of turnovers.

    This mostly due to not having Engin and the inexperience of the others in that role. The team should learn from these mistakes — it’s going to take some time.

    I hope to see a better, smarter, team at the end of the year. Time will tell.

  16. ShootingGuard 01/22/2007 at 9:51 AM #

    “I agree with many of your points SG. However, when you miss a dunk and hang on the rim trying to throw another one in, that’s a sure technical in any league anywhere.”

    I did not bother to watch my recording of the second half (going back through the first half when I got home ticked me off too much), so, if that was the case, I stand corrected on that observation…

    TURNOVER ON SHOOTING GUARD…

  17. 82grad 01/22/2007 at 9:54 AM #

    there is no giant conspiracy involving K and Dean (who hasn’t coached in 10 years, get over it) and the officials. the better talented teams usually get more calls and usually win. do you think trevor would play for any other acc team?
    i would just like to see some effort on defense and less one on one, nba style offense for now. we’ll have to wait on the talent for a couple of years.

  18. Mr O 01/22/2007 at 9:55 AM #

    We don’t have any type of clue how Sidney will handle guys making bonehead plays on both ends of the court in the future. IMO, he will pull guys just as quick as Sendek ever did and would already be doing it this year if there was anyone off the bench to put in the game.

    I don’t mind losing, but there was no reason to play as horribly as we did on Saturday. A couple of our players didn’t even have their heads in the game.

    Fells pulling down the rims on his dunks has got to stop. He could have got a technical on the first dunk he missed. Fells can make some very spectacular plays where he looks as good as anyone on the court. But then he makes another 5-6 plays during the game(not even talking about on defense) where I just shake my head and wonder what is going on in his mind. His shot selection is questionable and he struggles making the first pass in the offense.

    Hopefully the guys we have coming in next year(two freshman, 1 transfer, and Degand) are good enough players to push the players in front of them.

  19. Rochester 01/22/2007 at 9:59 AM #

    The technical call was a no-brainer. I was actually looking for the call before the ref made it, knowing it was coming. Huge swing in the game, too. If he had made the basket it would have cut the lead to 12. Instead Duke got two free throws and a 3-pointer on their possession and the lead was 19.

  20. partialqualifier 01/22/2007 at 10:01 AM #

    I think this sounds like a bunch of typical loser whining….”Blame the refs!”

    The bottom line is that we suck and unfortunately we combine that with questionable effort. That is not a combo that wins a lot of games. Duke plays hard and aggressive. If you dont match their intensity dont blame the refs….blame the guys in Red & White.

    The effort in my opinion was inexcusable. I didnt like Sendek, and I am very glad he is gone….but the one thing I can say about him is that his kids always played hard. On Saturday we did not at all. Never even showed up. Pathetic effort by guys getting full rides to play at an outstanding university. Instead of complaining about officiating we shoud be bitching about this.

  21. Wulfpack 01/22/2007 at 10:03 AM #

    “dook plays harder because they have 10-15 players who will play if those ahead do not.”

    Not true, at least not today. Duke plays 8 guys regularly. Paulus, McRoberts, Nelson, Scheyer, Henderson, McClure, Thomas and Zoubek.

    One of the biggest knocks on Duke’s program of late is K’s rigidness in not playing guys off the bench.

    Does anyone have any insight as to what went down between K and Towe after the game?

  22. Mr O 01/22/2007 at 10:03 AM #

    Rochester: Didn’t they hit another three after that too for an 8-0 run? Not to mention that both McCauley and Costner missed layups on our first two possessions before the T.

    At that point in the game, it easily could have been an 6-8 point game.

    We got plenty of calls in this game as I though it was one of the better officiated Duke/State games I can remember.

  23. RegularExpression 01/22/2007 at 10:07 AM #

    I agree with ShootingGuard about the placement of fouls called being important. For years I have noticed that if foul calls start to become a disparity in a game, say 6-2 in favor of Duke, K will insert the soccer player/walk on/guy who would sell his liver to play for Duke. That guy will play extra aggressive defense starting at halfcourt and will usually pick up 2 non-shooting fouls. Now the fouls are 6-4 and the disparity isn’t so great.

    I certainly don’t blame Coach K for this – in fact I think it is brilliant. Officials are human, and they get worked over by opposing coaches if the foul disparity becomes too great. It allows officials to “even up” the foul calls without impacting the game and incurring further wrath from K.

  24. Mr O 01/22/2007 at 10:10 AM #

    The fouls called on Duke was what kept us in the game in the first half. 11 fouls on Duke and we were in the double bonus for the last four minutes.

  25. RegularExpression 01/22/2007 at 10:10 AM #

    ^Note that I don’t think that happened in this game. Though there were some inconsistencies in the officiating(hand checking allowed one possession, not the next) I thought we didn’t fare that poorly when it came to officiating.

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