Lowe Wins 3rd in Row vs UNC (Updated 2/4)

Two games this week…two wins over teams sitting in first place of the ACC!

Sidney Lowe “gets it”. 15 point underdog stuns UNC in Raleigh. What a difference a year – and a coaching change – can make! We had an entry open during the game that has some of our comments about the game.

* After finishing his playing career with two straight wins over Carolina in 1983, Sidney Lowe starts his coaching career by successfully defending NC State’s home court with a win over #3 ranked UNC-Chapel Hill.

* Every media outlet in America has mistakenly misquoted Sidney Lowe’s record against UNC today. I don’t know what our SID has been doing all day, but can SOMEONE please get in touch with ESPN (and other media outlets) and explain to them that Sidney Lowe’s playing days incuded more than just one win vs the Heels? This mistake is everywhere! (Kind of like how Philip Rivers ‘never lost a bowl game’ despite the fact that State lost to Pitt in the Tangerine Bowl). The mistake was even misquoted at halftime of the radio broadcast of tonight’s Maryland-Wake Forest game. Jeez.

* Speaking of media outlets:
(a) This link will take you to a consolidation of stories on the game.
(b) this link will take you to the N&O’s blog that has a host of links related to the game.
(c) This link will take you so a super audio slide-show done by JP Giglio at the N&O.
(d) This link includes 48 great pictures from the N&O.

* Like Jim Valvano used to do, Coach Lowe wore a red blazer for the occassion that he called “special” in his post game radio comments. Special? You mean it isn’t just 1/16th of the conference schedule? You can get a nice view of the attire here.

* In addition to notching the biggest win the ESA/RBC’s history, the Wolfpack have won consecutive games against Top 25 opponents for the first time since 1990-1991 (Georgia Tech, UNC-CH) .

* Carolina is the highest-ranked opponent State has beaten since the Pack’s win over third ranked Wake Forest in the 2005 ACC Tournament. You will remember that as the game that the Demon Deacons played without All-American point guard Chris Paul who was suspended for punching Julius Hodge in the groin in the team’s regular season finale the previous week.

* Additionally, Lowe joins Press Maravich and Les Robinson as NC State coaches since Everett Case who beat Carolina in their first game.

* Coach Lowe is now 2-1 vs Big Four opponents with return games (vs Wake, @ UNC) remaining on the schedule. Another win vs a Big Four team this year would get Coach Lowe three wins vs Big Four opponents in one regular season (in five games). The Wolfpack’s last head coach didn’t win his third regular season game against Big Four competition until his third season despite having six opportunities per year instead of five. This link will take you to an old entry (2005) related to recent performance against the Big Four.

* Many analysts are already talking about the Wolfpack’s win with terms like ‘passion’ and ‘hunger’ and ‘desire’. What a WONDERFUL testimomy to Coach Lowe’s intensity and ability to communicate to his players. It has been more than ten years since anyone has remotely associated a win by Stat to simple motivation and passion. WRAL’s blog says that “The Pack wanted it more”

It was an unbelievable day for Lowe, who was wearing a bright-red blazer. It was a good omen. As much as anyone, he knows how badly N.C. State fans want to beat Carolina, and he delivered in his first game against the Tar Heels.

* The win also saw students take to Hillsborough Street for one of the first times in years. Although the ‘celebration’ pales in comparison to the old days, it is nice to see it happen. Video (and other related items) can be found at WRAL-TV5.

* Loved these quotes not to be ignored.

* This national story from Fox Sports included a better acknoweldgement of the big picture than most national outlets typically get right:

Lowe was hired to win these types of games. He was the point guard on the Jim Valvano-coached Wolfpack team that beat North Carolina twice as a senior in 1982-83 and went on to win an improbable national championship.

In recent seasons N.C. State’s fan base grew increasingly frustrated with consistent losses to rivals Duke and North Carolina under coach Herb Sendek, who went 8-38 against those schools during his 10 seasons before leaving for Arizona State.

“It means (Lowe) is going to be around here for a long time,” Costner said. “You (media) guys can look forward to keep interviewing him, keep talking to him and just see Wolfpack basketball take off again.”

* To the ‘younger set‘ of Wolfpack fans whose memories don’t extend pass 1990, we’d like to say welcome to reality. THIS is what it is supposed to be like.

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146 Responses to Lowe Wins 3rd in Row vs UNC (Updated 2/4)

  1. dj9686 02/04/2007 at 1:01 AM #

    Cannot wait to listen to 850 the buzz on Monday. I cannot wait. Small and petty whatever his name in Chapel Hole is…. and the 54 point spread that the morning guy gave UNC. I can’t wait. Let’s be humble and gracious people. Let’s sit back and absorb it. Roy sure looked clueless the majority of the game, didn’t he. I love it.

  2. bTHEredterror 02/04/2007 at 3:07 AM #

    Hey, Go to Hell Carolina! I thought the play of the game, and the one that set us off, was Costner’s dunk on Wright. Our guys wanted it more than they did. And let them bitch about the refs for a damn change. If they are so damn great, then what difference would a couple of calls make? We shot lights out, because our team ran their sets better, and DOMINATED the lane. I felt we had little chance to win, and love to say I was wrong. Sid was masterful, and to Dykes credit he was pretty even to us. WOLVES setoff “rivalry week” with a big bang!

  3. Gene 02/04/2007 at 3:49 AM #

    I didn’t see Hansborough’s T, but I’m sure he never has committed a foul! LOL!!!

    Caught Sportscenter. They led with this game. Nice touch. When it came to the Hansborough-T, the lady giving commentary on the replay said he was clearly going for the ball, which makes me wonder if Stu Scott, has something on her to blackmail her with…there’s no reason for talking head to comment on the officiating like that…Hansborough lost his cool and go called for it…

  4. cwypaco 02/04/2007 at 5:13 AM #

    As a Tar Heel fan, this is hard to do, but I felt it was necessary. I would just like to congratulate coach Lowe and the NC State players and fans. That was a tremendous effort and worthy of all of the praise that goes along with it. My hat’s off to everyone involved in the Wolfpack program, and to all of those who support them. The better team won on Saturday. UNC has more talent, but they clearly don’t have any more heart, desire or tenacity than State, and that is a credit to Lowe and the players. They clearly beleived that they could and should win the game. Although the loss is hard to take, I tend to see this as a blessing in disguise. The days of Sendek and the automatic victories are gone, and that is great for this rivalry. I miss all of the heated battles when Valvano was coaching, and I for one hope that this is a sign that those battles will now continue into the forseeable future. This rivalry deserves hotly contested and passionate displays, and I sincerely hope that they continue. I offer up no excuses for the Heels’ defeat. I do not blame the refs for ‘touch fouls’. A foul is a foul and the game was called correctly. And although it was obvious that State wanted this game more, I will not use the excuse of one team ‘being more ready’ than the other. The bottomline is that NC State was the better team on Saturday, and they derserved the ‘W’. Once again, congratulations to all State supporters, and best of luck until we meet again. Hopefully the next game will be highly competitive and hotly contested.

  5. GAWolf 02/04/2007 at 9:02 AM #

    GG saying the recruiting is about to go through the roof is a bit ironic considering he will likely be sitting on the bench next year. It’s amazing to me we won this game despite his repeated knuckleheaded mistakes, lazy passes, and refusal to hit a big freethrow.

    I’m as excited about this game as anyone and I hate to rain on the parade, but I couldn’t resist pointing out the irony.

    The boys played an awesome game, and even Gavin had moments and flashes of the ball player we all know/hope he can be for us in the future. Ben’s statement to the media that we’ll look back and see that this win propelled this group to many future successes was really something that excited me…. mainly because I think he’s right.

  6. dj9686 02/04/2007 at 10:20 AM #

    CWY, that was a very gracious statement you made above. It’s nice to hear from either side of the fence that we can admit when we are beaten and encouraging to hear you say you’re glad NCSU is improving. Afterall, when I really think about it, I don’t want UNC and Duke to get any worse, I just want the Wolfpack to be better. With Lowe’s recruiting and Roy and Coach K automatically having top 5 classes, the Triangle area may be entering a new phase of competitiveness and excellence in basketball. It’s pretty exciting. Football looks pretty good for two of the teams as well. Duke just doesn’t care about that sport so we’ll never get all three teams up there in that sport.

    Again, CWY, thank you. We appreciate your comments and hope for more close and heated games between NCSU and UNC in the future.

  7. KChill 02/04/2007 at 10:43 AM #

    ^^GA, you forgot to mention his 2 key 3-ptrs, and momentum saving layup at the end of the first half, but I understand you were too busy degrading one of our players after a big win to care.

  8. Rochester 02/04/2007 at 11:02 AM #

    Grant is what he is. We have to take the bad with the good. He does make a few stupid plays from time to time, and the reason they are so infuriating is that we all know he’s capable of doing better. Even when he’s not running the point he can dribble the ball off his foot with the best of them. But he can explode for a huge momentum boosting slam, he can hit tough shots, he’s generally somewhat reliable at the line, and when motivated he can defend. He’s got a lot of talent.

    He doesn’t strike me as a leader, and even next year when he’s our only senior, I don’t expect the true leadership to come from him. But I’ll be glad he’s on the team nonetheless.

  9. JimValvano 02/04/2007 at 11:05 AM #

    I’m sorry to go here, but it has to be done since nobody else seems to want to do it. Referees??? The tarholes lost because of the REFEREES???!!!?!? You’ve got to be kidding me. Hands-bro threw a f*cking punch and didn’t get ejected! Touch fouls? How about foul #3 on Atsur to end the half? Bullshit calls??? What about the FLOP that Hands-bro took as McCauley picked up his fourth? I’m sorry, but had we lost I would’ve talked about these calls/non-calls for at least a couple of days and so would you guys. In the end…WE PERSERVERED…through the refereeing. In all honesty…with exception to the right hook thrown by hands-bro…I think it was called fairly. It had to be…the entire nation is watching ACC officiating and has them under the microscope. The media is on to the bullsh*t that has been going on with the officiating in the ACC over the twenty years.

    OH…and for those who want another shot at the dookies…there’s always the ACC tournament.

  10. StateFans 02/04/2007 at 11:52 AM #

    The inconsistency of what contstitues a foul on defense in games against Carolina and Duke is unreal.

  11. legacyman 02/04/2007 at 12:49 PM #

    “…their company has tickets to every event staged at the RBC. ”

    Kuralt,

    Where did you get this info? Do you have LTRs on the lower level as I do? I do not have tickets to every event staged in the RBC nor does anyone else that I know. Those who lease skyboxes/suites probably have event tickets included in their lease agreement but LTRs only guarantee a right to purchase your lifetime seats each year.

    If you need some further info then I will be glad to accomodate you. By the way, only 5% of the lower level LTR seats belong to large corporations. The other 95% are small local business owners and private citizens.

  12. Glen Sudhop54 02/04/2007 at 2:34 PM #

    CWY^

    Thanks for the kudos. Very sportsmanlike and gracious for you to do so. Hopefully this game will get the State-UNC rivalry back where it belongs. Many of us remember (in the not too distant past) where the Duke-UNC game was always a mere afterthought compared to State-UNC. Unfortunately, those raised in the 1990’s ESPN-driven era seem to buy into this Duke-UNC “greatest rivalry” crap.

    It’s not even the best rivalry in the STATE, much less the country! I can’t believe how many think so just because those Yankees in Bristol CT say so.

    Roy Williams knows. He said as much the other day. Something to the effect of ” All throughout my days at Carolina, State was always the biggest game. When I got back from Kansas, all of a sudden Duke was the big game.”

    I never pull for ol’ Roy, but I sure do love his candor and straight-talking. Ol’ Roy just about always tells it like it is.

    The best thing about the Duke-UNC game is this….ONE of them HAS to lose!!

    Thanks again CWY, good of you to chime in. After all, it is just a game and as rivals we should try and have fun with it..win or lose.

  13. redfred2 02/04/2007 at 3:56 PM #

    cwypaco…great and true comments, thanks!

    Now if can get the younger NCSU fans thinking like that, we’ll have something.

  14. WolfPup35 02/04/2007 at 4:00 PM #

    I think I wet myself!

  15. ThomYorkepack 02/04/2007 at 9:56 PM #

    Just unbelievable.

    What a testament to belief–belief in a coach that told them they could win, belief in a system that was executed to perfection, belief in NC State basketball tradition.

    It’s truly amazing what a difference changing the mental approach to playing games–embracing the rivalry, treating it as something special, allowing the players to feel an emotional investment in NC State basketball, and playing to win by staying aggressive and having the confidence to make plays–can make.

  16. Mike 02/05/2007 at 10:12 AM #

    Having been away from my PC – could not comment, but could not wait to get in and say it.

    AMEN! THIS is what we have been waiting for. I told my wife before the game, I dont care if we win or lose (I meant that too), I just want us to show up and play with fire and determination. Even after the 1st half, she finally understood why HS had to go. And when Sid walked out in red, I knew we were in for a new day!

    Will we be top 3 in the country year in and year out? Probably not. BUT, we have hope, passion, heart, and the desire to give everything on the court. More than that, how many times did we change defenses? Offensive sets? COACHING my friends, COACHING.

  17. BLUE SUCKS 02/08/2007 at 12:46 AM #

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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    […] Anyway, regardless of what all those jokers said back then, I just talked to my friend Scoreboard, and he says they’re all wrong. (Go here to read SFN’s coverage of Coach Lowe’s first victory against “we can’t expect to compete against” Roy Williams in his first try.) […]

  3. StateFans Nation » Blog Archive » More in the Media - 02/04/2007

    […] On the heels of State’s big win Saturday beowulf served some great crow to the media ‘pundits’ that had so much criticism to share last year when Lee Fowler bungled his way through the coaching search. […]

  4. StateFans Nation » Blog Archive » Getting Ready for the Goats - Can Lightning Strike Twice? - 02/21/2007

    […] Especially since our shocking win in Raleigh, I have asked some of my more rational Hole fan friends about some of Roy’s curious tendencies. No, nothing about banging farm animals, but his strange strategy. You know, playing Wes Miller and/or Bobby Frasor down the stretch of close games – sometimes ahead of arguably his best player (Ty Lawson). Or his stubborn insistence that he shouldn’t press during road games except at the end of the game or trailing by a huge margin. […]

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