Fox Sports – NC State Ranked 25th for 2007-08 Season

Here’s some nice press for Lowe and company:

25. NC State
Sidney Lowe’s team loses senior point guard Engin Atsur, but look for Iowa State transfer Farnold Degand to step in and provide help running the team. Degand will have plenty of weapons as the Wolfpack return their other four starters — Brandon Costner, Gavin Grant, Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells — and welcome a pair of talented frosh — J.J. Hickson and Tracy Smith.

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07-08 Basketball General Media Sidney Lowe

108 Responses to Fox Sports – NC State Ranked 25th for 2007-08 Season

  1. Dan 04/05/2007 at 10:02 PM #

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2827370&sportCat=ncb

    This is why we all need to be rational here. Obviously, Forde doesnt understand message boards, but still…. Lets play it cool with Coach Harris until we know the deal.

  2. Champs 04/05/2007 at 10:09 PM #

    Stopped for speeding and you wind up pepper sprayed and arrested. Obviously no under the influence involved because if they arrest you and they suspect you’ve been drinking they will most certainly test your blood alcohol level.

    This just screams excessive force. Harris is a big man. If he didn’t want to be taken in, pepper spray or no pepper spray, it would take more than 1 officer to “subdue” him. So I’m going with he didn’t resist. I’m white and I like to think that racisms isn’t as bad as some people make it out to be, but unless Harris was belligerent, then the cop had to have had some other motive for his actions. Maybe he’s a fan of a rival school? Or has an ego that just want fit under that badge?

  3. StateFans 04/05/2007 at 10:31 PM #

    We strongly recommend that you listen to GAWolf on this one. We definitely think Coach Harris has earned the benefit of the doubt, and if he had anything to be ashamed of, he wouldn’t be filing this suit and prolonging the media attention.

    Sounds like a good man who is standing up for himself and his good name. The Wolfpack family stands behind Coach Lowe and Coach Harris.

  4. McWufPacker06 04/05/2007 at 10:41 PM #

    I’m not so sure I’d even want Sutton & Beasley – is that honeslty the kind of attitude you want the players on an NCSU team to have. “We are a package deal, yada, yada, yada.” I’d rather have players that believe in Sid’s philosophy and plan to stay around for two or three years instead of kids who think that college basketball is just a one year training camp for the NBA – then again, maybe I’m just old school.

    (Pardon the mispellings)

  5. TNCSU 04/05/2007 at 10:50 PM #

    ….I spoke with Mike earlier today, and he said there were three schools who would take us,” he said.

    Which three schools?

    “N.C. State, Florida State and USC,” Sutton said…..

    Uhhh. The “I” there is Dominique Sutton. The “Mike” there is Mike Beasley. That is a quote coming right from the kid.

    WOW!! While I don’t like the package deal thing either, I’d love Beasley — even if he is a one-and-done. That “one” next year would be a GREAT one! Sutton can come, too. I guess the ONLY way this could possibly happen is if Tracy Smith doesn’t qualify. Holy cow, though — Beasley and Hickson as Freshmen??? With our current roster, we’d be downright tough.

    On the other subject, let’s just let it runs its course, and not jump to any conclusions either way.

    I would still bet that Beasley follows Thuggins, but he’s probably gotten to know JJ pretty well during the past couple of All-Star games where they both played great. I remember that we were recruiting Sutton for a while, too. I say again, I WOULD definitely take Beasley — one-and-done and all that comes with getting great players.

  6. Jeremy Hyatt 04/05/2007 at 11:26 PM #

    5 star, #1 power forward………………………………there’s room

  7. RedTerror29 04/06/2007 at 7:52 AM #

    I think it’s time for one of those scholarship breakdowns…

  8. cpwolfpackfan 04/06/2007 at 7:56 AM #

    This is the time that big lew needs to leave, I know that is harsh, but if you want to win you need big time players, with a chance to add Beasley and sutton, you take it. We don’t need lew, and will tell tracy smith that we can’t wait any longer to see if he makes the grades, there is your 2 scholys, we would have probley the #1 class in the nation, and go 10 deep easy. The best frount court in the nation, and a title continder right from the start. Big time college basketball isn’t always fair, but if you want to win, as long as you stay within the rules, its ok in my book

  9. cpwolfpackfan 04/06/2007 at 8:01 AM #

    1st team
    Hickson 6’10”
    Costner 6’9″
    Grant 6’7″
    Fells 6’6″
    Degand 6’3

    2nd team
    Javi 6’0″
    Johnson/sutton 6’4″
    Horner/Thomas 6’7″–6’5″
    Beasley 6’9″
    McCually 6’9″

    That my friends is 2 good teams if you point guards don’t score a point, just don’t turn the ball over

  10. RedTerror29 04/06/2007 at 8:02 AM #

    Is this right?
    Sr – Grant
    Jr – Fells, McCauley
    So – Costner, Lew, Ferg, Horner, Degand, Johnson
    Fr – Hickson, Thomas
    Tracy Smith and Javi still haven’t signed their LOI’s according to Scout.com.
    So if the above is correct, we have two scholarships (technically) free right now. Maybe best case scenario is we lose Tracy and Lew, keep Javi, and pickup the two K-State boys?

  11. TNCSU 04/06/2007 at 8:27 AM #

    I think you are correct, RT29, but I think Ferg may consider transferring, too. As far as CP’s predictions, though, NO way Beasley is 2nd team – he would have to start. I think he could play the 3 with no problem.
    1. Fells – Javi/Degand
    2. GG – Fells/Johnson/Thomas
    3. Beasley – Horner/Thomas/Sutton
    4. Costner – Smith/Beasley
    5. Hickson – McCauley

    Alot of options, but I seriously think GG and Costner will definitely start. Javi or Degand may start at PG will Fells and GG both getting time at the 2G. Who knows — it’s all wishful thinking, but we would REALLY be stacked with talent!

  12. cpwolfpackfan 04/06/2007 at 8:41 AM #

    if we get beasley, smith will not be here. That will be the scholly we will use for beasley

  13. RedTerror29 04/06/2007 at 8:46 AM #

    If we’re going to take two supposedly borderline guys (Beasley and Sutton) I’d just as soon lose the other we were looking at (Smith).

  14. TNCSU 04/06/2007 at 8:48 AM #

    With Beasley AND Costner we would easily have 2 of the best inside out PF’s in the NATION. Both guys are big, can rebound and score inside, and can step out and pop the three! I’d trade Beasley for Smith — especially considering Smith’s question marks about Mt. Zion. Again, I think it’s wishful thinking, but we’ll see!

  15. gopack968 04/06/2007 at 8:54 AM #

    “This is the time that big lew needs to leave, I know that is harsh, but if you want to win you need big time players…”

    I am very uncomfortable with that sort of logic. Student athletes make a commitment to a university and the university to them. Unless they fail academically or get into trouble the university should never pressure them to leave – particularly just because they have not become the athlete the coaches originally hoped. From what I have seen so far Sidney Lowe is not the sort of coach who would put short-term gain ahead of running a quality program that treats student-athletes with respect.

    Clearly this program has great potential and the years ahead seem bright. But I would rather endure a few more seasons below the top rung than become a school that puts winning ahead of everything else.

  16. RedTerror29 04/06/2007 at 9:10 AM #

    ^I think I agree. It’s not wrong for the staff to be frank about his playing time, however, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be seeing any. Maybe he has already informed the staff he plans on leaving.

    And I’m not going to get bent out of shape if we drop Smith if he still hasn’t qualified and Mt. Zion’s is viewed unfavorably by the NCAA.

  17. redfred2 04/06/2007 at 9:25 AM #

    gp968, I totally agree with your overall statement, but I think the situation with Lewandowski is considerably different from the norm. Not making excuses, but the staff picked up Lew back when they needed enough players to even hold a decent practice session. If he wants to stay, then he should be allowed. But if he has any desire to play basketball on the collegiate level and won’t be afforded the opportunity in Raleigh, in the ACC, then maybe he should look at other options. He may have the ability and that may not be the case, but if it is, I think the staff owes it to Lew to make him aware of that fact. The decision should ultimately be up to the kid though.

  18. gopack968 04/06/2007 at 9:27 AM #

    ^^ Both the media (and I’m not talking the N&O, the NY Times has been on this story for months) and the NCAA are coming down on diploma mills and dubious academics. We do not want to be anywhere near that.

    Are there any updates on Smith?

  19. TNCSU 04/06/2007 at 9:37 AM #

    The other issue with Big Lew is his injury. Who knows if he’ll ever play competitive basketball again. An ACL tear to a guy 7’3″definitely could be career ending. What type of injury did Tommy B. have that ultimately prematurely ended his career?

  20. noah 04/06/2007 at 11:11 AM #

    Knee surgery has come a long way since Burleson hurt his knee. An ACL injury used to be the end of your career. Not anymore.

    Lewandowski’s problem is a lack of talent. He was never going to be an ACC player. He’s the epitome of “If you’re going to miss, miss big.” If he really wants to play basketball, he needs to find a level where can compete. I would think that a place like Presbyterian or Pfifer or something comparable would be to his benefit. Div. II or NAIA (does that still exist?)

  21. brickman 04/06/2007 at 5:43 PM #

    there is no way ben comes off beanch he is going to start he and costner are best players on are team by far .

  22. redfred2 04/06/2007 at 6:18 PM #

    brickman

    It doesn’t really matter who starts the games, the thing that will make all of these kids better basketball players is competition for starting positions and better competition from their own teammates every day in practice.

  23. TNCSU 04/06/2007 at 6:33 PM #

    Good point, RF2. They each have their strengths and the competition everyday in practice will be great!

  24. brickman 04/06/2007 at 7:45 PM #

    redfred2 i know it dose good to have that competition in practice but had to give some love to the players that we all love watching play this year .

  25. redfred2 04/06/2007 at 8:05 PM #

    brick

    I agree, all of those guys deserve the love. But I think that if somehow McCauley wasn’t a starter for some reason, he’s the type of kid that would take it as a challenge, and he wouldn’t be denied for very long.

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