Fox Sports Article – Degand, Costner Tidbits

Here is the full article (Hat Tip to Pack Pride message boards). There’s a brief tidbit on Farnold Degand’s progress (still my bet to be the starter), but the most interesting part is Lowe’s acknowledgement that Costner could get minutes at the 3:

Lowe also mentioned that Costner could see some time at small forward this season with the addition of Hickson and Smith. “It’s possible,” he said. Lowe said that his goal for Costner is to improve his quickness and ballhandling prior to this season.

I’m thrilled to hear that. I don’t like the idea of Hickson, Costner, and McCauley (likely our 3 best players) only having 80 minutes to divide among themselves. This would also give us tremendous matchup flexibility, and make us nearly impossible to defend at times. I expect Degand to play point when Costner is at the 3 in our “big” lineup, due to his speed and overall defensive ability.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball Sidney Lowe

83 Responses to Fox Sports Article – Degand, Costner Tidbits

  1. pakfanistan 08/21/2007 at 4:20 PM #

    Because he’s a badass?

  2. packgrad93 08/21/2007 at 4:32 PM #

    to the NBA

  3. TNCSU 08/21/2007 at 4:34 PM #

    Costner could VERY well be gone (to the NBA) with a good season this year.

  4. brickman 08/21/2007 at 6:34 PM #

    rick , if you can not read or understand then that would make you a dumb ass !!!!!! this is not or has never been english or a novel . you are the only one that i have ever had to tell that to .tells me what i am dealing with. you have to much time on your hands . you do not know what kind of person i am . you need to worry more about you and if you can not understand what i say do not reply

  5. redfred2 08/21/2007 at 9:17 PM #

    I think we’ve gotten to the point where most kids sign MLB/NBA contracts at the very first opportunity, no matter what, whenever someone, anyone, shows interest. First, there is the dreaded and ever talked about fear of injury, and then there is the fear that if they don’t take what’s offered that they may not play as good the next season and they won’t get back. The bad thing about all of this is that a lot of these kids could use another year or two to develop without being overwhelmed and bombarded by the best athletes on the planet. Sure, they can sign early for more money than they’ve ever seen before, be back ups and sit in the background throughout their careers. Even though some people around here don’t believe it, and they will ALWAYS say that the kid made the smart decision by jumping early for the money, even in this day and time, there are many players who could better their own futures by staying on the college level longer.

  6. noah 08/21/2007 at 10:53 PM #

    If Costner can’t play defense and is slow, why is he going pro early? Or…rather…why would an NBA team draft him?

  7. brickman 08/22/2007 at 6:28 AM #

    most nba teams do not play def. that is why . if he dose go to nba we will be all right .we are loaded in the 4 spot . and the acc teams are weak in that pos. anyone we put in costner position will be alright. give me horner or give me death.

  8. TNCSU 08/22/2007 at 8:11 AM #

    ^^^Or…rather…why would an NBA team draft him?

    Why did the Bucks draft the guy from China?? 🙂

    I think teams – if they see improvement in his ballhandling and defense – will draft him because he’s an inside/outside threat at 6’9″ with the ability to drain the 3. He’s also a very good rebounder. Just my opinion. I hope he has a great year, but I hope/think he will stick around for at least one more.

  9. Rick 08/22/2007 at 8:46 AM #

    Brick
    “rick , if you can not read or understand then that would make you a dumb ass !!!!!! this is not or has never been english or a novel . you are the only one that i have ever had to tell that to ”

    tooyoung
    “I’m with ya Rick. I usually skip over brickman’s comments because they take two to three times longer to read than those belonging to any other person”

    Seems I am not alone. But I will take your advice and ignore you.I assure you I am not alone

  10. noah 08/22/2007 at 9:24 AM #

    6-9? He grew two inches over the summer? Great news.

    I love the myth about how there’s no defense in the NBA. Yep. That’s why there’s all that interior passing just like you see in college…because there’s no defense.

  11. packgrad93 08/22/2007 at 9:41 AM #

    Costner wanted to test the NBA waters after last season, he for sure will be seeing what his options are after this year, along with JJ.

  12. noah 08/22/2007 at 10:07 AM #

    Hey, if he can get drafted and get a guaranteed deal, then more power to him.

    BTW, while we’re talking about basketball, did anyone see that Eddie Griffin was killed recently? If I’m not mistaken, this was the guy that once got arrested for getting into a car wreck while drunk — and masturbating to a porn film that he was watching — while driving down the road.

    So I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that he somehow managed to miss the oncoming train?

  13. Rick 08/22/2007 at 10:14 AM #

    I heard that noah.

    Very weird. He was drafted pretty high but did he ever play? Was he any good?

    There are few things as sad as someone wasting a God given gift.

  14. noah 08/22/2007 at 10:49 AM #

    Wasn’t Griffin the guy that UNC fans were convinced was going to come to Carolina with a PG named Andre Barrett?

    During D’oh’s first year?

    And they passed on barrett, so they missed out on Griffin too? And then they missed out on Omar Cook?

    I’m not sure how good any of those guys turned out to be.

  15. RickJ 08/22/2007 at 11:15 AM #

    ^That is correct but I think it was Guthridge and not D’oh. I am pretty sure that after Griffin chose Seton Hall, UNC tried to get involved with Marcus Melvin as his replacement but he stayed with the Pack.

  16. BJD95 08/22/2007 at 11:55 AM #

    I think Hickson is physically similar to Ced Simmons (drafted #15 overall), but is more explosive. From what I’ve seen, he has a nose for the ball and a very long wingspan.

    Costner is fast enough and big enough to play the 4 at the NBA level, IMHO. As Lowe has no doubt told him, if he can get quick enough to play the 3 (or be a fast 4), he could go from solid NBA prospect to an outstanding one. Costner has good offensive moves, range on his shot, and is an excellent rebounder. Defense and lateral quickness are questions, but I wouldn’t say they are glaring weaknesses.

  17. Rick 08/22/2007 at 12:02 PM #

    Is it posible to improve quickness?

    Thats always seemed like one of those things you either have or don’t.
    I understand you might be able to make small improvements with muscle specific work but I have never heard of anyone slow all of a sudden becoming quick.

  18. redfred2 08/22/2007 at 12:55 PM #

    “Hey, if he can get drafted and get a guaranteed deal, then more power to him.”

    Or rather…Hey, if some slick sports agent convinces him that he’s good enough to go now, rather than wait to develop where he has a better opportunity to do so, then sure, more power him. That is, more power to the sports agent, the one who will take on any player if there’s a buck in it.

    Yep, the NBA needs all the help they can get in luring kids away from college.

  19. packgrad93 08/22/2007 at 1:05 PM #

    players get tons of advice from NBA people & their college coaches too.

  20. BJD95 08/22/2007 at 1:10 PM #

    I may be wrong, but I always thought that there were specific exercises and drills to improve lateral quickness. The truly innate “have it or don’t” skill is straight-line speed. Again, I THINK that’s right, and could very well be wrong.

  21. noah 08/22/2007 at 4:10 PM #

    I think you can MAXIMIZE your quickness. But I don’t think there’s an excercise in the world that would make me…”quick.”

    “Or rather…Hey, if some slick sports agent convinces him that he’s good enough to go now, rather than wait to develop where he has a better opportunity to do so, then sure, more power him.”

    Yes, thank you. Except I never said that, nor did I imply it, Mr. Brokenrecord.

  22. TNCSU 08/22/2007 at 4:49 PM #

    ^^^6-9? He grew two inches over the summer? Great news.

    I don’t think Brandon’s been 6’7″ since 10th grade. He was listed at 6’8″ 210 his Senior Year in H.S. — now he’s listed at 6’8″ 232, but he plays a little bigger than that under the basket, IMO.

  23. noah 08/22/2007 at 4:51 PM #

    I remember Dennis Scott being listed at 6-8 and he was considerably shorter than the 6-7 Brian Howard.

    But…it doesn’t matter…

  24. packgrad93 08/22/2007 at 4:57 PM #

    “now he’s listed at 6′8″ 232″

    6’9” 238 on gopack

  25. redfred2 08/22/2007 at 7:53 PM #

    There are two kinds of quickness, one of them is all physical, and the other has to do more with anticipating the game. You can increase your physical quickness somewhat by ramping up your intensity level, but you all need is true desire to learn to be effective at positioning and knowing when and where to be.

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