Giglio: Same problems for Pack

Joe Giglio has penned an excellent blog entry at ACCNow – New season, same old issues for Pack.

I’ve got a ton to say and not a lot of time to say it – WolfpackNation is more divided this morning than we have been in the last couple of years. There are probably as many different solutions to our problems as there are different perspectives that exist out there right now.

I wanted to copy and paste some excerpts from the entry but that resulted in me basically pasting the entire article. If I had to pick something short and sweet to highlight then I would go with the following:

By the 15-minute mark of the second half, Lowe had seen enough of his senior and fourth-year junior, he turned to Mays, Thomas and Williams — three freshmen. If you’re going to lose, don’t let one losing season turn into two. Lowe has every right to attempt to develop the talent for next season.

“Those are the guys we’re going to have count on now and down the road,” Lowe said.

Personally, I think Coach Sidney Lowe would serve himself and his job security well by rolling out a line-up of Julius Mays, CJ Williams, Johnny Thomas, Tracy Smith and a 5th player of his choosing (personally, I would go with McCauley). If the rest of the players don’t like it, then they can either work their asses off by playing defense, blocking out and keeping their heads in the game or they can simply not play.

Hell…we are probably going to lose anyway. If we are going to lose, then most fans would rather lose with players that:
(1) obviously bust their asses;
(2) obviously care about the outcome of the game: and
(3) can gain valuable experience that can be helpful in the years to come.

Why bother losing with players that can’t get it done either physically or mentally?

If Coach Lowe takes this opportunity to actually/FINALLY execute a ‘my way or the highway’ mandate then he will do more for his job security in losses than he would by winning a couple of extra, ultimately meaningless games. He also would be laying a sustainable foundation for success in the future. If not, he runs a greater risk of not having a future.

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08-09 Basketball General Sidney Lowe

134 Responses to Giglio: Same problems for Pack

  1. coachkoh 01/15/2009 at 1:26 PM #

    How in the world can you say give him two more years? I understand if Sid showed a hint of improvment but after three years we are going backwards.
    I don’t care lack of talent or not ,we play like a team that has no concept,idea about fundamentals and these things are fixed in practice with a staff preaching and teaching.

  2. wufpup76 01/15/2009 at 1:28 PM #

    ^I hope so, Old School

    The Ga Tech is a very important game, IMO … Not just for this season, but could be a good barometer of how well Sidney gets guys to respond when it looks like nearly all the chips are down

  3. ppack3 01/15/2009 at 1:35 PM #

    Thank God for one person (Howlie) that isn’t dangling one foot over the ledge. I have to say, half of the things I’m reading seem like I’m watching an entirely different team than other posters. We all have a different perspective, from a different seat. But, the fact of the matter is that we don’t know half of what is said and done inside of the program. If T. Smith scores 30 against (lowly) Townsend, and then doesn’t see significant PT for the next few games, do you ever stop to think that Sid sees this kid at practice everyday, and may have a little insight on the situation. All we can do from section 223 is speculate as to why this guy is sitting, or why the other guy is playing. Javi was horrible against FSU, but to say that he should have been pulled ofter the first TO is crazy. By that rationale, we wouldn’t have anyone left to play after the first half! I’m not saying Sid should be given free reign, nor am I calling for his head. He should be allowed to saddle up his own horses, and see if he can ride. He is training some very young kids, and trying to manage some very tough egos on this team.
    On another note, I think that we do stand a decent shot at landing Wall for two reasons, a) His grandma is sickly, and staying near home is more attractive, so that she may see him play, and b) Coach K is not likely going to allow him to turn Pro after one season. I’m sure Sid is saying, “Whatever it takes, John.” These things are jumping off points, and improve the product on the court exponentially.
    Lastly, the system that Lowe is implementing, is a free flowing system that attempts to take advantage of what the other team is giving us. The young guards are given some slack (just like Sid was under Coach V) to make some decisions on the fly, and to work through mistakes. If you yank a kid every time he makes a mistake, you will never be a productive coach. Lowe is going to HAVE to find, or develop, the line up that can close out a game without taking 3’s from the other teams foul-line, or crumbling under ANY pressure. The “Big Three” do not have “it.” My advice to Sid…find “it” and find it fast. you are about to be devoured by these angry wolves!

  4. kyjelly 01/15/2009 at 1:46 PM #

    “The system that Lowe is implementing,is a free flowing system that attempts to take what the other team is giving us.” Well what I see them giving us is a whole lot of losses! ^Find it? Sid should be by now at least giving us a hint that he has found something. I don’t see it ,but someone please point out a system,direction or vision with Sid here for the future?

  5. ppack3 01/15/2009 at 2:02 PM #

    Sid’s an NBA guy. We all knew that coming in. The players are supposed to create, and hit their own shots, play man-to-man, and rebound. “It” would be a player (or two) that can make a shot under pressure. A player that could create his own shot, or stop his man from scoring when his back is against the wall. We don’t have any of that with Ben, Brandon or Courtney. I wonder why we’re losing close games down the stretch?

  6. Rochester 01/15/2009 at 2:05 PM #

    I hate the NBA. I’d rather see Sid coach a college style, since we play college basketball.

  7. pakfanistan 01/15/2009 at 2:14 PM #

    I don’t know…

    I don’t think anybody cares what style we play, as long as we win.

    If we were winning, it would be because of his FANTASTIC NBA EXPERIENCE.

    Since we’re losing, it’s because of his IRRELEVANT TO COLLEGE, NBA EXPERIENCE.

    I blame global warming.

  8. ppack3 01/15/2009 at 2:19 PM #

    I’m thinking El Nina, due to our inability to heat up.

  9. choppack1 01/15/2009 at 2:20 PM #

    “How in the world can you say give him two more years?”

    There is one simple reason – he has shown he can recruit. If we stink it up next year – and Leslie and Harrow back away from their commitments, then we can probaly let him go.

    However, if we show some improvement, and will be here in 2010, barring something non-basketball improvement, we probably need to wait. (Especially if a certain somebody is still AD.)

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m as frustrated w/ him as I’ve been any State coach in a long time, but given the importance of recruiting, if we’ve got a guy who can get elite talent in here on a consistent basis, well, it’s probably worth another year or two w/out tourney bids.

  10. ppack3 01/15/2009 at 2:20 PM #

    Winning solves everything.

  11. WolftownVA81 01/15/2009 at 2:26 PM #

    ^^^ppf23 “truewolf84- NO… Lee Fowler needs to go first. That is “leadership at the top”.

    “Sid needs a wake up call… Hopefully this is it. If he does not improve this team substantially by next year, he needs to go.”

    packpigskinfan23 hit the nail on the head. I love Sid and want him to succeed. However, Fowler must go now so that whatever happens at the end of this year, NCSU athletics will be in a position to move forward. Fowler’s firing should be Sid’s ultimate wakeup call.

    That’s all I’m gonna say cause I’m still too PO’d to get into the tired details of all that I see wrong with Wolfpack bb at present. I’m not giving up, just want to maintain some space so I can maintain my sanity.

  12. Rochester 01/15/2009 at 2:36 PM #

    Anyone watch Lost last night? (Yeah, I know, we all watched Lost Tuesday night against FSU.) Last night was the season finale from last year, leading up to this year’s season premier next week. The baddest of bad guys, Martin Keamy, had rigged a freighter up with explosives, set to detonate if a trigger indicated his heart stopped beating.

    That trigger is kind of like our recruiting. We kill off Sid and our recruiting blows up. And then our island gets moved and we wind up in a different ocean or something. (It’s not a perfect analogy.) We’re sort of stuck here right now in this dilemma, especially if we finish last again this year. Do we risk losing these top recruits that could restore the program, or do we muddle on with a coach who’s still learning how to coach, and may yet have a long learning curve?

    Obviously out of our hands, so we all know the answer. Muddle on. Might be the right call for another year, but if we’re not dancing on Selection Sunday 2010, it will be time to pull the plug.

  13. Wolf Dog 01/15/2009 at 2:42 PM #

    What we need is to subscribe to the Guthridge—Doughterty—-Roy Plan. Gutheridge had success but left the cupboard bare. Doughterty could recruit and did it well. He restocked the roster with talent. Doughterty never got the chance to really prove he could coach them. But Roy after turning down UNC once after taking a hard look at it and seeing the rebuilding job, then jumped all over it the second time when he realized there was more talent at UNC than he had at Kansas. Then won it all with Doherty’s players.

    We in a similar boat. Herb had some late success but left the cupboard bare. Successful coaches looked at our roster and wanted no part of the job ahead. So Sid comes in much the same as Doherty (only an alumni that loves his school would risk thier career on trying to rebuild at either school given the impatient fan bases) and is proving he can recruit. No matter what happening on the Court we need to lay off because most coaches couldn’t beat Wofford with the talent Herb left us. So let Sid restock the program with talent. Which he is doing. Then if he proves he can coach them we keep him. Or we let him go, then trust me lots of great coaches will line up to increase their pay and be more than happy to coach the talent we have coming in. Way I see it our only choice is patience. Remember Coach K and Smith couldn’t win with a bunch of bums when they started out either.

    As far as Fowler, he doesn’t hold a candle to our previous Ad, Les, and the job he did.

  14. LRM 01/15/2009 at 2:47 PM #

    What frustrates me is that so many base their opinions of Sid on their expectation of what he could do with a couple of solid recruiting classes. My question is this: if he’s not a good coach now with the players he has, how will a few good players make him a better coach? Is he a worse coach today because Favors chose Tech? Will he be a better coach if we get Wall and/or Cousins?

    We’ve got a lot of talent on the team right now — we’ve seen the evidence — but for whatever reason — a lack of chemistry, motivation, fundamentals, preparation, execution — we’re just not a good basketball team. I completely understand the need for stellar talent, especially at the point, but how does Wall make Sid a more qualified coach? Being an alum and loving NC State aren’t qualifications for a coaching job (although saying “yes” to an offer is #1 on the list).

    If Wall comes in and spends a year learning through mistakes and then jumps to the NBA based on his potential, how does that helps us? Consider that as good as Hickson was, his one year here left no indelible impression on this team; in fact, we’ve digressed, because we designed an entire offense around a single player (don’t forget that Hickson’s numbers tapered off steadily during that nine-game losing stretch to end the season). How has having Hickson last year worked out for us this season? Will it be the same with Wall? If so, wouldn’t we be better off with a coach that can adjust accordingly?

    I’m not saying I don’t want Wall or Cousins, or that I’m glad we didn’t get Favors, but my point is that by bringing in top talent we might win more games, but that doesn’t make Sid a better coach, and that’s a problem we need to address independently of whether or not a potential one-and-done guy is going to commit elsewhere if Sid’s gone.

    I’ll admit, I’m really torn on the issue of retaining Sid because I’m convinced he is has no understanding of the college game — while Tobacco Road doesn’t afford a coach an even remotely forgiving learning curve — and worse, this team has digressed under him and a sharp rift in this fan base is looming.

    Conversely, I have no confidence that our leadership — and that’s being generous at best — is capable of developing a plan for replacing him with someone competent enough to get this program out of the ACC cellar, so replacing Sid just for the hell of it ain’t a qualified solution.

    If we do replace him, there is far too much talent out there in the coaching ranks to limit any list of potential candidates to alums. And there are far too many qualified people out there to evaluate that talent and prepare a list of candidates that would be suitable for this job. Unfortunately, Lee Fowler isn’t one of them.

  15. choppack1 01/15/2009 at 3:19 PM #

    Rochester – you wrote:

    “That trigger is kind of like our recruiting. We kill off Sid and our recruiting blows up.”

    And this was precisely where we were in 2001. Herb had just finished his worst season at NC State – after his 5th year – but he had a program-changing recruiting class coming in w/ minimal returning talent. That class did end up leading NC State back to the tournament – but our recruiting was definitely hurt the next year – and some coaches who may have taken the job then, wouldn’t take when it came open 5 years later.

    While I don’t think this incoming class is as good as those who entered NC State in the Fall of 2001, this one is good – and next year’s w/ 2 potential 5 star recruits, both at positions of critical need – does have the ability to give us at least some short term success.

    LRM – I see where you are coming from. For the short term, Sidney Lowe was a horrendous hire. Words cannot explain how bad this hire was if you wanted any success in the next 3 years. However, the good news is that in basketball, you only need a few great players and some good players – and you can have some success. Just as there is plenty of evidence that Sidney is not a great coach, there’s plenty of evidence that he’ll be a special recruiter.

    In college basketball, recruiting can overcome a lot of other shortcomings. If Lowe didn’t inherit a program that had personnel impacted by defections, personnel geared away from a traditional offense – and no depth – I’d say, “this guy is a joke, he must go.” However, we have to acknowledge that he didn’t walk into a situation taylored for success.

    Since he’s demonstrated above average recruiting ability – we should see what we can get from at least the next year…

  16. Rochester 01/15/2009 at 3:20 PM #

    All right. It’s grassroots effort time. If everyone who has whined about Fowler on this board would take a few minutes to write him a letter, maybe we could at least ruin his day or something. Here’s his address:

    Mr. Lee Fowler
    Weisiger Brown Building
    2500 Warren Carroll Drive
    Campus Box 8502
    Raleigh, NC 27695

    Here’s my letter:

    Dear Mr. Fowler,

    As an alumnus of N.C. State and a devoted fan of the Wolfpack and member of the Wolfpack Club, I am writing to you to express my concern over the state of N.C. State Athletics. Under your leadership our Athletics Department has deteriorated to borderline laughingstock status.

    In your tenure, we have never won an ACC title in football, baseball, or men’s or women’s basketball. We have the fewest ACC championships combined in all sports over that span, with the bulk of those coming in cross country. We are the only ACC school that has not once in that span even played in a national championship game in any team sport.

    I could forgive a lot, if only our basketball team were competitive. However, our basketball team is horrendous. While we all hope Sidney Lowe will succeed, the early returns are not promising. It is entirely possible we will need to find a new coach in the next year or two. As you so badly bungled the last coaching search, I am asking for you to please step down as Athletics Director so someone competent can hire our next coach, if indeed we need to go that route.

    We haven’t won an ACC title in 22 years. That’s a long, long time. Yet somehow we have one of the largest athletic support networks in all of college sports. We deserve better. Please resign so we can turn our Athletics Department back in the right direction.

    Thank you.

    If he suddenly up-and-quits next week, you can thank me then.

  17. jbpackfan 01/15/2009 at 3:39 PM #

    Dear Rochester:

    Thank you for your support of NC State athletics. We are steadily improving in all facets of our athletics programs, especially with regard to finances. There is no reason to be concerned, plenty of money keeps rolling in.

    Go Pack!

    Sincerely,

    Lee Fowler

  18. Rick 01/15/2009 at 3:47 PM #

    He will not get that much of a note

    It will simply say

    Thanks for your note
    “Go Pack”

    Jed Clampet

  19. Pack Leader 01/15/2009 at 3:49 PM #

    Rochester Great idea!!! Im going to send one today and lets see what happens!! If only a quarter of the fans who read this blog send this letter its a big deal.

    I am serious when I say its time for THE state university alumni, students, and fans to stand up and make our voice heard. We have tried to make our voice heard with money, then with boos, now with grumbles….. Imgaine his supirse when he gets 500-1000 leters all with one voice, one common goal, one request….. an athletic dept that reflects the states largest, most competitive university…….
    I will always say this whether we win or lose
    RED AND WHITE FROM STATE AND WE KNOW WE ARE THE BEST

    ps. I am good friends with a sports writer of the technician and i know he would LOVE to be able to write an article if this actually happens

  20. LRM 01/15/2009 at 3:51 PM #

    Writing a letter asking the guy to step down in this economy? Good stuff.

    Try attaching a blank check — bet you’ll get a response then.

  21. truewolfpackfan84 01/15/2009 at 3:57 PM #

    I will get my letter typed up and post it up here for everyone to read tonight as well. Let’s all come together for 1 common goal and that is to get Lee Fowlers rear end out of here. !!!! If you are a true wolfpack fan let’s all join together and write a letter to Mr.Fowler and let him know what we all think . Everyone post your letters up here thanks !!!

  22. Alpha Wolf 01/15/2009 at 4:00 PM #

    Dear (insert name here)
    Rochester,

    Thank you for your letter. As a basketball coach myself I always enjoy hearing from fans.

    I would like to offer you congratulations, as you are now the 3,464th member of those Fifty Lunatics on the Internets.

    Go Pack!

    (signed)

  23. LRM 01/15/2009 at 4:05 PM #

    If you’re going to start something as silly as a letter campaign, as least send the letters to the right person — the guy that signs his checks

  24. truewolfpackfan84 01/15/2009 at 4:25 PM #

    Dear Mr. Fowler,

    As an alumnus of N.C. State and a die hard fan of the wolfpack and member of the Wolfpack club, I am wanting to write you to express my immediate concern over the state of our Athletic department. Under your direct leadership we have simply fallen to a laughing stock status of the ACC.

    Since you have been the athletic director here at N.C. State we have yet to win an ACC title in baseball, football, Men’s basketball, and Women’s basketball. If you were to do a little research like I have along with many of us alumni you will know that we have the lowest combined championships during your tenure than anywhere else in the ACC. As well as this low achievement we are also the only ACC school that has not once even played for a national championship in any team sport. I could stomach some of this a whole lot better if at least our basketball team was somewhat competitive. However that is not the case at all because I feel we are worse now than we were when Sidney Lowe took over this disturbed program. While we all in our hearts wanted this to work with Sidney Lowe as the head man for our basketball team we can all see after 3 dreadful years that he is unable to teach young kids how to play the game of basketball. I am hoping we are going to do the right thing for our university and have him replaced after we get through with this terrible season that is already upon us. However for this to have any positive effect on our basketball team and athletic department in general we as a Wolf pack nation are asking you to step down as our athletic director. We as a whole need someone competent to lead our next and hopefully last coaching search for a great deal of time because honestly another coaching search led by yourself will end in complete disaster like this last one.
    We have not had anything positive come out of this basketball team in the past 3 years and however we still have 1 of the largest athletic support networks in all of college sports. We as a whole deserve better and we are coming together as 1 to demand better for the future of our program. So in all due respect can we please have your resignation so that we can turn this thing around before it becomes any worse than it already is. We appreciate what you have tried to do for us during your tenure but as you can see it has been a 100% complete failure !!!

  25. 6161 01/15/2009 at 4:53 PM #

    I’m sure there are many of you who love the movie Hoosiers. How many of you hated the guys in the barber shop gossiping or trying to get into practice? That’s what this has turned into. I hate watching this basketball team just like everyone else. But I’m addicted, have been my entire life. Dad graduated in 74. Have heard all the stories. I was in Reynolds when State came back from beating Houston in 83. I absolutely love the enthusiasm the fans can bring. But these fans are the exact fans contributing to tearing down this program.

    I don’t know what the answer is. I shake my head just like everybody else with the substitution patterns. I shake my head at the effort. But this is what I believe. Coach K or Roy could do better with this team. For one reason the players would listen and trust in them. There are players on this team and the last that obviously think they know more than Lowe. Give me a break they are kids. They don’t trust in Lowe for a couple of reasons. One his lack of credibility in coaching, two because everyone is telling them how bad Lowe is. Just like those idiots did in Hoosiers. The only instance Lowe has been able to coach an above average guard the team played well. By the end of the year players had bought in to Lowe. They believed the fans believed. Who knows what would of happened if Atsur could of played the entire year

    Big IF. We get a guard a couple of other solid players and this thing could turn around. As good as everyone feels about O’Brien he couldn’t of pulled the team together without Wilson. We need some luck. We need not only a great player but a leader to come in as a freshman. Without we’re not going to have to worry about Lowe being fired. He will be.

    Some background on a programs we hate: ( from http://www.coachk.com/duke-basketball.php)

    Success stories do not just happen overnight. They take time, and the latest chapter in Duke basketball is no exception. Krzyzewski inherited a Duke squad in 1980-81 with a thin talent base outside of All-America Gene Banks, Kenny Dennard and Vince Taylor. The squad hustled its way to a bid in the NIT, but it was obvious the recruiting trail was Krzyzewski’s only answer if the team was to succeed over the long run. He landed a recruiting class in 1982 made up of Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, David Henderson, Jay Bilas and Weldon Williams. It was rated one of the nation’s best and put Duke on the map to stay. Joining that powerful group was guard Tommy Amaker in 1983. Duke won 24 games with that nucleus in 1984 and earned the first NCAA bid under Coach K.

    Coach K’s record starting out
    80-81 17-13 NIT
    81-82 10-17
    82-83 11-17
    84-85 24-10 Think Dawkins & crew helped make Coach K a better coach?

    Even Dean Smith didn’t do better than 500 in two of his first three seasons.

    Let’s all hope a Dawkins or Jimmy Chitwood come along SOON! Truth be told all of us want Lowe to do well.

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