North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Lowe Ready to Use Pack's Deep Bench
11/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BY TIM PEELER
From the first days of individual workouts, Lowe knew he would have more components to use this year, on a team with four returning starters, four scholarship freshmen, one recruited walk-on and three newly or soon-to-be eligible transfers.
But, as the No. 21 Wolfpack tips off its second season under Lowe against William & Mary Thursday at 7 p.m. at the
“No question the depth is better,” Lowe said. “Guys don’t have to pace themselves. But, at the same time, there is a fine line you have to walk of playing too fast and getting it all in because your minutes are going to be down some this year.
“I think it is an adjustment that some of our guys are still going to have to make.”
Last year, Lowe watched as three of his players Gavin Grant, Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner averaged more than 34 minutes per game, all ranking among the ACC’s top six players in minutes per game. As much as Lowe appreciated their yeoman’s efforts in leading the Wolfpack to the ACC Tournament championship game, the third round of the National Invitation Tournament and a 20-16 record, he also knew they couldn’t possibly keep up the intensity needed to make the team more successful.
So it won’t be necessary for them to be on the court as much this time around, with the arrival of frontcourt freshmen J.J. Hickson and Tracy Smith and backcourt additions Farnold Degand, Javi Gonzalez and Marques Johnson.
Everyone is earning just how long he will be on the court this year. And, Lowe hinted Tuesday, there might be some unexpected contributions from returning players like sophomores Trevor Ferguson and Dennis Horner, who both helped off the bench last season when things were thin.
“Trevor Ferguson has been playing unbelievably in practice,” Lowe said. “Dennis is playing well, as are J.J. and Tracy. Those starters are being pushed; they know they can’t relax. And they know I won’t hesitate to take them out of the game if they are not doing the right things.”
Starters got that message last season, even when Lowe had few options on the bench. Now that the Wolfpack boxscores can include more than a dozen names, the message resonates even louder.
“There won’t be a lack of effort,” said Lowe, who hopes to extend the team's streak to 14 consecutive season-opening wins. “I think they understand that. I think they knew that from day one.”
The Wolfpack, the last team in the ACC to open the regular season, received some good news earlier this week when Gonzalez, a freshman point guard from
Gonzalez will be in action against the Tribe (0-1), which opened its season Saturday with a 68-53 loss to
“It might take me until the first TV timeout to shake off the rust,” said Degand, who performed well in the Wolfpack’s three preseason outings, an intra-squad scrimmage and two exhibition games. “But, after that, I think I’ll be all right.”
And, if not, Lowe is happy to have other options.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
