post was not getting any comments. so i thought i would add one. its more fun to discuss Kellie Harper and the women’s team at this point, so i will do that. i admitt that while State men’s basketball is my favorite of all Wolfpack sports, or for that matter of any sports, i most enjoy attending the women’s game for the following reasons: the team plays hard, the team has chemistry, Kastenek is a rising star, and Kellie Harper looks great on the side lines, not to mention the fact that she can really coach-well it looks that way so far. oh, this was suppose to be about the men’s team. sorry.

has turned into ACC football circa 2007 with just atrocious offenses. When a duke team with 3, and only 3, players that are even threats to score is the league standard, this is not a good thing. The ACC has a complete lack of playmakers as well as a dearth of coaches who can teach an effective offensive system. My quick breakdown:

Coach K: proven offensive system with multiple types of players

Gary: Teaches the flex better than anyone

Roy: Has a great offensive system, but needs backcourt quickness which is lacking this year

Oliver: Relies on defense to create offense, no plan b

Dino: Terrible halfcourt sets with a team that should be able to play any kind of style. If they aren’t running and gunning they are sunk

Hewitt: Relies on defense to create offense even moreso than Clemson. Team looks completely lost in the half court

Haith: Miami’s offensive strategy for the past few years has seemed to be put up a shot and crash the boards

Skinner: Uses an extremely packed in flex system to get shots in the paint. Methodical offense that has proven effective during his tenure.

Robinson: Ugh

Greenburg: Aggressive offense that puts pressure on defenses. Draws a lot of fouls, but besides that doesn’t seem real effective

Lowe: I actually have tended to like Lowe’s offensive sets, but too often there is not enough movement and the plays bog down.

I think a lot of our drop in FG% is due to our guards not taking shots when they are open. We seem to have had a lot more possessions this year where we had to heave up a last second prayer as the shot clock winds down due to guys not taking open shots earlier in the possession. I think the shots have been there, guys just aren’t willing to pull the trigger. We also go through long spells where guys don’t look to penetrate the defense with the dribble or are too slow with the entry pass into the post. Also, as disappointing a year as Costner and McCauley had last year, they were threats away from the basket and caused defenses to spread out more than they have to this year.

to players other than Smith not willing to or being afraid to shoot. that has become apparent to me for a few games now. its almost as if players are looking for the perfect shot during every offensive possesion that doesn’t immediately go to Smith.
i still have issues with Lowe’s offense. playing inside out some of the time would be good, but playing that way the majority of the time leads to easy double and triple teams of the inside man. my preference is for a more guard oriented offensive with the inside man getting his points from guard penetration with a dish, offensive rebounds, and a few “inside out” moves. i still think the college game is more guard oriented.

I think Sendek’s inability to push through to the next level and Lowe’s lack of success can be tied to a lack of a good point guard with the ability to drive and create. Sendek tried to offset this by inverting the offense, Lowe tries to isolate our best players who have all been post players in his tenure. UConn always has a dominant frontline, but they struggle offensively when their guards struggle. They can usually compensate with a pretty scary interior D, State cannot. I (among a lot of others) always wanted to see how Sendek’s offense would blossom with a good point guard. Likewise, I think Lowe has shown that he knows how to utilize talent in his halfcourt sets and am excited by the prospect of having a guy on the team next year (by all accounts) who should be able to create his own shot and shots for his teammates.