Few coaches need a big season more than Sidney Lowe. N.C. State is 71-62 and hasn’t sniffed the NCAA tournament during his four-year tenure.
But he doesn’t sound stressed.
“He seems more relaxed, even in practice; he smiles and kind of laughs with the freshmen,” senior Tracy Smith told the Raleigh News & Observer. “The past couple of years, everything was serious.”
Why the change? Simple. Lowe pulled in a primo freshman class - headed by Top 15 talent C.J. Leslie - and he’s finally got a complete roster with guys he recruited. Leslie and Smith alone should be enough to reach the Big Dance. But if the last four years have taught him anything, it’s that talent alone isn’t enough.
“I can’t predict what’s going to happen,” Lowe said. “I’m certainly hoping that’s something we’ll have to deal with. That’s our goal to get there.”
It’s time Lowe got his guys to fulfill that goal. Otherwise State needs someone else to coach all that talent.
Mike Miller’s also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller, usually talkin’ hoops. Click here for more.