ACC/Big Ten Challenge Preview

Another week of exciting action is in the books, capped this Sunday night by Clemson and FSU pulling out 1 point wins. It was an interesting week. Among the headlines was Duke's dominance in New York. Their win over Connecticut opened some eyes, and they still look like the best team in the conference. Clemson lost a non-conference game, which almost never happens. And North Carolina escapes with a win at home over Nevada -- it's clear this team will take a while to gel. Miami, NC State and Duke are the only teams left undefeated.

So with that, let's look ahead to the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The ACC has won the challenge every year since it began, but most media pundits think the Big Ten is the better league this year. Here are this year's games:

Monday:

Penn State at Virginia (7:00 pm) - Penn State has really struggled early this season, and Virginia's coming off a decent win over Cleveland State. Should be a fairly ugly, low scoring game that Virginia can steal for the ACC.

Tuesday:

Northwestern at NC State (7:00 pm) - Northwestern was dealt a serious injury blow at the beginning of the year, but they responded with a big upset win over Notre Dame. NC State is surprisingly undefeated. I think the Pack take care of business at home.

Wake Forest at Purdue (7:00 pm) - Wake inexplicably lost at home to William and Mary this week. Purdue is coming off a big tournament win over Tennessee in the Virgin Islands. The trends continue in this one, Purdue wins one for the Big Ten.

Maryland at Indiana (7:30 pm) - I don't know how Maryland got to play Indiana this year. The Hoosiers are still a ways away with Tom Crean. Terps roll, even on the road.

Michigan State at UNC (9:00 pm) - This is a very interesting matchup. Michigan State lost to a surging Florida team, while UNC is still trying to figure out its identity. Carolina usually rises to the challenge in these big games, but the Spartans are too good.

Virginia Tech at Iowa (9:30 pm) - The Hokies have played very poorly thus far this year, almost losing to Delaware. Iowa hasn't been very good either. This will be a very ugly game that probably won't get out of the 50s. I'll give the edge to the home team Hawkeyes.

Wednesday:

Illinois at Clemson (7:15 pm) - Clemson has to be disappointed with its performance in Anaheim. Illinois has to be even more disappointed with its performance this past week, losing to two unranked teams. Clemson wins this one going away.

Minnesota at Miami (7:15 pm) - Tubby Smith has done a great job with the Gophers. They won't be intimidated at Miami. But the Canes have really surprised so far this year and should win a tight one at home.

Boston College at Michigan (7:30 pm) - The Eagles had a good win on the road against Providence. They're gonna have a tough time with John Beilein's 1-3-1 defense though. I expect Michigan to win at home.

Duke at Wisconsin (9:15 pm) - The Badgers have a ridiculously good home record under Bo Ryan in the last few years. But they don't play a lot of teams like Duke. The Devils should win, even on the road.

Florida State at Ohio State (9:30 pm) - The Seminoles played great in the Old Spice Classic. But Ohio State, with Evan Turner, is going to be very tough to beat at home. I like the Buckeyes.

So with my math, the ACC wins the challenge again by a slim 6-5 margin. Should be a great week of games!

Mid-Week Update

So far, this week hasn't been the best for the ACC. After going 40-4 through the first two weeks, in the past three days ACC teams are 8-5. That includes Virginia losing to Stanford, Florida State getting blown out at Florida, and Boston College losing by double digits to Northern Iowa. And then there's Maryland. The Terps lost two games to Cincinnati and Wisconsin that they were barely ahead in either matchup. If they want to be one of the better teams in the ACC they need to come out and perform better than they did in Maui.

There are plenty of chances for the ACC to redeem itself later this week in advance of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Duke should be in for a great matchup with UConn Friday, the highlight of the slate for the next few days.

Week 2 Recap

All things considered, it was a pretty good week for the ACC. The 12 teams have a combined record of 40-4. UNC lost a neutral site game to Syracuse, Virginia lost a road game to South Florida, Georgia Tech lost a neutral site game to Dayton, and Boston College lost a neutral site game to St. Joseph's. Besides that, each team took care of business.

Right now, it certainly looks like Duke is the best team. They haven't had the toughest schedule but they have creamed each team they've played so far. NC State has been a bit of a surprise, blowing out Akron and beating a solid Auburn team. And Miami had a good win, over South Carolina in Charleston, SC.

So what's in store for Week 3? Some more teams playing in tournaments (highlighted by Maryland's appearance in Maui). By this time next week, more teams should have their first losses of the year. Here's a look at the most compelling games this week:

Monday:
Northern Iowa vs. Boston College (in the Virgin Islands) - UNI is a team that many people are high on this year

Tuesday:
Florida State at Florida - First big test this year for the Noles, who have played well against the Gators in recent years
Virginia vs. Stanford (in Cancun, Mexico) - The Cavaliers have a good chance in this one against a sub-par Pac 10 team
Maryland vs. Cincinnati or Vanderbilt - Should be a good matchup regardless of who wins today in Maui

Wednesday:
Duke vs. Arizona State (in Madison Square Garden) - Duke's second home in the non-conference has been MSG, and they play very well there

Thursday:
Texas A&M vs. Clemson (in Anaheim) - Clemson's recent string of undefeated non-conference seasons will be put to the test

Friday:
Virginia Tech vs. Temple (at the Palestra) - If the Hokies get past Campbell, they will face a tough test here

Saturday:
Boston College at Providence - Good non-conference game between former conference foes

As you can see, there are lots of good games to look forward to this week. Clemson, Virginia, Maryland, Duke and Florida State will also be playing games in tournaments this week whose opponents have yet to be decided. I think we'll learn a lot about the pecking order of the ACC this week.

So Far, So Good

The first week of the College Basketball season is supposed to be filled with games between power conference teams and teams that they should beat easily. So it should come as no surprise that ACC schools haven't dropped a game yet thus far this season. In fact, none of the games have been nailbiters, the smallest margin being a UNC 11 point win over Valpo. The schedule is a bit odd, with UNC playing three games this past week while Florida State has yet to play. And 9 of the 12 ACC teams have played one game.

So what's on tap for this week? There are some juicy matchups out there, although the real play usually doesn't come until Thanksgiving week. Here are the games to watch this week:

Monday:
UVA at South Florida - Cavaliers could easily drop one against the Bulls here on the road

Tuesday:
Clemson at Liberty - Flames will be jacked up but can't compete with Clemson

Thursday:
Dayton vs GT (in Puerto Rico) - Dayton is supposed to be very strong this year
Ohio St. vs. UNC (in NYC) - Should be the game of the week, two very good teams

Friday:
BC vs. St. Joseph's (in Virgin Islands) - BC needs to win games like this

Sunday:
NC State vs. Auburn (in Daytona Beach) - Tough game for the Wolfpack

UNC, Duke, NC State, Georgia Tech, Miami, and BC are all playing in tournaments this week and could have tough games with opponents yet to be determined. So it should be a great week, and I think we'll know a fair bit more about these teams once the games are done.

ACC Countdown Preview

#1. North Carolina

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 13

Best non-conference game: Dec. 5 at Kentucky

Projected Starting Five:

F - Ed Davis (Sophomore)

F - Deon Thompson (Senior)

F - Will Graves (Junior)

G - Marcus Ginyard (Senior)

G - Larry Drew (Sophomore)

Common sense says there is no way UNC can win the ACC again this year. Gone from last year's team: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green -- all drafted into the NBA. I scoffed when I saw media predict they would finish as high as #3 in the country this year. And while I still think that's a bit too optimistic, when you sit down and look at the ACC teams, Carolina once again has the most talent.

What Carolina does have back this year is a terrific talent in Ed Davis. He was somewhat buried on the depth chart last year, but you could tell when he got into a game he was something special. Davis, along with the very solid Deon Thompson, make up the best frontcourt in the ACC. The backcourt is a little more suspect. I'm not sold on Larry Drew as a starting point guard. I don't think he's that good of a scorer. And paired with Marcus Ginyard, who is a great player but also not a big scorer, points might be hard to come by from the outside. I'm also not sold on heralded recruit Tyler Zeller, who looked out of place when he came back from injury last year.

One thing that will help Carolina is their out-of-conference schedule. They have some very tough games that will help the team establish some cohesiveness. Carolina will probably lose a few games early in the season (they've already played two games against relatively weak opponents and won both). But when it comes to the conference season, they should have a year in the 11-5 range that might be enough to finish on top.

ACC Countdown Preview

#2. Duke

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 13

Best non-conference game: Dec. 19 vs Gonzaga (in New York City)

Projected Starting Five:

C - Brian Zoubek (Senior)

F - Lance Thomas (Senior)

F - Kyle Singler (Junior)

G - Jon Scheyer (Senior)

G - Nolan Smith (Junior)

When the season ended, I thought Duke would definitely be the team to beat this coming season. But the momentum hasn't really been on their side. First, Gerald Henderson decided he was going in the NBA Draft. Then, Elliot Williams decided to transfer closer to his family. That leaves a Duke team for the first time in a long time with actually more big men to play with than guards. The depth behind Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith is not very impressive. And Coach K might have to play a lot more zone than he is comfortable with.

That said, this still is a very talented team as any team that puts on the Duke uniforms is. Kyle Singler is a special talent and has a chance to be an All-America type player. I wish he wouldn't race out to the 3 point line so much and concentrate on a mid-range game. We'll see if that happens this year. And Jon Scheyer, despite being somewhat maligned last year, still can shoot lights out. Plus there is some reason for optimism with a pair of twin big guys coming in, the Plumlees.

So what does that mean for Duke this year? Their usual non-conference schedule of a lot of home games should help the team establish its identity. I have a feeling Coach K will try a fair number of different lineups to find one that sticks. This is a team that I would put somewhere in the 10-15 range in the nation, and one that certainly has a shot of getting back to a second straight Sweet 16.

ACC Countdown Preview

#3. Maryland

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Dec. 6 vs. Villanova (in Washington, DC)

Projected Starting Five:

F - Jordan Williams (Freshman)

F - Landon Milbourne (Senior)

G - Greivis Vasquez (Senior)

G - Sean Mosley (Sophomore)

G - Eric Hayes (Senior)

This is probably my most "out on a limb" pick for the ACC. But when it comes down to it, there is a clear top two, and when you look at places 3 through 9, you can just pick names out of a hat. I do think Maryland will have a strong year for two reasons: Gary Williams and Greivis Vasquez. Gary Williams' teams don't always have the most talent or the best mix of players (like Dave Neal playing center) but he gets the most out of them.

Last year, Vasquez was the emotional leader of the team, leading the Terps to some big wins. They surprised with an early win over Michigan State and late with a win over UNC. And the core of that team will be back this year. I expect Vasquez to put up a lot of points, and Landon Milbourne to really contribute. The big question mark will be added post production from heralded freshman Jordan Williams. He has already been in some legal trouble and it remains to be seen whether he will be a positive influence on the team.

I am somewhat concerned about Eric Hayes. He seems to disappear at times and hasn't really progressed from freshman to junior year. We should find out about this Maryland team early: they have a trip to Maui, where even a relatively weak field will have some big tests. And a huge game looms in DC against Villanova. I think by the time the ACC comes the Terps will be battle tested and ready to go.

ACC Countdown Preview

#4. Wake Forest

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Dec. 1 at Purdue

Projected Starting Five:

C - Chas McFarland (Senior)

F - Al-Farouq Aminu (Sophomore)

F - Ari Stewart (Freshman)

G - L.D. Williams (Senior)

G - Ishmael Smith (Senior)

Was there a bigger mystery in the ACC last year than Wake Forest? They shocked a lot of people by jumping out to a great start, even getting as high as #1 in the country with a 16-0 record. Then, starting with a home loss to Virginia Tech, they went 8-7 the rest of the way, including a first round ACC Tournament loss and a first round NCAA Tournament loss to #13 seed Cleveland State.

Wake had an explosion of talent last year, led by Jeff Teague. So how did they fall so hard at the end of the season? The two easiest explanations are the fact that they played against tougher competition, and a lack of outside shooting caught up with them. This year, Teague is gone.

While Teague left, Al-Farouq Aminu is still around, and that's huge for the Deacs. Aminu is a game-changer who is one of the most exciting players in the ACC. This year Ish Smith will go back to a larger role, which he excelled at in previous years. And Chas McFarland has developed nicely. So I see Wake having a solid year. The key will be to avoid that late season swoon. While I don't think they will get to #1 as they did last year, I think they will have a good start to the season and win enough ACC games to get back to the NCAAs for a second straight year.

ACC Countdown Preview

#5. Clemson

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 12

Best non-conference game: Nov. 26 vs. Texas A&M (in Anaheim, CA)

Projected Starting Five:

F - Trevor Booker (Senior)

F - David Potter (Senior)

G - Noel Johnson (Freshman)

G - Tanner Smith (Sophomore)

G - Demontez Stitt (Junior)

The most puzzling offseason move in the ACC had to be Clemson sharpshooter Terrence Oglesby's decision to leave the Tigers and play in Europe. This followed a dubious exit, Oglesby getting ejected in a first round loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. Make no mistake, this is a big loss for the Tigers. Oglesby had terrific range and was a threat that defenses had to pay a lot of attention to.

For a few years now, Clemson has been a good team right on the verge of being great. Oliver Purnell's squad has gone through the non-conference slate undefeated several times, only to see the team fade at the end of the year, never making a deep run in the NCAAs. So what's in store for this year? Besides losing Oglesby, dependable guard KC Rivers is gone as well. The good news is that Trevor Booker decided to come back for his senior year. Booker is a great interior player that often demands a double team.

Besides Booker and Demontez Stitt, who I think is a pretty solid player, that leaves Clemson with some guys who have been role players in the past having to step up and play big roles. The Tigers have high hopes for Noel Johnson, an incoming freshman. I think this year Clemson takes a small step back. They should be able to get off to another good start but I'm not sure they have enough inside/outside balance to win double digit games in the ACC. They should have enough to make the NCAAs yet again but it might be another first round exit.

ACC Countdown Preview

#6. Florida State

Games against 2009 ACC Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Nov. 24 at Florida

Projected Starting Five:

C - Solomon Alabi (Sophomore)

F - Chris Singleton (Sophomore)

G - Derwin Kitchen (Junior)

G - Michael Snear (Freshman)

G - Luke Loucks (Sophomore)

For years the most predictable team in the ACC was Leonard Hamilton's Florida State squad. They would go somewhere within a game of 8-8, winning at home against either UNC or Duke, and make the NIT. Last year was a bright spot, however. Toney Douglas, a tremendous player, led the Seminoles to an overachieving season with an NCAA Tournament bid. A lot of people had them going a long way in the NCAAs, but they came crashing down with a first round overtime loss to Wisconsin.

So the question for this year is, can FSU build on the momentum and make another good run? They certainly have some good pieces. Alabi and Singleton will be as good as any front line in the ACC. They are tall and long and will be matchup problems for just about any team. For me the two big questions will be guard play and leadership. Who will step up and fill the void left by Douglas? And where will the backcourt points come from? Kitchen was a decent player last year, but seemed to disappear in some games. Loucks hasn't made a name for himself, and Snear is a freshman.

I think Florida State will perform well early in the season, overpowering their fairly weak non-conference schedule. When it comes to the ACC slate, though, I think another year around the 8-8 mark is probably the outcome. They are a pretty young team and will struggle on the road. And in the end, they will be one of those teams that is right on the bubble to make the NCAA.

ACC Countdown Preview

#7. Georgia Tech

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 16

Best non-conference game: Dec. 5 vs. Southern Cal

Projected Starting Five:

F - Gani Lawal (Junior)

F - Derrick Favors (Freshman)

F - Zach Peacock (Senior)

G - Maurice Miller (Junior)

G - Iman Shumpert (Sophomore)



I like Paul Hewitt a lot. He took a tough job, trying to follow in the footsteps of Bobby Cremins. And he did a great job, getting Georgia Tech to the title game in 2004. But since then, a lot has gone wrong. He has recruited talented players, but a lot of them have bolted early. And last year the team was quite bad. But it's interesting to see how they are being received coming into this season. They got one of the most highly touted recruits, Derrick Favors, and all of a sudden people are saying they could finish in the top 3 in the ACC and ranked in the top 25.



I think that's all a bit of an overexaggeration. I think the Yellow Jackets will definitely be better with Favors. He's most likely one of those one and done players who will put up great numbers in the post. If you look at the rest of the team, they have a solid inside presence in Gani Lawal. Their guards, Mo Miller and Iman Shumpert, are pretty erratic. They can go off and score in bunches but can also turn the ball over a lot.



So what do I expect from the Yellow Jackets this year? For one thing, the schedule is very tough. They play 16 games against teams that made the tournament last year, which is 3 more than any other ACC team plays. That will make things tough. I see Georgia Tech with a definite improvement over last year, but I think with the difficult schedule it will be hard to make it to the NCAAs. And sadly, that might not be enough to keep Paul Hewitt around for another year.

ACC Countdown Preview

#8. Virginia Tech

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Nov. 27 vs. Temple (in Philadelphia)

Projected Starting Five:

F - Jeff Allen (Junior)

F - J.T. Thompson (Junior)

G - Dorenzo Hudson (Junior)

G - Malcolm Delaney (Junior)

G - Erick Green (Freshman)

When I look at this program now versus what it was about six years ago, there has been quite a transformation. Seth Greenberg has done a great job. I never imagined the Hokies would make the NCAA Tournament or have so many high finishes in the ACC. That being said, the last two years have been pretty frustrating for Tech fans. The team has finished just shy of the Big Dance both times.

I think the biggest factor is the performance out of conference. Every year, the Hokies lose at least one or two games to teams they shouldn't, and that comes back to haunt them in March. I think part of the problem is the mentality. Greenberg's teams like to take the underdog, David vs. Goliath approach. And that's good when you're trying to knock off a big dog, but when you are playing games against inferior teams from other conferences, you have to have that ACC swagger. If the Hokies want to make it to the Big Dance they need a non-conference slate with one or two losses max.

So let's look at this year's team. Gone is A.D. Vassallo, who was a huge contributor offensively. Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen are as talented as anyone in the ACC. The key for Tech is the contributions from other players. They have really lacked balance in the past. Guys like Hudson, Thompson and Terrell Bell have to contribute on a consistent basis. A big factor this year will be the play of freshman guards Erick Green and Ben Boggs. The Hokies faded down the stretch last year because Delaney had to play the point too much, which really wore him down.

I think with the way the ACC lays out this year, the Hokies could definitely jump up and finish in the top half. They have the experience. But I just have a feeling that it will be a very similar year to last year: too many offensive lapses, too many losses to teams they should beat to get back to the NCAAs.

ACC Countdown Preview

#9. Boston College

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Dec. 2 at Michigan

Projected Starting Five:

C - Josh Southern (Junior)

F - Joe Trapani (Junior)

F - Rakim Sanders (Junior)

G - Corey Raji (Junior)

G - Biko Paris (Junior)

Boston College seems almost like the odd man out of the ACC. They are nowhere near any of the other schools geographically, and have a hard time drawing packed houses for ACC games. That being said, you have to hand it to Al Skinner for his success there. Ever since Troy Bell, the Eagles have had a stream of solid players that have pushed this team to the NCAA Tournament.

Like Miami, Boston College loses the heart and soul of their team from last year, a great scoring guard. Tyrese Rice was a solid player for four years and had seemingly unlimited range. Looking at the team for this year, they have the potential to get back to the Big Dance, but I think without Rice it will be tough. I do really like Joe Trapani, a transfer from Vermont who really played well last year. I think he will be the number one scoring option. Rakim Sanders is also very solid, and can put up a 20 point game.

Besides them, I just don't see a lot. Josh Southern is usually good for about 15 minutes and 4 fouls. Raji and Paris are decent players but nothing special. I don't think they have the ability to beat UNC and Duke like they did last year. What it will come down to is if they can win the games against the mid-level teams. I think they'll win some of them at home but not enough to do better than the NIT.

ACC Countdown Preview

#10. Virginia

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Nov. 25 vs. Kentucky or Cleveland State (in Mexico)

Projected Starting Five:

C - Assane Sene (Sophomore)

F - Mike Scott (Junior)

G - Sylven Landesberg (Sophomore)

G - Calvin Baker (Senior)

G - Sammy Zeglinski (Sophomore)

As a Virginia Tech grad, it pained me to see Virginia hire Tony Bennett in the off-season. I saw Bennett's Washington State team play a lot the last couple years, and have a lot of respect for him as a coach. He certainly has a different style, which he inherited from his dad, Dick Bennett. Tony likes to play games in the 50s and slow things down. So how will that work at Virginia and in the ACC?

The Cavaliers had a good season a few years ago with Sean Singletary leading them to the NCAA Tournament. After Singletary left, they were supposed to be down, and they were. There were a lot of bad losses last year. Many games the team was Sylven Landesberg and no one else. If you look at the team this year, there aren't a whole lot of changes. Mamadi Diane is gone, but he was inconsistent and always in Dave Leitao's dog house. They have players that have shown flashes of potential but Landesberg has been the only consistent piece of the puzzle.

That being said, I expect Tony Bennett to make a big impact on this team. Once he gets to recruit the kind of guys that will work well in his system, I expect Virginia to get back to the NCAA Tournament. That takes time, though. I think his impact will bring a modest improvement from last year, and with a soft non-conference schedule they can get to the NIT.

ACC Countdown Preview

#11. Miami

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 11

Best non-conference game: Dec. 2 vs. Minnesota

Projected Starting Five:

F - Dwayne Collins (Senior)

F - Cyrus McGowan (Senior)

F - DeQuan Jones (Sophomore)

G - James Dews (Senior)

G - Malcolm Grant (Sophomore)

When Miami and Virginia Tech moved over to the ACC, critics were definitely lining up to talk about how they would water down the ACC in basketball. So far, that has not happened. Both schools, in fact, have had remarkably similar results in the conference. In the five years since they joined the league, Miami has a total record in ACC games of 33-47. Virginia Tech's is 38-42. Both had one 4-12 year that made the numbers look worse, and both have made one NCAA Tournament in that span.

So where does that bring us for the 2009-2010 Hurricanes? I put up a picture of Jack McClinton because that is the biggest story coming into this year. McClinton was a terrific ACC player who had a knack for hitting clutch shot after clutch shot at the end of games. He was the heart and soul of the Miami team. And now he's gone. While I think Frank Haith is a good coach and has done a great job getting the most out of his team, it's going to be a lot tougher this year.

If you look at the talent, it's just not there. I like Dwayne Collins a lot, and he has the potential to be a great player, but he was underused last year. And Collins is really the only player that I have a lot of confidence in. James Dews is a solid player but not a consistent scorer. Malcolm Grant is a transfer from Villanova and will be playing the point. There are three seniors in the starting five but I still feel like this team doesn't have much experience. And I just don't know where the scoring is going to come from. Haith will keep them in games and win a few but it might be another 4-12 season for Miami.

ACC Countdown Preview

#12. NC State

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 13

Best non-conference game: Dec. 5 at Marquette

Projected Starting Five:

F - Tracy Smith (Junior)

F - Dennis Horner (Senior)

F - C.J. Williams (Sophomore)

G - Julius Mays (Sophomore)

G - Javier Gonzalez (Junior)

I think the biggest coaching change mistake in the last decade in the ACC was NC State basically forcing out Herb Sendek. The boosters didn't like the fact that NC State, despite getting to sevearl NCAA tournaments, wasn't at the same level as UNC and Duke. Well, where are they now? Since NC State hired Sidney Lowe, here's how they have done in the ACC?

06-07: 5-11

07-08: 4-12

08-09: 6-10

No NCAA tournament bids in that time. And it doesn't look to get better anytime soon. NC State just doesn't have the talent level to compete in this conference. Their two best players, Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley, have left. They did not reach their potential while at State, but were able to play to a certain style, as big men who could step outside and hit the 3. Who is going to do that this year? The Wolfpack have a solid big man in Tracy Smith, but he works in the paint. Dennis Horner was a role player who is now thrust into a starting job. Javier Gonzalez has showed flashes of being a good point guard, but he has also lost his job at times to Farnold Degand.

I'm not going to come out and say Sidney Lowe is a bad coach, but he definitely seems overmatched. NC State in the past few years could come out firing on all cylinders and look great, then come back the next game and look terrible. And this team has the least amount of talent that NC State has had since Lowe got the job. The Wolfpack have a tough non-conference schedule and will be hard pressed to win enough games to get to any kind of postseason play. Don't be surprised if this time next year the Pack have a different head coach.