Sidney Lowe Comes Home

NC State Basketball has landed a head coach. The word came early Thursday morning that the University would name Detroit Pistons assistant and former Wolfpack point guard, Sidney Lowe, had accepted the position. Lowe is currently in his 3rd season as Flip Saunders assistant in Detroit.

Lowe was a member of the 1983 National Championship Wolfpack team that was coached by the late Jim Valvano. He has spent the last 23 years in the NBA as a player and coach. He has 2 stints as a head coach in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies. His overall record was less than stellar at 79-228. He has had no college coaching experience and has taken 23 years to garner his college degree.

Those are all red flags and here is why. The overall record causes worry in the heart of Wolfpack fans because they want a proven winner, and a .328 winning percentage doesn't prove anything. How can a guy go into a high school kid's home and stress the importance of an education when it took him do long to get a degree; and when he finally got his degree it came from online and from a college no one has ever heard of? And, the ACC is a totally different animal and experience at the college level is a key for success. So, how can he succeed while never having coached in the nation's most prestigious conference?

Well, Wolfpack faithful, relax. Here is why those red flags are just flags and no real reason for concern at this juncture. As an NBA head coach Lowe had sub-par talent compared to the rest of the league. He took over for a losing coach in Minnesota and was only given about 2 seasons to make anything happen. In Vancouver/Memphis he was heading a team that couldn't make any money; therefore, couldn't pay the talent that could win at that level. It was an expansion franchise that was, and still is, in the process of building a foundation. You do not spend 23 years around the NBA if you are not worthy. He is a winner (just look at his '83 championship ring). He can stress the importance of getting a degree. Just think of how he can say how he looks back and wishes he would have finished it up here at State. Plus, he knows what it takes to get to the NBA. And let's face it, top recruits don't come to play in the ACC and have getting a degree as priority #1; they come to the ACC to go to the NBA. Lowe knows the dynamics of Tobacco Road basketball. He knows what it means to win in this area. And he is already a big part of NC State basketball history. The ACC is just as prominent as it was 23 years ago, and not much has changed. As long as Lowe is smart in deciding who to hire as his assistants and makes sure that they have college coaching experience, then the fans should have little to worry about.

Will he take NC State back to the glory days? No one knows at this point. Do I think he will? Yes, I do. I think it was a very good hire by Lee Fowler and Chancellor James Oblinger. However, he needs the support from the sometimes volatile fan base. Recruits are less likely to come to a place where the coach isn't supported. Give the man a chance to do the job before you run him out of town.

Pictures:
http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nba/2002/1103/photo/a_Lowe_ht.jpg
http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/ncb/2002/0710/photo/s_valvano_i.jpg