Odds and Ends +Addendum

NC State Basketball

I haven’t been talking about basketball. There’s a reason.

With a top 5 freshman class, State was poised to finally turn the corner in Sidney Lowe’s 5th year as Head Coach.

Combining the new recruits with last year's team which went deep in the NIT - including all ACC senior power forward Tracy Smith, senior point guard Javier Gonzalez and excellent sophomores Richard Howell and Scott Woods (and a solid bench that could start for a lot of teams) - making the NCAA Tournament was a given. We were expected to finish 3rd in the ACC – right behind National Champions Dook and UNC. Getting to the Sweet 16 was a real probability.

Not going to happen.

To date, State is 1 and 3 and tied for 8th place in the ACC. We have dropped 3 “should have won” non-conference games against Division I Tournament caliber teams.

We have 12 ACC games remaining. To get to the NCAA Tournament, we need to go 10 and 2. Maybe 9 and 3.

It will not happen.

Watching the team play – we have amazing talent and ability. Unfortunately, they can’t play as a team. They are not prepared nor coached on how to play the college game.

I have been saying that this was the year we’d find out if Coach Lowe has what it takes to be a Division I ACC coach. I’m afraid the answer is in.

It’s going to be a painful rest of the season.

I’ll be at every game, cheering the kids on and hoping for the best. But what I’ll be seeing is the decline and end of Sidney Lowe’s career as a college Head Coach.

It’ll be sad. No one tries harder or wants State to win as much as Sidney. But it just isn't happening for him.

Even if there is an astounding turn around, that still won't erase the dismal performance we have seen thus far. And the buck stops at the Head Coach's desk.

The obvious choice is Rick Barnes. He was the obvious choice 5 years ago and word is that he was interested in coming to NC State. But our (thankfully) former AD, Lee Fowler, (royally) screwed up the process and Barnes withdrew from consideration.

Hot Tub

The intermittent leak returned last weekend. I’ve drained the hot tub and have an appointment set up with a local guy who is highly recommend – Rapid Spa Repair.

Will let you know what happens.

Darn it – the best time to use a hot tub is when it’s cold. And mine is sitting on the back deck – empty.

:-(

Addendum

Saturday morning - The HVAC guy just left. Replaced a time delay controller on the heat pump. It was cold in this house this morning. Warming up now.

And the rc helicopter I ordered does not work. I'm waiting on a return authorization number from xHeli to send it back for exchange.

When it rains, it pours.