Lowe and Behold
Posted May 9, 2006, 11:10 AM ET

NC State has found their man....and his name is Sidney Lowe.

After a painfully excruciating search that lasted nearly 5 weeks, the Wolfpack has turned back the clock to find their 18th men's basketball head coach.

Sidney Lowe represents the Pack's winning past and the State fans are hoping he can restore the magic in Raleigh.

Can Lowe win enough to keep the locals happy? Only time will tell, but the announcement of his hiring brought a sense of hope...and relief.

Lee Fowler, State's Athletic Director, was catching some heat from the boys in "red and white" for not being able to close the deal on the big-names that had expressed an interest in the job. Closing the deal with the likes of Barnes, Calipari and even Beilein is more difficult than it looks.

N.C. State has a proud tradition, great facilities and plays in a top-notch conference...but the job is bigger and tougher than it appears on the surface.

In the short term, the hiring of Lowe is a smart move. It allows State fans to come together as opposed to growing further apart. It also allows State fans to believe that a younger coach with NBA and Wolfpack-ties will bring a new attitude and approach to the game left by stoic Herb Sendek.

Lowe during his press conference said he wanted to play an uptempo style, and Pack fans instantly rejoiced in a celebratory mode. To help matters, Lowe is also reaching back to the past with the news that another former Wolfpack star, Monte Towe, would be joining the staff, too.

By surrounding himself with real college coaches, Lowe has helped himself instantly. It doesn't translate to wins, but it does give him some time to get a handle on the college game.

While Lowe puts together his staff, he'll also have some other items to attend to...such as finishing up with his current job as a Detroit Pistons assistant coach...and also finishing his homework at St. Paul's in order to acquire his college degree.

Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans have had a field day at the expense of Wolfpack Nation during the coaching search which started in early April...but State fans are hoping to get the last laugh on both their blue-blood wearing neighbors in Durham and Chapel Hill.

Will Sidney Lowe lead the Pack to the Promised Land? We'll start to find out the answer to that question next year on Tobacco Road. But given the talent level at Duke and UNC, Sidney might want to bring the Detroit Pistons with him to the RBC Center.