The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/197085
A By Matt Carter year ago, head coach Mark Gottfried was convinced that he had the best point guard in the country in Lorenzo Brown and the best shooter in Scott Wood. Yet even after losing both of those standouts, Wood to graduation and Brown to early entry into the NBA, on a whole the Pack may be deeper at point guard and a better three-point shooting team this season. "We don't have Scott Wood, but I think collectively, Ralston [Turner], Desmond [Lee], T.J. [Warren], Tyler [Lewis] and I think even Cat [Barber], I think those collectively can be more of a three-point threat than we were a year ago," Gottfried said. So it's not surprising Gottfried has more confidence in his perimeter players entering the season than he does in the paint prospects. "Our perimeter guys are more ready to score at this level than the three freshman bigs or Jordan Vandenberg," Gottfried noted. "Some of the things we'll do offensively will be more geared towards those perimeter players." Gottfried added that there is even a chance that sophomore wing forward T.J. Warren could play some at power forward, and State would use three guards and a big man to complete the lineup. "We could use that a lot this year," Gottfried said. "We could probably score better with that lineup. "We've got, on the perimeter, some different ways we can go this year." Duo Will Handle Point Guard The only returning contributor from NCSU's perimeter game last season is sophomore point guard Tyler Lewis. The former McDonald's All-American struggled at times to find his role on last season's squad, but he flashed his potential during a two-game stretch in early February. Relieving an injured Brown, Lewis came off the bench Feb. 2 against No. 14 Miami and its All-ACC point guard Shane Larkin to score 16 points and dish out five assists in 36 minutes. Five days later at No. 4 Duke, Lewis got his first career start and had 13 points and six assists. More impressively, in those two games combined Lewis turned it over only once. Lewis scored 13 points in a win over Sophomore point guard Tyler Lewis has added about 15 pounds and checks in at 170 pounds on his 5-11 frame after playing last season at a listed weight of 157. photo by Lon horwedel Ba ketball Preview 2013-14 Virginia Tech Feb. 16, but gradually his role diminished as the season progressed toward its conclusion. "No one doesn't like playing, but I knew I was going to have that role," Lewis confessed. From April to the start of practices, though, Gottfried has seen Lewis on a mission. "He's had a great spring and summer," Gottfried noted. "He's in a different place." Lewis has added about 15 pounds and checks in at 170 pounds on his 5-11 frame after playing last season at a listed weight of 157. Gottfried thinks the added strength has made him more confident and better prepared to handle the physicality of ACC basketball. Lewis would agree with his coach. "I'm more in my comfort zone," he said. "I've been a leader on every basketball team I've played on." Lewis, though, is not the only option at point guard. He will be complemented by highly touted freshman Anthony "Cat" Barber. The quick Barber was a McDonald's All-American last year and turned down Louisville and Kansas to ink with the Wolfpack. The 6-2, 170-pounder, however, has been slow to get going in preseason practices because of a concussion he sustained at the end of State's first workout when he collided with Warren on a loose ball drill. NC State has been cautious with Barber since he also had a concussion in high Flexible Potential Inexperienced But Talented Perimeter Players Have Mark Gottfried's Confidence "He's a little more able to get through screens and absorb contact, fight through things defensively," Gottfried said. That will complement Lewis' savvy. Gottfried believes Lewis would be "a phenomenal coach" because of his understanding of the game. Gottfried knows that Lewis is a great passer and clutch free throw shooter. He has improved his threepoint shooting, according to the coach, after making just 5 of 17 from long range last year, and has taken on a leadership role on the squad. "For Tyler, it was more natural for him to step forward," Gottfried said. "When we started working out in the spring, and then the freshmen arrived in July, Tyler's been as good a leader as we have. He's becoming a guy that I think the other players respond to. Guys have to follow you to be a leader. "He can pass the ball as good as anybody in the country. He finds open shooters. He can shoot the ball better than a year ago. One thing that was underestimated with Tyler a year ago that was valuable to us was how good a foul shooter he is. You like guys that can play late in the game and make foul shots. He is a terrific foul shooter. He is a more confident guy. He's got a year of college under his belt. As I say, he's in a good place." school. The result was that Barber missed about two weeks of practices before getting cleared. Gottfried is still excited about Barber's potential, noting the freshman has "a chance to become a great player." Barber, though, is also playing catch-up as the season gets ready to tip off. "He's missed a lot of the things where we put offense in and defense in, and the way we want to teach things, so he is behind," Gottfried said. "But he'll catch up. He's got a lot of time." There is a chance that ultimately Lewis and Barber could find themselves on the court at the same time. Gottfried recalled having his best-ever NCAA Tournament run as a head coach, in 2004 with Alabama, end in the Elite Eight against eventual national champion Connecticut. The Huskies used a backcourt of Taliek Brown and Ben Gordon, both capable point guards. Gottfried said that "it was a load defensively" trying to guard a team with two points on the court at the same time. "I think in time they will be real comfortable, but it's going to take time," Gottfried said about Barber and Lewis. "I think they're still learning that right now, the two of them. They are both natural point guards, but I think they can be really dangerous together. November 2013 ■ 35 34-36.Men's BKB Perimeter.indd 35 10/22/13 1:19 PM