Who says you can’t go home? Sidney Lowe is doing just that, and for the most part, the NC State Wolfpack are excited. They are hoping that a significant part of history plays a part in an even more exciting future.

After several weeks of being trounced in the media for it’s failed attempts to lure high-profile coaches such as Rick Barnes and John Calipari, the Wolfpack turned their attention to one of their own. For a couple of weeks, if I had told you a former Wolfpacker would be the guy who got the job, you would have thought Derrick Whittenburg. But in the last few days, Sidney Lowe’s name was tossed around more and more. Finally, it was announced that a press conference had been set for Sat. May 6^th to announce his hiring.

Lowe holds a special place in the hearts of NC State fans. He was the starting point guard the year that Jimmy V led the Wolfpack on an improbable run to the National Championship. After that, Lowe was drafted by the Bulls with the 1^st pick in the 2^nd round (the same draft that Ralph Sampson went #1 overall). He played a total of about 4 years in the NBA.

He moved into the coaching ranks where he has been head coach for the Minnesota Timerbwolves in the early 90’s and the Memphis Grizzlies in the early 00’s. But this will be his first college coaching job. This could prove to be a difficult transition, as college coaching is a different animal altogether than the NBA. And one of the biggest parts of coaching college is recruiting, which Lowe has never had to do before. Surrounding himself with good coaches who CAN recruit should be job #1.

There are only a few candidates for the job that could have solidified and healed the growing rift in the fanbase in Raleigh, and Lowe is one of them. Wolfpack nation had become severely divided over Herb Sendek and the direction of the basketball program. There were fears that with a new coach, the program would take a step back, the fanbase would grow impatient with the lack of improvement, and force the new guy out before he had a chance to get going. This hire avoids that problem as it is expected the fans will cut Lowe a little more slack as “one of their own.”

As a Wolfpacker, which I have mentioned more than a few times around here, I hope Lowe succeeds with flying colors. Given his reputation as one of the better assistant coaches in the NBA, he shouldn’t have any problems recruiting, even if it is a new experience for him. Excitement will be returning to Raleigh soon, and I can’t wait to hear the roar when one of State’s favorite sons returns home to roam the sidelines come this fall. I just can’t wait.

• Tom Glavine gets a shutout against the Braves. It’s a good thing, because his own team could only muster a 1-0 victory.
• The Seattle Mariners put an end to two of their troubling trends and extended the Baltimore Orioles’ significant early season bullpen problems Saturday, sending 11 men to the plate and erupting for six runs in the sixth inning on the way to an 8-6 victory before 34,161 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• NEWSFLASH: The Memphis Grizzlies lost in the playoffs again.
• Jagr left the game 53 seconds in, and the Devils dispatched the rest of the team 3 periods later. The Rangers first trip to the playoffs didn’t end the way they had envisioned it.
• Tony Stewart walked away unscathed from a frightening accident Saturday when his car flipped onto its roof during the Busch Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

And special to the Quick Hits today, I have just a few observations about the draft today:

• First and foremost, my Wolfpack had 3, yep I said 3, first round draft picks.
• As stated in my post earlier today, Matt Leinart may really have backed into a prime spot in Arizona. I look for him to do big things there, and not too far in the future.
• Regardless of what the Packers say, they happy to be done with Javon Walker.
• I was glad to see the Titans take both Vince Young and LenDale White. Both of those guys are exciting players, and since I have a soft spot in my heart for Nashville, I wish them both the best.
• Folks can argue all day long, ’til the cows come home about the way the #1 pick went down. As someone who has been able to watch Mario Williams from the sidelines for the past 2 seasons, he is a star in the making, or perhaps already made. Now, that’s not to say Reggie Bush won’t be a super, SUPER player, but I am saying in 10 years, it will still be a tossup.
• The 49ers made out like a bandit today. Getting a receiving target like Vernon Davis and a speed rushing DE to replace Julian Peterson with Manny Lawson, both in the first round.
• Filed under “Huh?”, the San Diego Chargers drafted another QB, Charlie Whitehurst out of Clemson. You’d think they had their fill of QB’s of the last couple of seasons. Just seems to me they could have gone after another wide receiver, but what do I know.
• The Carolina Panthers picked up a steal late in the first round when DeAngelo Williams fell to them at the 27 spot. Over the past few seasons, they Panthers have been forced to be a “running back by committee” team due to injuries. Williams rushed for over 6000 yards in college. I don’t care who you are or where you play, there has to be a lot of talent there and also a lot of durability. NICE pickup!
• The Patriots were, well the Patriots on Sat. They managed to pick up Laurence Maroney who fell farther down in the draft than expected at RB and also got Chad Jackson, who most scouts had as the #1 WR on the board.
• Two players that fell a lot farther than I would have though earlier in the day were Daryl Tapp and Eric Winston. Both are going to be really, REALLY good in the league.