Monday, January 30, 2012

Wolfpack's Howell must avoid silly fouls

N.C. State forward Richard Howell had a career-best 18 rebounds against Virginia on Saturday but fouled out for the third straight game.

Howell, a junior, had fouled out in only two career games before N.C. State's trip to Miami on Jan. 22. He fouled out, after playing only 18 minutes against the Canes, after 16 minutes against UNC last Thursday and 28 minutes on Saturday.

Howell, who lost 20 pounds in the offseason, is more fit this season and has been more aggressive on defense, pressuring the ball on the perimeter, going for and getting more steals (23 in 22 games, compared with 25 in 30 games last season). But he's also picking up more reaching fouls 25-feet from the basket, one area coach Mark Gottfried would like to see Howell eliminate.

"Those are the ones that are going to catch up to him," Gottfried said Monday on the weekly conference call. "He has to stay aggressive but at the same time, eliminate the fouls that are inconsequential."

Howell leads the Wolfpack in rebounding and ranks third in the ACC, with 9.4 per game. His scoring average, 11.7, is also up more four points per game game.

-- J.P. Giglio

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

NC State stinks!

Anonymous said...

All of you Carolina fans on here are awful, always coming on here and making fun of the Pack. You are all just jealous that NC STATE is the FLAGSHIP university of the Carolinas.

Anonymous said...

NC State is NOT the FLAGSHIP school and you know it...we are in the Tar Heel state son! NC State will not make the NCAA tourney this year...as they typically don't. They will also not finish in the Top 5 in the ACC.

Anonymous said...

NC State is a joke! Lol....

Anonymous said...

Stop the press - does anon 2:27 think it's called the tar heel state because of uncch?

Anonymous said...

anon 2:27 typed that comment while loading up on Heel gear at Wally World. He probably didn't go to college...UNC CH or UNC.

NC STATE !!!!!!! GO PACK!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Five years on, five years off from the tourney, certainly not great but not enough to say 'typically' don't make the tourney.

Howell does need to work on the fouling situation - but he wouldn't pick up 20% of those if he played for a blue team.

Ken Burke said...

Howell is one of the best Player's in the NCAA. He see's Basketball for what it is, a CONTACT sport! Most of these referees pick on him because he wears an even numbered jersey. Just watch, ref's hate even numbered jerseys, just like Geometry Teacher's like me hate cracks in sidewalks.. GO NC STATE!

Anonymous said...

No, the Tar Heel State is not named after UNC-CH. I don't know if the inordinate number of fouls is due to the even number on his jersey but I do believe it has everything to do with the color of the jersey. Others in the conference get away with much worse and are never penalized for it. ACC officials have always been whistle happy which ACC teams at tournament time.