The Pack will hold practices over the next couple of weeks before setting off for
Toronto on August 29. NC State will then face York University on August 30 and then
University of Guelph on August 31 before heading back to Raleigh on September 1.
Both games will be at 7:00 p.m.
“The purpose of us going up to Toronto for two games is just preparation for our
upcoming season,” said head coach Sidney Lowe. “Not only are we getting two games
in, but we are getting to practice 10 times before we leave. This should give us a
good early look at our team, and have them better prepared once our practice starts
in October.”
Both Farnold Degand and Johnny Thomas will make the trip, but neither of them will
play as they are both recovering from injuries suffered last season. Degand was the
Pack’s starting point guard for the first 10 games, but suffered an ACL tear in
December and missed the rest of the year. Thomas suffered a knee injury before
practice started last season, and has been working on rehab since then.
The Pack will be with the services of its two freshmen, Julius Mays and C.J. Williams. Both Mays and Williams could see key action early on due to Degand and
Thomas not playing. Mays is a combo guard who will added depth at the point, while
Williams will see time on the wing filling the void left by Gavin Grant.
Senior Courtney Fells will get a feel for a different position in these early
practices. After playing his first three seasons at the two-guard, Fells will be
worked in at small forward while still seeing time at shooting guard.
NC State will hold group, skill sessions over the next couple of days, before
holding its first full-team practice on Thursday.