N.C. State, personality, uptempo play and beating UNC trump Xs, Os--and graduation

And, despite the spin offered by N.C. State officials, the fact Lowe has yet to get his undergraduate degree 23 years after finishing his eligibility is no testament to his commitment to education. More accurately, Lowe's academic lassitude is a commentary on expectations that did not extend beyond maintaining eligibility during the tenures of Valvano and predecessor Norman Sloan, whose team won the 1974 NCAA title. That, too, is part of N.C. State's tradition. (Independent Weekly)