When he split our backcourt into a three-headed failure last year, I complained every game and now Javi Gonzalez, the point guard he sat for reasons I still haven’t figured out is our best playmaker.

He had our team foul Florida way too early instead of trying to ride a tie into overtime, but I gave in when I realized there’s no way to predict a 75-foot buzzer beater.

With State down three with 1.8 seconds left in the Clemson game, I watched as he literally pointed at players while screaming instructions when every other coach from the middle school level up has a bread-and-butter inbounds play to get an open look from three. But as Julius Mays threw up an off-balance prayer from NBA range, I tried to focus on the team’s 21-point comeback instead.

Then came Saturday.

Mays again launched a shot that could send the game into overtime, but it glanced off the front of the rim. Ball game.

Every Wolfpack fan in the country breathed a familiar sigh, yelled at the television or turned it off. It was just another loss in a season all too familiar with failure.

Not to coach Sidney Lowe, though. He wanted to add insult to injury.

Instead of hanging his head, biting his tongue and shaking the opposing coaches’ and players’ hands, Lowe headed straight for the locker room.

And it’s not just any “I’m ticked off so I’m heading to the locker room,” either. Lowe mumbles to himself on his way, stopping to turn toward the court (and FSN’s cameras) to let everyone know he’s clearly upset over the final play, one in which Lowe and I’m sure a lot of fans thought Mays was fouled.

Now, I’ve yelled at the referees like crazy at every game I’ve been to in my four years in the student section, so I understand getting upset over a no-call that may have cost State the game, but Lowe’s behavior was unacceptable.

Yeah, I know he went to find Hewitt in the locker room later, but that’s not the true issue. If Lowe thinks our basketball team’s biggest problem was that Mays didn’t have a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, our program is in worse condition than I thought.

The issues start and end with his erratic substitutions and inability to run any set plays. Until Lowe becomes competent or the Athletic Department realizes he isn’t, the most Wolfpack Nation can hope for is to lose by single digits, which, luckily, Lowe has proven he can do this season.

Lowe swallowed his pride and shook hands 55 times before Saturday’s loss, so he should be used to it. His fans sure are.