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RALEIGH — Sidney Lowe sat at the table at ACC Operation Basketball and talked to reporters about both of his point guards.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back that up. Don’t you have three point guards, coach?

A quick look at N.C. State’s roster shows senior Farnold Degand, junior Javier Gonzalez and sophomore Julius Mays still with the Wolfpack. And all three started games at point guard last season.

What gives?

“I say ‘both’ because Farnold is playing more two, so it’s been Julius and Javi playing the point,” Lowe said. “Farnold can move over to the one, but he’s been playing more two.”

So, in effect, N.C. State will have two point guards on the floor most of the time. And the Wolfpack will need all three to play the uptempo style Lowe envisions this season.

“Having two of us out there is going to help us push the ball up and down the court,” said Degand, who started 11 games last season. “... That’s been an emphasis since we came back for summer workouts that we want to run more and get more easy baskets in transition. Easy baskets make it easier to win games.”

The Pack finished 16-14 last season and didn’t get a postseason invitation. That team — led by Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells — went 6-10 in the ACC.

All three of those leading scorers are gone. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“You have to coach to your personnel,” Lowe said. “I would’ve loved to have run more (last season), but we didn’t have the type of team that could do that. And when I say we want to run, I don’t mean two out of four times. I want us to push the ball every time to see what’s there. If there’s nothing there, then you pull it out and get into your half-court (offense).”

In the half-court game this season, the Pack will likely try to get the ball inside to 6-foot-8 junior Tracy Smith, who emerged as a potent low-post threat and is the team’s top returning scorer (10 ppg) and rebounder (4.5 rpg).

He should get help inside this season from 6-9 senior Dennis Horner, 6-9 freshman DeShawn Painter and, eventually, 6-8 freshman Richard Howell.

Horner was primarily a 3-point shooter last season, but he’s bigger and stronger after offseason workouts. He said he’s been impressed by the freshmen.

“DeShawn is a great post-up guy,” Horner said. “... Richard can do a little bit of everything. He’s such a big kid, but he can shoot and handle the ball and get to the basket. And he can post up, too.”

Howell tore the meniscus in his left knee during a September workout and will likely miss the first few games. He won’t be rushed back into Lowe’s new offense.

“It’s not just about healing, but also conditioning,” Lowe said. “If we play the way we want to play, he’s got to be able to get up and down the court.”

Which brings us back to the guards. Only Degand’s role seems set.

“His role this year has changed, so you might see somewhat of a different player in him,” Lowe said. “Farnold gives us that other guard who can run, handle the ball, run pick-and-rolls. And obviously he’s fast, so he can get out on the wings and help us run the ball down the floor.”

Gonzalez started the last 10 games at point guard last season, averaging 11.1 points and shooting 53 percent from 3-point range in the final eight. Mays, who started three games as a freshman, hit a buzzer-beater to stun Miami and scored 18 points in 24 minutes at the ACC tournament.

Bottom line? All three guards will play significant minutes, and Lowe will probably go deeper onto his bench.

“We’re going to need all of our guys, because we’re going to try to get the ball up and down the court,” Lowe said. “If you go six minutes playing our style and you’re not tired, then you’re not working hard enough.”

Contact Jeff Mills at 373-7024 or jeff.mills@news-record.com