Tyler Lewis never let his confidence slip even when he was barely seeing the court for North Carolina State. Maybe that’s why the freshman point guard was ready when his chance came to lead the Wolfpack’s offense.
With starter Lorenzo Brown sidelined with an ankle injury, Lewis has logged nearly two full games at the point with steady play that was difficult to imagine when he was sitting for long stretches just a few weeks earlier.
“I’ve definitely built confidence these last two games,” Lewis said after Thursday night’s loss at Duke. “But at the same time, I never lost confidence in myself because I know Zo is a great point guard who’ll be a first-round pick and is one of the best in the country. I knew what I was coming into the beginning of the season playing behind Zo.”
For now, though, Lewis is the man in charge for the Wolfpack (16-7, 5-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Brown, a 6-foot-5 junior and preseason all-ACC pick, hasn’t played since spraining his left ankle when he stepped on a defender’s foot during the first half of a loss at Virginia. He hasn’t practiced since, missing last weekend’s loss against Miami on a last-second tip-in and Thursday’s 98-85 loss to the Blue Devils. It’s unclear whether Brown will be ready for Sunday’s game at Clemson, though the Wolfpack wouldn’t play again until the following weekend — which could allow Brown more time to recover if he sits another game.
