Howard looks to lead Deacs out of slump
By Daniel Ogle
Assistant Sports Editor

> February 1, 2001

Sophomore Josh Howard hates to lose.

Whether it is in a game of cards, checkers or an ACC road game, the 6-foot-5 forward simply cannot stand to lose. In fact, Howard’s competitive drive is now famous in ACC circles, after the Deacon forward’s hatred for losing has boiled over in several games this season. In a victory over Georgia on Dec. 16, Howard was ejected after 15 points in the 75-57 win.

In addition to this, the forward also drew a technical against Maryland, a game in which he scored a career-high 24 points in a losing effort. Although he admits his competitive drive sometimes gets out of control, Howard also says that he is simply misunderstood by many people.

“I can’t stand (to lose),” Howard said. “People are always coming to me running their mouth like I am the one saying stuff, (but) when I go and say something people look at me like I am saying something bad or about to do something crazy.”

Although his desire to compete is well known to ACC officials, it is also well known to his teammates. In fact, on a team dominated by juniors and seniors, it is the reluctant sophomore who has become the vocal leader for the 16th-ranked Demon Deacons.

“It is weird, because sometimes I want to hold back, because I am just a sophomore,” Howard said. “I am looking for a senior or junior to say something before I say something, but I will say something because it needs to be said.”

Perhaps Howard is granted the leeway by his older teammates to say the things he does because he backs up his talk with his game. Through 19 games Howard is the Deacons’ leading scorer at 13.9 points per game. On a team loaded with offensive talents like senior Robert O’Kelley and junior Darius Songaila, Howard said that it is understandable that people are surprised at his emergence.
“I am sure no one really expected me to be the leading scorer,” Howard said. “They were probably looking for Robert, or Craig (Dawson, a junior), or Darius, somebody like that, but not me, because last year I played defense and a lot of people didn’t know I could play offense — I have always kept that a secret and it’s still a secret.”

The Deacons are a team which have four main inside players and four guards who play mostly on the perimeter, but the thing that sets Howard apart is his ability to play in between the two areas – what coaches would call a mid-range game.

Howard’s importance was never more evident than in two recent losses to Duke and Cincinnati. Howard, who was suffering from the flu and had a 102-degree temperature, did not play against the Blue Devils, and tried to play against the Bearcats, but was largely ineffective in 18 minutes of action.

“It was bad, it was hard and I wanted to play, but I was too sick,” Howard said. “In the Cincinnati game I tried to come back as quick I could, and I shouldn’t have played in that game. I couldn’t stay out on the court long because I was tired and when I did come off the court I was doing a lot of coughing.”

With the two losses to Duke and Cincinnati, the Deacons have now lost five of their last eight games, and Howard said that the Deacons’ problems in January stemmed from not knowing how to respond to a tough loss at North Carolina Jan. 6.

“I just think we have separated ourselves from each other and it will just take us coming back together a little bit,” he said. “I think our practice changed after we lost to Carolina. After we lost to Carolina we did more focusing on us and watching tape of the other team instead of just (competing).

“The coaches tried to change stuff, they have changed plays and are getting different people involved. Things change, you just have to go along with what they are trying to do.”

After seeing his team fall from grace over the past month, Howard thinks it is time for a change. The sophomore has listened to the criticism, watched the tape and is ready for his team to turn things around. And if they fail to do so, his teammates know one thing is for certain – they will certainly hear from Howard.

For if there is one thing that he can’t live with, it’s losing.