N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe said today that freshman Javi Gonzalez would make his third start at point guard Saturday against Presbyterian, with sophomore Marques Johnson coming off the bench.

Johnson has played 23 minutes in each of the last two games and was on the floor in the final minutes of State's wins over Seton Hall and Western Carolina. He did not score against WCU but had five rebounds, four assists and just one turnover.

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Gonzalez had 17 minutes of playing time in each of the last two games. He has hit 4 of 22 shots from the field this season (18.2 percent) and has nine assists and 14 turnovers.

Farnold Degand, who started the first 10 games at point guard, will have surgery Tuesday for a torn ACL in his left knee.

01/04/08 at 20:26
I like Javi's potential, but I don't think that the relative minutes is going to change much (at least not in Javi's favor). Marques is doing a better job all around, is still improving, and will eventually start.