When things go wrong in college basketball, everyone seems to have a plan for how to fix things.

"We get interesting suggestions all the time," said N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, laughing. "Sometimes, it's actual basketball things we have already considered, and sometimes there are things we may do at some point. We think about these things as coaches, remember, so some of it is just good basketball, and fans have discussions just as we have discussions.

"Every once in a while, you get something really ... out there. It's good, though. It's good that people care."

One of the most unusual suggestions about an up-and-down Wolfpack team this season came when some came up with the idea that the program may have been better off if Lowe hadn't signed prep All-American center J.J. Hickson.

The logic went something like this: The Pack has some well-documented chemistry problems (the point guard issue is another matter entirely) this year, those issues revolve mainly around finding enough minutes for three quality post players rotating in only two spots on the floor, and there wouldn't be such complications without Hickson being thrown into a mix where Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley already had earned their playing time as productive third-year players.

Logical? Possibly. Correct? Not even close.

Hickson's production so far this season, including in the Wolfpack's recent 69-66 victory at Florida State, has been a glaring reminder that Lowe needs more players of Hickson's caliber, not fewer.

Is there a point where a college basketball coach needs to worry about having too many talented players, because of the rising likelihood of chemistry problems with each additional prep All-American? Yes. In reality, though, the list of teams (e.g., North Carolina, Duke) that have to think in such terms is short, and at this point the list definitely doesn't include N.C. State.

The bottom line: Chemistry is always important, but it's irrelevant if you don't have enough quality players, so keep the elite-talent pipeline flowing.

Question: How many big men rank in the top 10 in the ACC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots, four statistical categories where the best all-around post players typically dominate?

Answer: two. They're both freshmen — Hickson from N.C. State, and James Johnson from Wake Forest.

Through 19 games (15 starts), Hickson averaged a team-high 15.3 points, a team-high 8.0 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting an ACC-best 63.2 percent from the field. Those are All-ACC numbers, from a young player who has a great chance to become an NBA lottery pick.

More importantly, Hickson helps his team win, as his performance at FSU reminded everyone in overwhelming fashion.

Against the Seminoles, a perimeter-oriented team with mediocre post play, Hickson was outstanding. He had 12 points without missing a shot (5-for-5 field goals, 2-for-2 free throws), a game-high 10 rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots. In the closing minute of a tie game, he grabbed a huge rebound, got fouled, calmly swished two free throws in front of a screaming crowd, then rejected FSU's final field goal attempt. Game over. Wolfpack wins.

The most precious commodities in ACC basketball today are special point guards and dominating post players. (There is no shortage of strong wings.) There are only three or four of the former, including Virginia's Sean Singletary, UNC's Ty Lawson and Boston College's Tyrese Rice. The latter bunch starts with UNC's Tyler Hansbrough, then stops with a small group that includes Hickson and Johnson.

Hickson gives the Wolfpack a desirable dimension few others have in ACC basketball today. He's a huge part of the answer to the Pack's lingering problems, and he's certainly not the cause of them.