These Lobos have no quit in them, but it's clear they're a few big men short of being a very good team. The New Mexico State Aggies absolutely demolished the Lobos on the boards in a 71-62 loss for New Mexico.
New Mexico came out of the game a little sluggish offensively and the Aggies led for much of the first half. The Lobos kept chipping away and played good enough defense to tie the game at 26 late in the first half. In a play that was indicative of the entire game, the Aggies then missed a long three but got a huge tip-in dunk to end the half ahead, 28-26.
The second half saw both the Aggies and the Lobos begin to shoot better, but the Lobos were never able to stop Passos, Hawkins and McKines on the offensive boards and the Aggies led by double digits for much of the second half. New Mexico kept the Aggies from blowing the game open by hitting a few threes, but in the end it just wasn't enough.
Chad Toppert shot the lights out of the ball with 20 points on 6 three pointers and Jamaal Smith added 17, but the rest of the team did not play particularly well offensively. JR Giddens had 4 points on 2-10 shooting and Daniel Faris was in foul trouble for much of the night. Monquel Pegues saw his most extensive action of the season but was simply outmatched by Passos and Iti and looked lost on offense.
Simply put, the Aggies are bigger, stronger, faster, and they can jump higher. It's going to take a supreme effort in Albuquerque for the Lobos to get a split.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Injuries and Notes...
Air Force do-it-all guy Chad Hall may miss tomorrow's game with flu-like symptoms. Matt Quillen isn't exactly at 100%, but he's going to play.
This is the biggest game of the year to-date. Of course, as long as the Lobos keep winning every week is going to be a big game. With a win the Lobos would improve to 6-2, be bowl-eligible, and have a secure lock on second place in the conference behind TCU. The loss means a likely 6 or 7 win season and likely no real shot at a bowl game. I'm hoping for a win.
Tune in tomorrow morning for more game analysis and my final prediction.
This is the biggest game of the year to-date. Of course, as long as the Lobos keep winning every week is going to be a big game. With a win the Lobos would improve to 6-2, be bowl-eligible, and have a secure lock on second place in the conference behind TCU. The loss means a likely 6 or 7 win season and likely no real shot at a bowl game. I'm hoping for a win.
Tune in tomorrow morning for more game analysis and my final prediction.
Monday, October 22, 2007
MWC Power Ranking
1. Air Force - These guys just keep on winning, and they only have two conference games left.
2. BYU - They're obviously nowhere close to the level they were playing at last year, but they're still atop the standings. They need to play better, however, if they're going to stay there.
3. Utah - It's not easy beating TCU on the road, and the Utes are starting to come together. The only drawback is that they're already at two losses in conference.
4. New Mexico - Let's not mince words; UNM played poorly against SDSU. But they came out with a win, and that's all that really matters. They'll have to step it up big-time for Air Force on Thursday.
5. TCU - What has heppened to these guys? Injuries? Distractions? I don't know, but they'd better turn it around quick if they have any prayer of making a bowl game.
6. Wyoming - The Cowboys were on top of the world just two weeks ago, but their offense has really let them down. Is their defense good enough to keep them in the hunt for a bowl game?
7. San Diego State - The Aztecs showed some life against UNM but still suffered a heart-wrenching defeat. When will these guys catch a break?
8. Colorado State - They beat UNLV, so they get to move up.
9. UNLV - See Colorado State.
2. BYU - They're obviously nowhere close to the level they were playing at last year, but they're still atop the standings. They need to play better, however, if they're going to stay there.
3. Utah - It's not easy beating TCU on the road, and the Utes are starting to come together. The only drawback is that they're already at two losses in conference.
4. New Mexico - Let's not mince words; UNM played poorly against SDSU. But they came out with a win, and that's all that really matters. They'll have to step it up big-time for Air Force on Thursday.
5. TCU - What has heppened to these guys? Injuries? Distractions? I don't know, but they'd better turn it around quick if they have any prayer of making a bowl game.
6. Wyoming - The Cowboys were on top of the world just two weeks ago, but their offense has really let them down. Is their defense good enough to keep them in the hunt for a bowl game?
7. San Diego State - The Aztecs showed some life against UNM but still suffered a heart-wrenching defeat. When will these guys catch a break?
8. Colorado State - They beat UNLV, so they get to move up.
9. UNLV - See Colorado State.
Lobos 20, Aztecs 17
Whew! Well, that was a relief, wasn't it? The Lobos escaped San Diego with an incredible come-from-behind victory, stunning the 20,000 in attendance. Next up, a big-time matchup against Air Force on Thursday night.
More to come...
More to come...
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Lobo Football vs. SDSU: Fearless Predictions
This Saturday's football game is a really interesting game to predict. It's what sports journalists refer to as a "trap game," with the Lobos riding high after a big win over Wyoming and Air Force and TCU right on the horizon.
On the other hand, if there's one team that the Lobos just know how to beat, it's San Diego State. The Lobos have beaten the Aztecs six times in a row now, and the last two in particular were over almost as soon as they started.
On defense, the Lobos must watch Senior QB Kevin O'Connell, who is just about the only bright spot for this team. He's a dual-threat, so look for some big hits by the blitzing UNM defense.
On offense, the plan looks simple: SDSU has a porous run defense and Rodney Ferguson is the conference's leading rusher. Put two and two together, and the key to the game becomes pretty obvious. Look for a couple of big plays on play-action.
This game shouldn't be close, but there's just something about this game that has me worried. San Diego State isn't very good, but they're still better than last year. I think Chuck Long will turn this program around, just not yet. This one still may be closer than people would think.
UNM - 22
SDSU - 13
On the other hand, if there's one team that the Lobos just know how to beat, it's San Diego State. The Lobos have beaten the Aztecs six times in a row now, and the last two in particular were over almost as soon as they started.
On defense, the Lobos must watch Senior QB Kevin O'Connell, who is just about the only bright spot for this team. He's a dual-threat, so look for some big hits by the blitzing UNM defense.
On offense, the plan looks simple: SDSU has a porous run defense and Rodney Ferguson is the conference's leading rusher. Put two and two together, and the key to the game becomes pretty obvious. Look for a couple of big plays on play-action.
This game shouldn't be close, but there's just something about this game that has me worried. San Diego State isn't very good, but they're still better than last year. I think Chuck Long will turn this program around, just not yet. This one still may be closer than people would think.
UNM - 22
SDSU - 13
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
MWC Media Day!
So the MWC media and coaches will release their preseason picks today. Here's a look at mine:
1. BYU
2. SDSU
3. UNM
4. UNLV
5. WYO
6. UTAH
7. AFA
8. TCU
9. CSU
Lots of people have returning talent which will make for a topsy-turvy year. Anyone from 1-6 has a legitimate shot at winning the MWC. UNLV, last year's darlings, won't fall back too far because I think Lon Kruger is that good of a coach. I'm still not sold on Utah and its four guard lineup. Air Force has Tim Anderson and not much else; CSU and TCU will be bad.
New Mexico's finish will largely depend on if Tony Danridge returns in time for conference. With him, they're one of the favorites. Without, they're middle-of-the-pack.
All-MWC
Guard - Brandon Ewing
Guard - JR Giddens
Forward - Lorenzo Wade
Forward - Kevin Langford
Center - Luke Nevill
MWC MVP - Brandon Ewing. Darren Prentice has this guy's number, frustrating him to the point that he threw some blows in UNM's victory over Wyoming in the Pit, but no one else has an answer for him. He'll hover around 20 ppg and keep Wyoming in the mix.
1. BYU
2. SDSU
3. UNM
4. UNLV
5. WYO
6. UTAH
7. AFA
8. TCU
9. CSU
Lots of people have returning talent which will make for a topsy-turvy year. Anyone from 1-6 has a legitimate shot at winning the MWC. UNLV, last year's darlings, won't fall back too far because I think Lon Kruger is that good of a coach. I'm still not sold on Utah and its four guard lineup. Air Force has Tim Anderson and not much else; CSU and TCU will be bad.
New Mexico's finish will largely depend on if Tony Danridge returns in time for conference. With him, they're one of the favorites. Without, they're middle-of-the-pack.
All-MWC
Guard - Brandon Ewing
Guard - JR Giddens
Forward - Lorenzo Wade
Forward - Kevin Langford
Center - Luke Nevill
MWC MVP - Brandon Ewing. Darren Prentice has this guy's number, frustrating him to the point that he threw some blows in UNM's victory over Wyoming in the Pit, but no one else has an answer for him. He'll hover around 20 ppg and keep Wyoming in the mix.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Bahamas News!
With last night's win over another Bahamian club team, the Lobos will return from the Bahamas with a 3-1 record. They split two games with the Bahamian Select team, then blew out two club teams. This was a good opportunity for last year's team to show the new staff just what they could do, and some players did just that. Let's take a look at who helped themselves and who hurt themselves. Keep in mind that these games weren't broadcast anywhere, so this is based solely off of stats and game recaps.
On the Rise:
Roman Martinez - Always known as a hustle player, Roman as usual did a little bit of everything and probably helped his stock more than any other player. He led the team in rebounding with 9 a game and also was third in scoring with 10.5 a game. Roman also shot over 70% from the field.
Tony Danridge - Of course, he's going to play a lot and probably be the leading scorer of next year's team but he helped his cause in a bunch of different ways. First, he averaged 20 points a game. We know Tony can score. In addition to that, Tony also rebounded (5.5/game) and distributed (3.75 apg). He was also second on the team with 8 steals. The only real negative was that Tony had 19 turnovers in 4 games. Ouch.
Daniel Faris - First of all, he still needs to work on staying out of foul trouble, but Daniel averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds while also leading the team in blocks with two a game. He also shot over 60% from the field. Good numbers.
On the Decline:
Darren Prentice - Shot poorly for much of the trip but he made up for it by leading the team in assists.
Chad Toppert - Toppert battled injuries for part of the trip, but he just wasn't shooting the ball like we're used to seeing. He was only 7-28 from three for 25%, practically half of his shooting average last season.
Jamaal Smith - Smith shot a lot and shot poorly, going 2-19 from three and 23% altogether from the field. The only bright spot is at least the guy can hit his free throws, going 11-12. He also had more assists than turnovers.
David Kanyinda - He did little to assert himself in the guard rotation, going 3-11 from three and 18% from the field. He did lead the team in steals and had the best A/TO ratio on the team.
Blake Harden - He didn't do much on the stat sheet, but he missed all four of his three point attempts. He likely won't play much next year.
On the Rise:
Roman Martinez - Always known as a hustle player, Roman as usual did a little bit of everything and probably helped his stock more than any other player. He led the team in rebounding with 9 a game and also was third in scoring with 10.5 a game. Roman also shot over 70% from the field.
Tony Danridge - Of course, he's going to play a lot and probably be the leading scorer of next year's team but he helped his cause in a bunch of different ways. First, he averaged 20 points a game. We know Tony can score. In addition to that, Tony also rebounded (5.5/game) and distributed (3.75 apg). He was also second on the team with 8 steals. The only real negative was that Tony had 19 turnovers in 4 games. Ouch.
Daniel Faris - First of all, he still needs to work on staying out of foul trouble, but Daniel averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds while also leading the team in blocks with two a game. He also shot over 60% from the field. Good numbers.
On the Decline:
Darren Prentice - Shot poorly for much of the trip but he made up for it by leading the team in assists.
Chad Toppert - Toppert battled injuries for part of the trip, but he just wasn't shooting the ball like we're used to seeing. He was only 7-28 from three for 25%, practically half of his shooting average last season.
Jamaal Smith - Smith shot a lot and shot poorly, going 2-19 from three and 23% altogether from the field. The only bright spot is at least the guy can hit his free throws, going 11-12. He also had more assists than turnovers.
David Kanyinda - He did little to assert himself in the guard rotation, going 3-11 from three and 18% from the field. He did lead the team in steals and had the best A/TO ratio on the team.
Blake Harden - He didn't do much on the stat sheet, but he missed all four of his three point attempts. He likely won't play much next year.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Bits and Pieces
Some ups, some downs for UNM in the past few weeks.
First, Hooray for JR Giddens! He passed all of his classes this spring, meaning he's in the good graces of Coach Alford and Co. The bad news? JR doesn't get to make the Bahamas trip, as he's taking an intercession course between the Spring and the Summer semester. This may be a blessing in disguise because it shows that Alford really wants his players to graduate. I'm all for this.
Second, we lost the recruiting battle for seven footer Beas Hamga to those darn Runnin' Rebs. Props to them for luring him away from Gillespie and Kentucky, but it still would've been mighty nice to see that monster in the Cherry and Silver.
Rich Alday resigned as the head baseball coach a few days ago. Rich did a lot for the program, but after 18 years he had a .500 record and the program has really plateaued since about 2000, so it was time to look in a new direction. With a Triple-A ballpark and very favorable Spring/Summer weather compared to some of our MWC brethren outside of TCU, UNLV and SDSU, the Lobo Baseball program should be able to lure a pretty good coach to get this program to be more than just a middle-of-the-pack team year in and year out.
First, Hooray for JR Giddens! He passed all of his classes this spring, meaning he's in the good graces of Coach Alford and Co. The bad news? JR doesn't get to make the Bahamas trip, as he's taking an intercession course between the Spring and the Summer semester. This may be a blessing in disguise because it shows that Alford really wants his players to graduate. I'm all for this.
Second, we lost the recruiting battle for seven footer Beas Hamga to those darn Runnin' Rebs. Props to them for luring him away from Gillespie and Kentucky, but it still would've been mighty nice to see that monster in the Cherry and Silver.
Rich Alday resigned as the head baseball coach a few days ago. Rich did a lot for the program, but after 18 years he had a .500 record and the program has really plateaued since about 2000, so it was time to look in a new direction. With a Triple-A ballpark and very favorable Spring/Summer weather compared to some of our MWC brethren outside of TCU, UNLV and SDSU, the Lobo Baseball program should be able to lure a pretty good coach to get this program to be more than just a middle-of-the-pack team year in and year out.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
More Recruiting...
Man, life has been quite a blur on the Lobo recruiting front. This can only be described as a very successful Lobo offseason with the way recruiting has gone. The Coach Alford era was looking a bit shaky at first when all three of McKay's recruits decommitted before Alford really had a chance to talk to them. Reggie Huffman, a 6-7 forward left for UAB, Ty Abbott decided to stay home and play for ASU, and Mickey McConnell went to St. Mary's.
In addition to that, PG Ryan Kersten, G/F Jeff Henfield, and C Derek Oestreicher all transfered. Talk about ouch.
Enter the recruiting efforts of Alford, Neal, and Co. First, a three-star recruit from Indiana named Dairese Gary who committed to Alford at Iowa and followed him here. Gary is likely not to see much time as a freshman but he'll probably be asked to step in and play a lot in years to come. He's billed as a strong guard in the mold of other Big-10 guards.
Next came Johnnie Harris, a 6-8 power forward who started for a very talented Junior College. He wasn't exactly a stat stuffer; he averaged something like 7 points and 4 rebounds, but Harris is going to be counted on mostly as a rugged defender and rebounder. Any scoring would be gravy.
The star (so far) of the class is Darrington Hobson, a 6-7 G/F who wants to be a point guard but will likely be a point forward at the three. Hobson is a four-star recruit and a great talent. He might not start, but I'd expect him to play major minutes right away.
Finally, Monquel Pegues, a 6-10 center. This guy is a scoring machine who averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds. He's still a bit of a defensive project and gets into foul trouble, but he can score. This much we know.
Finally, two recruits are on the horizon. 7-0 Beas Hamga, one of the top HS centers in his class. We're fighting UNLV, Kentucky, and Indiana for this guy. He's a longshot, but if we land him, this could be the best recruiting class ever for UNM. Another guy who is visiting is 6-5 swingman Johnathan Wills. Wills is coming because there is word that someone may not be eligible in the fall, and this is an insurance pickup. I don't know much about him other than that he is considered a high major prospect if he can get a more consistent jump shot. Wills wants to be a Lobo; his other offer is from Portland State.
Needless to say, there's a lot to be excited about.
In addition to that, PG Ryan Kersten, G/F Jeff Henfield, and C Derek Oestreicher all transfered. Talk about ouch.
Enter the recruiting efforts of Alford, Neal, and Co. First, a three-star recruit from Indiana named Dairese Gary who committed to Alford at Iowa and followed him here. Gary is likely not to see much time as a freshman but he'll probably be asked to step in and play a lot in years to come. He's billed as a strong guard in the mold of other Big-10 guards.
Next came Johnnie Harris, a 6-8 power forward who started for a very talented Junior College. He wasn't exactly a stat stuffer; he averaged something like 7 points and 4 rebounds, but Harris is going to be counted on mostly as a rugged defender and rebounder. Any scoring would be gravy.
The star (so far) of the class is Darrington Hobson, a 6-7 G/F who wants to be a point guard but will likely be a point forward at the three. Hobson is a four-star recruit and a great talent. He might not start, but I'd expect him to play major minutes right away.
Finally, Monquel Pegues, a 6-10 center. This guy is a scoring machine who averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds. He's still a bit of a defensive project and gets into foul trouble, but he can score. This much we know.
Finally, two recruits are on the horizon. 7-0 Beas Hamga, one of the top HS centers in his class. We're fighting UNLV, Kentucky, and Indiana for this guy. He's a longshot, but if we land him, this could be the best recruiting class ever for UNM. Another guy who is visiting is 6-5 swingman Johnathan Wills. Wills is coming because there is word that someone may not be eligible in the fall, and this is an insurance pickup. I don't know much about him other than that he is considered a high major prospect if he can get a more consistent jump shot. Wills wants to be a Lobo; his other offer is from Portland State.
Needless to say, there's a lot to be excited about.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Pegues is a Lobo!
Monquel Pegues has signed his LOI, and he will be a Lobo in the Fall! Monquel is a 6-10 Center who put up 18 points and 17 rebounds last year at Juco. His coach says Pegues should lose about ten pounds and he'll be a big impact guy at the D-I level. Another note of concern is that he's still 15 hours short of qualifying. Uh oh... While I'm excited for this guy's potential, he'd better get his classes in order or he'll end up to be the next Justin Holt. And we definitely don't want that.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Lots on the Horizon
Here's a quick update on a lot of stuff that is going on in Lobo Sports:
Coach Alford has really been working the recruiting trail hard the past few weeks, and he's already got three LOI's for the upcoming season. All three of these guys are eligible for 2007.
6-1 PG Dairese Gary, a three-star recruit and a Top-25 ranked PG in the country. He's a little short but way strong at about 210 pounds. He put up good scoring numbers but his forte is supposed to be defense. I'd expect him to play a little bit next year and a lot in the coming years after Darren and Jamaal graduate.
6-8 F Johnnie Harris, a low post banger who put up pretty low numbers, but he was on a Juco team that was loaded with D-I talent at forward. He is a winner, however, and I expect he'll play a ton of minutes simply out of necessity.
6-7 G/F Darrington Hobson, a self-proclaimed point guard in a small forward's body. Hobson is a big get, and he's a Four-Star recruit and a Top-125 overall player. This young man claims to be able to do it all. His HS coach claims that he's got top-20 skills, but he just needs more consistency. Hobson says that he's a triple-double threat every night, and his HS numbers (17 pts 12 reb. 7 asst.) seem to back that up. He should play a lot and do a little of everything.
On to football, spring camps are going well except for a ton of injuries at the offensive line position. Starting RT Devin Clark and starting C Vince Natali are both out until Fall practice, which gives some of the younger guys a chance to get work with the first team. Because of the injuries at O-line, the Cherry-Silver scrimmage will be offense vs. defense.
Coach Alford has really been working the recruiting trail hard the past few weeks, and he's already got three LOI's for the upcoming season. All three of these guys are eligible for 2007.
6-1 PG Dairese Gary, a three-star recruit and a Top-25 ranked PG in the country. He's a little short but way strong at about 210 pounds. He put up good scoring numbers but his forte is supposed to be defense. I'd expect him to play a little bit next year and a lot in the coming years after Darren and Jamaal graduate.
6-8 F Johnnie Harris, a low post banger who put up pretty low numbers, but he was on a Juco team that was loaded with D-I talent at forward. He is a winner, however, and I expect he'll play a ton of minutes simply out of necessity.
6-7 G/F Darrington Hobson, a self-proclaimed point guard in a small forward's body. Hobson is a big get, and he's a Four-Star recruit and a Top-125 overall player. This young man claims to be able to do it all. His HS coach claims that he's got top-20 skills, but he just needs more consistency. Hobson says that he's a triple-double threat every night, and his HS numbers (17 pts 12 reb. 7 asst.) seem to back that up. He should play a lot and do a little of everything.
On to football, spring camps are going well except for a ton of injuries at the offensive line position. Starting RT Devin Clark and starting C Vince Natali are both out until Fall practice, which gives some of the younger guys a chance to get work with the first team. Because of the injuries at O-line, the Cherry-Silver scrimmage will be offense vs. defense.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
It's Football Season!!!
Okay, not yet, but Monday marks the start of Spring Practice. Coach Long decided to push the start of practice back a few weeks in order to give his coaches time to catch up on the new offense. This seems to be a move made because of last year's problems figuring out Toledo's offense. Hopefully it helps. Anyhow, I hope to make it out to a few practices this year, so look out for some reports!
2007 Outlook: Power Forwards/Centers
Daniel Faris - Basically the center position starts and stops here, since Faris is the only returning player who saw any time last year.
Strengths - Has a nice touch on the offensive end and plays with a lot of fire and energy. On defense plays with intensity and is an adequate shot blocker and rebounder.
Weaknesses - He gets into foul trouble way too often, often picking up two quick fouls and sitting the rest of the half. He also can be overpowered by bigger and stronger posts and is guilty of either helping too much or not enough in zone.
2007 Outlook - All the pieces are there to be a solid post player, Faris just needs to spend the summer in the weight room and the film room. His biggest deficiency right now is defense. Shore that up and Faris could be a big contributor next year. Achievable goals: 8 pts. 7 reb. 25 min.
Sean Imadiyi - Saw almost no time all last year but he's a long, athletic body who'll need to at least play a little next year, if only to pick up fouls, defend and rebound.
Strengths - Has shown a decent shot, so he's probably got some offensive potential. He has long arms and seems to have some athleticism and quickness. Is a pretty good dunker.
Weaknesses - Really needs to get stronger and add some pounds or he'll really get abused by the stronger power forwards in the Mountain West. When he did play he was often a big liability, leading to easy baskets for the other team.
2007 Outlook - It'd be hard for Imadiyi to not improve on his freshman year, since he basically didn't play at all. Achievable Goals: 10 min. and lots o' hustle.
Derek Oestreicher - A real wild card for next season. He served a redshirt year in order to get bigger and stronger, so we'll see.
Strengths - He's the tallest guy on the team and is supposed to have some shooting range. If nothing else, he provides depth for a very thin frontcourt.
Weaknesses - Obviously, he's unproven. I assume he redshirted because he wasn't yet physically ready for this level. Hopefully he worked on that.
2007 Outlook - I have never even seen him in a jersey, much less post up or take a shot on the court. Like Sean he'll simply have to play some minutes, if only to rest Daniel. Achievable goals: 15 min. 5 pts. 2 reb.
Strengths - Has a nice touch on the offensive end and plays with a lot of fire and energy. On defense plays with intensity and is an adequate shot blocker and rebounder.
Weaknesses - He gets into foul trouble way too often, often picking up two quick fouls and sitting the rest of the half. He also can be overpowered by bigger and stronger posts and is guilty of either helping too much or not enough in zone.
2007 Outlook - All the pieces are there to be a solid post player, Faris just needs to spend the summer in the weight room and the film room. His biggest deficiency right now is defense. Shore that up and Faris could be a big contributor next year. Achievable goals: 8 pts. 7 reb. 25 min.
Sean Imadiyi - Saw almost no time all last year but he's a long, athletic body who'll need to at least play a little next year, if only to pick up fouls, defend and rebound.
Strengths - Has shown a decent shot, so he's probably got some offensive potential. He has long arms and seems to have some athleticism and quickness. Is a pretty good dunker.
Weaknesses - Really needs to get stronger and add some pounds or he'll really get abused by the stronger power forwards in the Mountain West. When he did play he was often a big liability, leading to easy baskets for the other team.
2007 Outlook - It'd be hard for Imadiyi to not improve on his freshman year, since he basically didn't play at all. Achievable Goals: 10 min. and lots o' hustle.
Derek Oestreicher - A real wild card for next season. He served a redshirt year in order to get bigger and stronger, so we'll see.
Strengths - He's the tallest guy on the team and is supposed to have some shooting range. If nothing else, he provides depth for a very thin frontcourt.
Weaknesses - Obviously, he's unproven. I assume he redshirted because he wasn't yet physically ready for this level. Hopefully he worked on that.
2007 Outlook - I have never even seen him in a jersey, much less post up or take a shot on the court. Like Sean he'll simply have to play some minutes, if only to rest Daniel. Achievable goals: 15 min. 5 pts. 2 reb.
Monday, April 9, 2007
2007 Basketball Outlook: Small Forwards
Tony Danridge - The team MVP from last season. Danridge really step up his consistency last year and was the most reliable player on the team.
Strengths - Second to no one when it comes to pure athleticism. Can jump out of the gym and one of the most fantastic finishers above the rim I've ever seen in a Lobo uniform. Also boasts a solid jumper that extends out to the three point line. Is a decent free throw shooter. On defense Tony is unheralded but he generally does a good job.
Weaknesses - Still far from a complete player. He still has nights where he disappears because his jumper isn't falling and his confidence plummets. Other than score, he doesn't do much in the way of passing or rebounding, which is embarrassing considering his leaping ability. He still needs to work on his ballhandling, which is adequate at best.
2007 Outlook - Tony has the talent and physical ability to be MWC Player of the Year, but he must shore up the rest of his game. He has improved every year, and I expect that to continue. Achievable Goals: 16 pts. 4 reb. 50% FG pct.
Roman Martinez - Of all the freshmen, Roman played the most and looked to be the most polished. He started a bunch of games early before giving way to Toppert.
Strengths - Is a very savvy player who is good for lots of hustle and a fair share of steals, blocks, assists and solid team defense. On offense understands when to shoot and when to pass. Weaknesses - Must work on his shot. One thing that prevented him from seeing extended minutes was his inconsistency hitting the three and the open jumper. Also struggles in man defense because he's bit of a tweener at 6-6. He's not quick enough to guard shooting guards but not strong enough to guard forwards.
2007 Outlook - Roman is a rising star and his progression is a key to the program. I could see him making a Toppert-like leap from his freshman to his sophomore season, which would be a big boost. Achievable Goals: 15 min. 5 pts. 2 reb. 2 ast. and lots of hustle
Strengths - Second to no one when it comes to pure athleticism. Can jump out of the gym and one of the most fantastic finishers above the rim I've ever seen in a Lobo uniform. Also boasts a solid jumper that extends out to the three point line. Is a decent free throw shooter. On defense Tony is unheralded but he generally does a good job.
Weaknesses - Still far from a complete player. He still has nights where he disappears because his jumper isn't falling and his confidence plummets. Other than score, he doesn't do much in the way of passing or rebounding, which is embarrassing considering his leaping ability. He still needs to work on his ballhandling, which is adequate at best.
2007 Outlook - Tony has the talent and physical ability to be MWC Player of the Year, but he must shore up the rest of his game. He has improved every year, and I expect that to continue. Achievable Goals: 16 pts. 4 reb. 50% FG pct.
Roman Martinez - Of all the freshmen, Roman played the most and looked to be the most polished. He started a bunch of games early before giving way to Toppert.
Strengths - Is a very savvy player who is good for lots of hustle and a fair share of steals, blocks, assists and solid team defense. On offense understands when to shoot and when to pass. Weaknesses - Must work on his shot. One thing that prevented him from seeing extended minutes was his inconsistency hitting the three and the open jumper. Also struggles in man defense because he's bit of a tweener at 6-6. He's not quick enough to guard shooting guards but not strong enough to guard forwards.
2007 Outlook - Roman is a rising star and his progression is a key to the program. I could see him making a Toppert-like leap from his freshman to his sophomore season, which would be a big boost. Achievable Goals: 15 min. 5 pts. 2 reb. 2 ast. and lots of hustle
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Preseason Outlook: Shooting Guards
JR Giddens - This guy is another reason why last year went so horribly wrong. He was hyped as a lottery pick and the most talented Lobo ever, but it all kind of blew up in his face.
Strengths - JR is kind of a guard/forward combination who at 6-5 is strong enough to overpower smaller guards and quick enough to get around bigger players. He's best when he's posting up smaller guards and finishing around the basket. He has very deep range from three. Has a knack for reading passing lanes to pick up steals for breakaway jams. Is a spectacular finisher at the basket. For 6-5 he is an above-average rebounder. In games where his midrange shots are falling, he can be an unstoppable offensive force. Loads of scoring potential.
Weaknesses - There are still huge character issues with this guy that led to a bunch of suspensions last year. He can appear very arrogant at times and can rub teammates and fans the wrong way Simply must improve the defensive intensity, as he's beaten one on one off the dribble way too much for a guy with his athletic ability. A very average FT shooter. While he can shoot it from anywhere on the floor, he is still an extremely streaky shooter because he too often looks for the spectacular fadeaway shot instead of one when he's open with his feet set. Has worked on involving his teammates more, but is still something of a ballhog. Isn't a very good ballhandler which leads to way too many turnovers. Also may be facing eligibility issues in regards to grades.
2007 Outlook - There is a lot of talent and athleticism in this guy, it'll take a supreme effort on everyone's part for him to realize it. If he simply learned to play within himself and not try to do so much JR could be a really good player. Hopefully a new regime change will be for the best for JR. Achievable Goals: 15 pts. 8 rebs. 35% from three. 70% from the FT line.
Chad Toppert - The biggest bright spot on last year's dismal season. He improved in a big way over his freshman year. He is now arguably the second best scoring threat on the team.
Strengths - Toppert has proven to be a top three point shooting threat, shooting upwards of 46%. At 6-6 is tall enough so that his shot is rarely blocked. In addition to that he's a solid all around player who plays smart team defense. Is a good FT shooter. He has the ability to get hot and hit several threes in a short span. His shooting almost singlehandedly kept UNM in games last year.
Weaknesses - His production tailed off a bit late in the year. He was shooting nearly 50% from three before he really went cold. Can hit key shots but still isn't on the level where he can be called clutch. He can improve his rebounding and his ballhandling to become a much more complete player. Can drive the lane but almost never finishes because he's simply not strong enough yet.
2007 Outlook - Has the potential to be All-MWC next season if he shores up the rest of his game. Could really become something special in his junior and senior years. Achievable goals: 12 pts. 4 rebs. 48% from three. 85% from the FT line.
Strengths - JR is kind of a guard/forward combination who at 6-5 is strong enough to overpower smaller guards and quick enough to get around bigger players. He's best when he's posting up smaller guards and finishing around the basket. He has very deep range from three. Has a knack for reading passing lanes to pick up steals for breakaway jams. Is a spectacular finisher at the basket. For 6-5 he is an above-average rebounder. In games where his midrange shots are falling, he can be an unstoppable offensive force. Loads of scoring potential.
Weaknesses - There are still huge character issues with this guy that led to a bunch of suspensions last year. He can appear very arrogant at times and can rub teammates and fans the wrong way Simply must improve the defensive intensity, as he's beaten one on one off the dribble way too much for a guy with his athletic ability. A very average FT shooter. While he can shoot it from anywhere on the floor, he is still an extremely streaky shooter because he too often looks for the spectacular fadeaway shot instead of one when he's open with his feet set. Has worked on involving his teammates more, but is still something of a ballhog. Isn't a very good ballhandler which leads to way too many turnovers. Also may be facing eligibility issues in regards to grades.
2007 Outlook - There is a lot of talent and athleticism in this guy, it'll take a supreme effort on everyone's part for him to realize it. If he simply learned to play within himself and not try to do so much JR could be a really good player. Hopefully a new regime change will be for the best for JR. Achievable Goals: 15 pts. 8 rebs. 35% from three. 70% from the FT line.
Chad Toppert - The biggest bright spot on last year's dismal season. He improved in a big way over his freshman year. He is now arguably the second best scoring threat on the team.
Strengths - Toppert has proven to be a top three point shooting threat, shooting upwards of 46%. At 6-6 is tall enough so that his shot is rarely blocked. In addition to that he's a solid all around player who plays smart team defense. Is a good FT shooter. He has the ability to get hot and hit several threes in a short span. His shooting almost singlehandedly kept UNM in games last year.
Weaknesses - His production tailed off a bit late in the year. He was shooting nearly 50% from three before he really went cold. Can hit key shots but still isn't on the level where he can be called clutch. He can improve his rebounding and his ballhandling to become a much more complete player. Can drive the lane but almost never finishes because he's simply not strong enough yet.
2007 Outlook - Has the potential to be All-MWC next season if he shores up the rest of his game. Could really become something special in his junior and senior years. Achievable goals: 12 pts. 4 rebs. 48% from three. 85% from the FT line.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Preseason Outlook: Point Guards
Darren Prentice - A senior next year, Prentice was one of a few bright spots on the team last year. Prentice spent almost all of his first two years at New Mexico riding the bench but he really emerged in his junior year as a really solid point guard and was the best player on the court for the Lobos in certain stretches of last season.
Strengths - He plays really solid man defense, and he basically shut down super quick Brandon Ewing in the Pit against Wyoming. On offense has a lot of quickness and uses it to get to the basket or to dish to a teammate. One of the more prolific three point shooters on the team and shoots a decent percentage.
Weaknesses - Still gets lost at times in a zone, leading to wide open shots. This should be less of a concern next season because Coach Alford will play much more man-to-man than McKay did. Can get a little too fancy when driving and is indecisive as to whether he should lay it up or pass it, leading to turnovers. Isn't a great finisher when he gets to the basket because of his small size, leading to some blocks. His three point percentage must go up, as he was a bit streaky as a junior. Average free throw shooter.
2007 Outlook - Has improved dramatically over his first two years, and I expect similar improvements in his senior year. He should start from day one and be one of the team's top scorers and the top assist man. Achievable Goals: 12 pts. 4 assts. 40% from three. 75% from the FT line.
Jamaal Smith - Really more of an undersized shooting guard than a point guard, Smith's junior season can only be described as disappointing. He was touted as the starter at PG and McKay even proclaimed him one of the best guards in the league. Needless to say, he didn't live up to the billing.
Strengths - He plays with a lot of passion with a chip on his shoulder. He has a lot of quickness and when he's playing well he can score from anywhere on the court. As a junior, his biggest weapon was his free throw shooting as he shoots over 80%. He has a lot of scoring potential.
Weaknesses - Is a big liability on defense as he's too small and weak and often leaves his feet and picks up dumb fouls. He's really an undersized shooting guard because he's a scorer and not really a distributor. Was billed as a sharpshooting three point shooter but struggled to get to 30% for the year. He is quick but doesn't use it effectively on offense or defense.
2007 Outlook - I think Jamaal's best served to be a scoring sparkplug off the bench. Just isn't big or good enough to start and put up big minutes. Achievable Goals: 8 pts. 1.5 assts. 35% from three. 85% from the FT line.
David Kanyinda - Played extremely sparingly his freshman year but when he finally made it into a few games late in the year he played really very well.
Strengths - Has good size and adequate quickness for a point guard. He's a good three point shooter and has a very pure stroke especially at the FT line. Also was crafty when driving to the basket and has the athleticism to finish strong.
Weaknesses - Doesn't have much experience, as he only played in a few games last year. Also may be more of a combo guard than a true point.
2007 Outlook - With more work he could make his way into the rotation and possibly move ahead of Smith on the depth chart. Achievable Goals: 10 min. 5 pts. 35% from three 85% from the FT line.
Strengths - He plays really solid man defense, and he basically shut down super quick Brandon Ewing in the Pit against Wyoming. On offense has a lot of quickness and uses it to get to the basket or to dish to a teammate. One of the more prolific three point shooters on the team and shoots a decent percentage.
Weaknesses - Still gets lost at times in a zone, leading to wide open shots. This should be less of a concern next season because Coach Alford will play much more man-to-man than McKay did. Can get a little too fancy when driving and is indecisive as to whether he should lay it up or pass it, leading to turnovers. Isn't a great finisher when he gets to the basket because of his small size, leading to some blocks. His three point percentage must go up, as he was a bit streaky as a junior. Average free throw shooter.
2007 Outlook - Has improved dramatically over his first two years, and I expect similar improvements in his senior year. He should start from day one and be one of the team's top scorers and the top assist man. Achievable Goals: 12 pts. 4 assts. 40% from three. 75% from the FT line.
Jamaal Smith - Really more of an undersized shooting guard than a point guard, Smith's junior season can only be described as disappointing. He was touted as the starter at PG and McKay even proclaimed him one of the best guards in the league. Needless to say, he didn't live up to the billing.
Strengths - He plays with a lot of passion with a chip on his shoulder. He has a lot of quickness and when he's playing well he can score from anywhere on the court. As a junior, his biggest weapon was his free throw shooting as he shoots over 80%. He has a lot of scoring potential.
Weaknesses - Is a big liability on defense as he's too small and weak and often leaves his feet and picks up dumb fouls. He's really an undersized shooting guard because he's a scorer and not really a distributor. Was billed as a sharpshooting three point shooter but struggled to get to 30% for the year. He is quick but doesn't use it effectively on offense or defense.
2007 Outlook - I think Jamaal's best served to be a scoring sparkplug off the bench. Just isn't big or good enough to start and put up big minutes. Achievable Goals: 8 pts. 1.5 assts. 35% from three. 85% from the FT line.
David Kanyinda - Played extremely sparingly his freshman year but when he finally made it into a few games late in the year he played really very well.
Strengths - Has good size and adequate quickness for a point guard. He's a good three point shooter and has a very pure stroke especially at the FT line. Also was crafty when driving to the basket and has the athleticism to finish strong.
Weaknesses - Doesn't have much experience, as he only played in a few games last year. Also may be more of a combo guard than a true point.
2007 Outlook - With more work he could make his way into the rotation and possibly move ahead of Smith on the depth chart. Achievable Goals: 10 min. 5 pts. 35% from three 85% from the FT line.
Friday, March 30, 2007
2007 Scouting Report
So the 2007 Men's Basketball season is still about seven months away, but it's never to early to take a look at what we've got coming back! To be sure, there are still spots open on this team, but there will likely be ten returning players, seven who averaged more than ten minutes a game, two who saw limited action, and one redshirt. In the coming days we'll take a look at who's returning, their strengths and weaknesses, and where the team needs to look to improve for next season.
Alford Cheating?
Fans out of Iowa City are complaining that former Iowa Coach Alford is trying to lure Iowa's incoming recruits to come play for the Lobos. Jake Kelly, a 6-6 guard, says that Alford offered him the chance to come play in New Mexico. This story got major play in both Iowa and New Mexico the past few days, but it appears nothing will come of it. Iowa's Associate Athletic Director says that the school will likely not file a complaint, and even if they do it likely won't amount to much more than a slap on the wrist.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Neal Onboard
UNM has officially hired Craig Neal as Steve Alford's top assistant, at a whopping salary of $250,000. Why is an assistant coach worth so much money? Well, Craig Neal is thought of as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation, and many have speculated that Iowa's turnaround the past three years is largely because of Neal's coaching. In addition, Neal is regularly mentioned as a candidate for various head coaching jobs across the country. He has extensive scouting experience from his time in the NBA as well, and he was an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors. What strikes me as mildly amusing is that Utah basically hired a Craig Neal-type as their head coach while Neal is the top assistant at UNM. Not to bash on Boylen or Utah any more than necessary, but the way Ute fans are talking right now you'd think they just brought John Wooden out of retirement.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Utah Hires Boylen
Sources are reporting that Jim Boylen, an assistant under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, will be the next head coach of the Utah Utes. Interesting hire, as I thought they would have gone for someone with a bit more experience. Boylen has never been a head coach at any level, and with the fishbowl-like situation at Utah I'd worry he won't be fully prepared for the scrutiny. Boylen is probably a good coach, but how patient will Utah's fans be for a winner? Unless a bunch of players transfer, Utah's fans see a lot of talent on the bench and that Giacoletti was basically the only reason Utah sucked last year. I still see a team that has a big question mark at point guard and there's just not enough scoring outside of Nevill, Bryant and Green.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Final Four
The Final Four is set for next weekend.
The first matchup is the 2006 National Championship rematch, pitting UCLA vs. Florida. Watching Florida play, they just look vulnerable. I have a feeling this is where they go down, to a revenge-minded Bruins squad.
The other game is Georgetown vs. Ohio State. Georgetown really put on the afterburners in their shocker over North Carolina, where they completely dominated the Heels in overtime. This one'll be close, but Georgetown is playing better right now.
The thing that jumps out to me about this Final Four is the number of quality big men. There's Greg Oden, Hibbert, Noah, and Horford. There is gonna be some battling down low in the next three games. Lorenzo Mata had better eat his Wheaties.
The first matchup is the 2006 National Championship rematch, pitting UCLA vs. Florida. Watching Florida play, they just look vulnerable. I have a feeling this is where they go down, to a revenge-minded Bruins squad.
The other game is Georgetown vs. Ohio State. Georgetown really put on the afterburners in their shocker over North Carolina, where they completely dominated the Heels in overtime. This one'll be close, but Georgetown is playing better right now.
The thing that jumps out to me about this Final Four is the number of quality big men. There's Greg Oden, Hibbert, Noah, and Horford. There is gonna be some battling down low in the next three games. Lorenzo Mata had better eat his Wheaties.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Utah Still Searching
With UNM hiring Steve Alford from Iowa, Wyoming hiring Heath Schroyer from Fresno, and CSU hiring Tim Miles from North Dakota State, Utah is the only team in the MWC currently without a coach. There is still a possibility that Lon Kruger leaves for Iowa, Michigan or another midwest job, but even if he does leave Reggie Theus is pretty much a lock to go to the Rebels.
I have a feeling the pressure has just been kicked up a notch for AD Chris Hill to hire someone already, as the Ute faithful aren't the most patient fans in the Mountain West. With that said, Utah is a solid program and Hill is a very good AD, so I have a hunch that whoever they hire will be okay. I doubt they'll ever achieve the same level of success they had under Majerus, but Ute Nation can always hope.
Of the names thrown around, Kent State's Jim Christian would be the most intriguing for Utah. He heads a strong program but hasn't exactly taken Kent to that proverbial "next level." I seriously doubt any of the hot candidates like Gregg Marshall, Mike Dunlap, or Chris Lowery will take the Utah job, and I bet in the end they hire some young assistant from a BCS program.
I have a feeling the pressure has just been kicked up a notch for AD Chris Hill to hire someone already, as the Ute faithful aren't the most patient fans in the Mountain West. With that said, Utah is a solid program and Hill is a very good AD, so I have a hunch that whoever they hire will be okay. I doubt they'll ever achieve the same level of success they had under Majerus, but Ute Nation can always hope.
Of the names thrown around, Kent State's Jim Christian would be the most intriguing for Utah. He heads a strong program but hasn't exactly taken Kent to that proverbial "next level." I seriously doubt any of the hot candidates like Gregg Marshall, Mike Dunlap, or Chris Lowery will take the Utah job, and I bet in the end they hire some young assistant from a BCS program.
New Blog; Alford Hired
Well, this is my first blog post. I'm new at this blogging thing, but I thought it'd be fun, and seeing as this is such a monumental time to be a Lobo fan, why not? So here we go...
Steve Alford was introduced as the 19th head coach of the Lobo Men's Basketball Team yesterday at 2:00 in the Student Union Building. I had a chance to attend, and I was shocked to see so many people turn out for the event. There were hundreds of students and fans crammed into the ballroom, and basically every sports reporter for television and newspaper (and even Henry T) was there. The biggest problem everyone in the back had was that the television cameras completely blocked the view for everyone sitting or standing behind them. Everyone could hear the new coach but they couldn't see him.
The first big surprise came when AD Paul Krebs announced his compensation at $975,000. Wow! When he said that there was a huge gasp from the crowd. I don't know where UNM is going to get that money. But as Krebs said, in order to be the best you have to pay the best. I think this is a really risky move on Krebs' part, but I have a feeling Alford probably wouldn't have been interested in New Mexico for $500,000-$700,000 a year.
First of all, what this salary does is help keep him at New Mexico if he is successful. Unless the REALLY big dogs like Duke or UCLA start calling, I think Alford won't be lured out of New Mexico for anything other than the Indiana job. Second, however, you have to look at the pitfalls. What happens if Alford falls on his face here, can't get good recruits to come to UNM, has multiple sub .500 seasons, and gets canned in three to five years? We'll have paid this guy a million a year to do what Ritchie McKay accomplished for $500,000 a year.
I know about his troubles at the University of Iowa, but I honestly believe Steve Alford is a good head coach and with a good staff could turn the University of New Mexico back into a basketball power. Is there a lot of work to do? Sure. I don't think people will expect too much in his first year, as long as there is improvement. And after finishing tied for last place in the conference and losing the pigtail game of the Conference Tournament, it'll be pretty tough not to improve.
Finally, I think Athletic Director Paul Krebs is truly a visionary. He knows what he wants Lobo Athletics to be five or ten years down the road, and his hiring of Steve Alford is only one step of many to revitalize Lobo Athletics. In addition to Alford, the Pit renovations will start as well (which in fairness was announced under Rudy Davalos' tenure). Krebs also has plans to redesign the entire UNM South Campus, give it more of a campus feel, and make the area just look more appealing. These are good steps in the right direction. Krebs has shown an ability to locate and hire good head coaches, and I think Steve Alford will go down as more than a good hire for the University of New Mexico.
Steve Alford was introduced as the 19th head coach of the Lobo Men's Basketball Team yesterday at 2:00 in the Student Union Building. I had a chance to attend, and I was shocked to see so many people turn out for the event. There were hundreds of students and fans crammed into the ballroom, and basically every sports reporter for television and newspaper (and even Henry T) was there. The biggest problem everyone in the back had was that the television cameras completely blocked the view for everyone sitting or standing behind them. Everyone could hear the new coach but they couldn't see him.
The first big surprise came when AD Paul Krebs announced his compensation at $975,000. Wow! When he said that there was a huge gasp from the crowd. I don't know where UNM is going to get that money. But as Krebs said, in order to be the best you have to pay the best. I think this is a really risky move on Krebs' part, but I have a feeling Alford probably wouldn't have been interested in New Mexico for $500,000-$700,000 a year.
First of all, what this salary does is help keep him at New Mexico if he is successful. Unless the REALLY big dogs like Duke or UCLA start calling, I think Alford won't be lured out of New Mexico for anything other than the Indiana job. Second, however, you have to look at the pitfalls. What happens if Alford falls on his face here, can't get good recruits to come to UNM, has multiple sub .500 seasons, and gets canned in three to five years? We'll have paid this guy a million a year to do what Ritchie McKay accomplished for $500,000 a year.
I know about his troubles at the University of Iowa, but I honestly believe Steve Alford is a good head coach and with a good staff could turn the University of New Mexico back into a basketball power. Is there a lot of work to do? Sure. I don't think people will expect too much in his first year, as long as there is improvement. And after finishing tied for last place in the conference and losing the pigtail game of the Conference Tournament, it'll be pretty tough not to improve.
Finally, I think Athletic Director Paul Krebs is truly a visionary. He knows what he wants Lobo Athletics to be five or ten years down the road, and his hiring of Steve Alford is only one step of many to revitalize Lobo Athletics. In addition to Alford, the Pit renovations will start as well (which in fairness was announced under Rudy Davalos' tenure). Krebs also has plans to redesign the entire UNM South Campus, give it more of a campus feel, and make the area just look more appealing. These are good steps in the right direction. Krebs has shown an ability to locate and hire good head coaches, and I think Steve Alford will go down as more than a good hire for the University of New Mexico.
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