Since joining the WAC in 2005, New Mexico State has traveled to San Jose State and Hawaii on the same trip twice — the split both times. Unlike those two years, the Aggies are playing at San Jose first. Gordo Castillo seemed like he prefers this order while Marvin Menzies said the opposite.
“I think that Hawaii trip is tough,” Aggies guard Gordo Castillo said. “You are on a plane for a long time the there is the time difference. I think it will be better to go to San Jose first and then go to Hawaii. But I just know after the first three years, that trip is tough. It’s tough to stay focused out there. We have guys that are mature enough. This is the young guys’ first long trip but I think they are going to be alright.”
My prediction for tonight’s game….San Jose State.
The Spartans may need this game even more than the Aggies, plus they have Adrian Oliver back. NMSU has owned the Spartans, but as I will talk about soon, this NMSU team doesn’t have that same killer instinct it did a year ago.
So that means I like the Aggies on Saturday at Hawaii. The Aggies match up with the Spartans. They really match up with Hawaii. Hawaii has never been able to handle the Aggies’ pressure.
In the first meeting, point guard Justin Graham had 12 shot attempts and freshman guard Kevin Shamburger had 16 shot attempts for 19 points. With Oliver back, Graham is more of a regular point guard. I think the Aggies’ guards match up well, but they have to defend all night. Don’t see that happening.
The Aggies should have an advantage in the post but I’ve been saying that all year and it still hasn’t happened. It was good that Troy Gillenwater got the game in last week I think, even though I initially thought the Aggies should sit him regardless.
“I think that was good for us (playing against Northern Colorado),” Menzies said. “I think having him, regardless of the result, we had a chance for him to see some things he didn’t do well and get his legs underneath him. He’s not 100 percnet but he’s close. After having a few more days to treat his injury and also get a little more cardio in, I think he will be ready for this trip.”
This NMSU team reminds of the team they had two years ago. The overall talent level isn’t the same, but the inexperience factor is in terms of playing at a certain level over time. That team put it together in the WAC Tournament but fell in the semis. The talent is there to win the tournament again, but they are not a lock I would say to advance, making the No. 2 seed even more important.
2008-09 17-15, 9-7
2010-11 14-13, 8-4
The only difference is most of the key players on that team should have been the key players on this team, so they have been there before, although they had Gibson who was a junior.
“We would be doing good and then have our falls,” Gordo Castillo said when I made the comparison to him the other day. “It’s the time of the year you have to leave it all on the floor. I think that is what clicked last year. There was no other way to get to the NCAA Tournament and that was our goal. We had to go out there and win. Guys were all doing the right things.”
As I said before, this team is capable. They seem to know it, and if they were ever waiting for a switch, they better flip it tonight.
“I think last year’s team, we figured it out earlier,” Castillo said. “When adversity hit, we knew how to get over it. I think we are still trying to figure that out. We have to be there pretty soon with the WAC coming.”
10 comments:
I don't even care if the Aggies go on to win the WAC tourney. Menzies is not doing a good job...enough with this BS, just fire him. There are dozens of really good coaches out there that would love to coach NM State and help bring back the pride the basketball program once had.
RT
I thought there were great spurts throughout the game, but not enough consistency! And I've never seen so many uncontested shots! How hard it is it to put your hand up in their face! Seemed like every uncontested shot was easily made for SJSU.
It was like Laurel and Hardy teaming with the Curly, Larry and Moe for much of the game. The only thing that was missing was Larry whooping every once in a while.
Two things, Jason:
1 Oliver's shooting percentage went up when a hand was in his face - that's why he's the best player in the WAC as you predicted preseason. As a hoops fan I say, too bad he didn't make the trip to Pan Am.
2 Show that last 5 seconds of regulation to every kid in America and say, See, that's why when you're playing in the 5 slot you MUST block out the opposing center when the shot goes up. w/o strict adherence to the fundamentals of the sport it's proven out time and again that you'll lose games.
I'm the biggest of Troy supporters and that would have been an easy rebound. SJS Spartans are nothing. He was taking it to Sparty itself a year ago before the lane violation. Think he'll get it right before leaving NMSU. Maybe his ankle's still on 80% and yet he's the Aggies last best hope?
Key is this: Aggies have the size to box people out. Ironically their size may be the reason they feel like they don't need to box out vs your SJSUs and your UNCs (Greeley) but can get away with slacking.
There are no more Theus recruits, so no post season. Unless Gordo and go nuts beyond the arc. I do not think the guys menzies recruits have the motivation or the skill to win the WAC tournament.
just an observation
It is sad that Menzies can't even admit to himself that he has had his best big man sitting on the bench most of the season. He is always talking about looking at tape to learn something---it seems he has not been looking at enough tape.
JG, If you are proud of your post---why not make it readable :)
Thanks anon. i had no idea
JGro -
Did you really write your predictions before the SJSU game? If so you nailed it, brah! But screen was blank so I'll give you a pass until USU and Reno predictions. (jk)
Not looking past HI tomorrow but I hope that with backs against the wall Aggies will have to show what they've got defensively in the last two home games. I'm talking Alford-style Aggie/Lobo game man-to-man straight up "D." If their WAC seeding was set then they might coast and keep the tourney game plan under wraps, which is maybe what we'll be seeing out of Stew Morril this Wednesday.
They're not booing; they're chanting Steeewwwwwwww!
Anon, 446. Look at the time stamp....10 minutes before tipoff. My bad on the black out screen. Don't know what happened there. The same post also predicts a win at Hawaii. Thoughts?
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