It appears that Jahmar Young's intention to declare for the June Draft became official in the last 24 hours.
Other names you may recognize are Herb Pope, Derrick Caracter and Paul George.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Notes
I asked Marvin Menzies what he thought of Michigan State’s advancing to its sixth Final Four after narrowly escaping his Aggies in the first round.
“I’m happy for them but it’s a little bittersweet. You are happy that the team you lost to is so competitive and playing so well without their guards. We played them to a very close game and they have been playing without their starting point guard since. It should be motivation for our kids. If it doesn’t inspire motivation for their offseason work, there is something wrong with their psyche.”
“I always thought we had the talent to play at that level, but they went through ups and downs like us. It’s just different adversities. When they pulled it together they have been playing well and it’s kind of what we did as well.”
Some important dates concerning recruiting.
April 1-8 is a dead period
April 8 at noon - April 21 is a contact period except for April 12-15.
Signing period runs from April 14 - May 19
“I’m happy for them but it’s a little bittersweet. You are happy that the team you lost to is so competitive and playing so well without their guards. We played them to a very close game and they have been playing without their starting point guard since. It should be motivation for our kids. If it doesn’t inspire motivation for their offseason work, there is something wrong with their psyche.”
“I always thought we had the talent to play at that level, but they went through ups and downs like us. It’s just different adversities. When they pulled it together they have been playing well and it’s kind of what we did as well.”
Some important dates concerning recruiting.
April 1-8 is a dead period
April 8 at noon - April 21 is a contact period except for April 12-15.
Signing period runs from April 14 - May 19
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Looking back
I had to take a week to regroup and re-think the season that was at NMSU. And I was burnt out.
But I thought the best way to look at the season was a report card type of evaluation. Overall I would give the Aggies a B + on the season. Winning a WAC championship and playing a very competitive game in the NCAA Tournament is what we all remember, but it’s hard to forget the 3-6 start, losing another point guard during the season and the academic struggles of two players who proved capable of turning the season around.
First of all, let me remind you that I picked the Aggies to win the WAC (I also picked Utah State fifth) and my premise was that with a full compliment of players who were on the roster, the Aggies would be the most talented top seven or eight in the WAC. But as time passed, I wasn’t sure how big of a factor Troy Gillenwater and Wendell McKines would be even though they were still practicing with the team. It really speaks to the chemistry of the Aggies that didn’t seem to waver because as soon as those two were back, it was really like they had never left. Gillenwater had one bad game and Wendell didn’t have any, leading the league in rebounding for the second straight year.
So taking the Aggies as a whole once they had all of their horses, I would say the season was an A +. But the first nine games were brutal and I think a D is fair.
There were some highlights though. The first 15 minutes of the Fullerton game, Hamidu Rahman’s development a big road win at UTEP and the play of guards Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson to name a few.
Some lowlights, the second half of the Fullerton game, 31 turnovers at UNM, getting blown out by UTEP at home, losing by 32 at St. Mary’s and UCLA.
Rahman, Young and Gibson all had their moments, but there wasn’t much help out there as walk-ons and freshmen had to fill the gaps. If the offense was an A, the defense was a D there as well in the first nine games. The Lobos shot 65 percent in the first half in Las Cruces, Fullerton shot 58 percent in the second half and UCLA was 61 percent in the first half and 56 percent for the game.
The Aggies certainly improved on the defensive end in their postseason run, but the fact that no Aggies were named to the All-defensive team wasn’t a surprise.
The B + is the overall grade of the team.
For as much heat as Marvin Menzies took throughout the course of the season (some deserved, some manufactured by an unrealistic fan base), I thought he came out of the season with a B+ as well.
Menzies would get a B + in recruiting, mostly from McKines and Gillenwater, but Menzies recruits Tyrone Watson and Rahman showed that his other players developed. Bandja Sy and Abdoulaye N’doye are certainly question marks heading into the offseason.
Game management B + Aggies fans didn’t like the stall ball that the Aggies employed in some of their close games, but winning 12 games by six or fewer points before the Michigan State game speaks for itself. I can’t remember any crazy in-game adjustments that stood out, but the gameplans entering games were certainly more solid as the season went on and the Aggies got into conference play. And that means the players did their job listening to the scouting report and doing their jobs during the game, which you have to credit the coaching staff. It also seemed like this season Menzies seemed to trust his assistants, especially Mick Duram and Paul Weir.
Team management A + The Aggies have had academic struggles of some sort since Menzies has arrived and I don’t know how that will play out in the future. You have to take some chances at a place like NMSU, and Menzies has always defended his players. He has also run off players who didn’t fit the type of person he seems to be looking for — character players who listen. At some point, Menzies is going to have to bring in an impact recruit who can step in right away and contribute because how many of these project players do we expect to pan out? But as we await that answer, Menzies hasn’t wavered on his vision for the program, building it with young players.
Player development A Seeing McKines and Gillenwater once they were on the floor was evident both had put the time in with Tyler Cummings and on their game. But Rahman and Watson also improved. Rahman was easily the most improved player on the team and if he continues to develop, he will be a force in the paint next year.
This is another big offseason for the Aggies. If they return the core group of players and get some production from recruits, Menzies’ fourth year could be something special as the rest of his staff gained considerable experience this year as well.
But I thought the best way to look at the season was a report card type of evaluation. Overall I would give the Aggies a B + on the season. Winning a WAC championship and playing a very competitive game in the NCAA Tournament is what we all remember, but it’s hard to forget the 3-6 start, losing another point guard during the season and the academic struggles of two players who proved capable of turning the season around.
First of all, let me remind you that I picked the Aggies to win the WAC (I also picked Utah State fifth) and my premise was that with a full compliment of players who were on the roster, the Aggies would be the most talented top seven or eight in the WAC. But as time passed, I wasn’t sure how big of a factor Troy Gillenwater and Wendell McKines would be even though they were still practicing with the team. It really speaks to the chemistry of the Aggies that didn’t seem to waver because as soon as those two were back, it was really like they had never left. Gillenwater had one bad game and Wendell didn’t have any, leading the league in rebounding for the second straight year.
So taking the Aggies as a whole once they had all of their horses, I would say the season was an A +. But the first nine games were brutal and I think a D is fair.
There were some highlights though. The first 15 minutes of the Fullerton game, Hamidu Rahman’s development a big road win at UTEP and the play of guards Jahmar Young and Jonathan Gibson to name a few.
Some lowlights, the second half of the Fullerton game, 31 turnovers at UNM, getting blown out by UTEP at home, losing by 32 at St. Mary’s and UCLA.
Rahman, Young and Gibson all had their moments, but there wasn’t much help out there as walk-ons and freshmen had to fill the gaps. If the offense was an A, the defense was a D there as well in the first nine games. The Lobos shot 65 percent in the first half in Las Cruces, Fullerton shot 58 percent in the second half and UCLA was 61 percent in the first half and 56 percent for the game.
The Aggies certainly improved on the defensive end in their postseason run, but the fact that no Aggies were named to the All-defensive team wasn’t a surprise.
The B + is the overall grade of the team.
For as much heat as Marvin Menzies took throughout the course of the season (some deserved, some manufactured by an unrealistic fan base), I thought he came out of the season with a B+ as well.
Menzies would get a B + in recruiting, mostly from McKines and Gillenwater, but Menzies recruits Tyrone Watson and Rahman showed that his other players developed. Bandja Sy and Abdoulaye N’doye are certainly question marks heading into the offseason.
Game management B + Aggies fans didn’t like the stall ball that the Aggies employed in some of their close games, but winning 12 games by six or fewer points before the Michigan State game speaks for itself. I can’t remember any crazy in-game adjustments that stood out, but the gameplans entering games were certainly more solid as the season went on and the Aggies got into conference play. And that means the players did their job listening to the scouting report and doing their jobs during the game, which you have to credit the coaching staff. It also seemed like this season Menzies seemed to trust his assistants, especially Mick Duram and Paul Weir.
Team management A + The Aggies have had academic struggles of some sort since Menzies has arrived and I don’t know how that will play out in the future. You have to take some chances at a place like NMSU, and Menzies has always defended his players. He has also run off players who didn’t fit the type of person he seems to be looking for — character players who listen. At some point, Menzies is going to have to bring in an impact recruit who can step in right away and contribute because how many of these project players do we expect to pan out? But as we await that answer, Menzies hasn’t wavered on his vision for the program, building it with young players.
Player development A Seeing McKines and Gillenwater once they were on the floor was evident both had put the time in with Tyler Cummings and on their game. But Rahman and Watson also improved. Rahman was easily the most improved player on the team and if he continues to develop, he will be a force in the paint next year.
This is another big offseason for the Aggies. If they return the core group of players and get some production from recruits, Menzies’ fourth year could be something special as the rest of his staff gained considerable experience this year as well.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Notes from the Michigan State game
I forgot to post these following the game, but here are some noteworthy facts about the Aggies to send you into the offseason.
NMSU is not 10-20 in the NCAA Tournament.
Jahmar Young moves into second place all time for points in a season with 689. His 13 against Michigan State moved him past John Williamson (678) and he was short of Jimmy Collins' 754 points.
Jonathan Gibson's 106 3-point field goals made this season were a school record, passing Denmark Reid's 104.
Michigan State was outscored in the second half for the ninth time this season (38-28)....it was the second time this season the Spartans were outscored by more than five points in the second half.
Michigan State is 19-5 all time in the first round
The Spartans are 22-1 this season when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points. and they are 22-1 when leading at the half.
NMSU is not 10-20 in the NCAA Tournament.
Jahmar Young moves into second place all time for points in a season with 689. His 13 against Michigan State moved him past John Williamson (678) and he was short of Jimmy Collins' 754 points.
Jonathan Gibson's 106 3-point field goals made this season were a school record, passing Denmark Reid's 104.
Michigan State was outscored in the second half for the ninth time this season (38-28)....it was the second time this season the Spartans were outscored by more than five points in the second half.
Michigan State is 19-5 all time in the first round
The Spartans are 22-1 this season when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points. and they are 22-1 when leading at the half.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Postgame thoughts
First, if you would like to read postgame press conference quotes from all of the tournament sites, check out this link.
Well watching the replays on ESPN as I'm sure you all have, it appears that there was a clear lane violation.....in super slow motion.....by Wendell McKines.....not Troy Gillenwater. Although the correct call, a terrible call that will probably propel the Spartans into the Sweet 16 when the fact is they weren't the most talented team in Spokane this weekend, let alone on the court on Friday night. But Maryland isn't a Sweet 16 team either.
You have read Jahmar Young's comments and most likely seen them on television by now. Here is most of Marvin Menzies' comments on the lane violation.
"There is a lot of judgement and freedom of judgement that is given to officials. In (official Ray Perone) opinion, he felt like it was something he should call at the particular time of the game, whether it happened or not, I don't even know. It was on the other side of the court. And regardless of whether it happened or no, he called it so it's like a foul that you don't think is a foul. Did he call the foul? Yes. If called a foul, then it's in the score book as a foul and it exists as a foul statistically for the rest of history. So did he step in on the lane violation? Because Ray called it? Yes, he stepped in the lane. And it will be engraved in the NCAA stats forever. So it doesn't matter whether it happened or not. And how it affected the game? It's hard to tell.I know we would only have to score two if we would have only needed two we would have had a much different approach to the last few seconds. I would have had something else designed that would have been able to get us to the free throw line at the very least because we had some success penetrating the ball."
Jahmar Young said Kalin Lucas didn't make JY eat his words, but said Lucas was a "great player."
JY also questioned the officials, as he received a technical for what appeared to be words with Delvon Roe that ended up in the two players being T'd up.
"The refs took the air out of the game for me and as a whole, my team felt the same way. Techs for talking to a player? He said, 'good move' and i said 'I know' and he gave techs out. We are men. This is collegiate basketball. The next step is pros. We're happy to be here and so are they. We are putting it all on the line. Just don't take the air out of the ball."
Kalin Lucas is as good as advertised, scoring a career high 25, but except for a flurry from Durrell Summers early on, the Spartans weren't even the best offensive team the Aggies have seen this season. Sparty was 25.9 percent in the first half. A previous poster said, why not go man in the first half? I don't disagree, but it's common to save something for the second half isn't it?
I don't second guess the Aggies there. I would have liked to see them go inside a little more late in the game. JY and Gibson took some quick 3s. Gibson missed one when the Aggies were down 65-63 with under three left and JY missed a quick jumper. Both were good shots, but I believe Rahman was in the game and the Spartans didn't have an answer for him or Gillenwater.
"We shot the ball a little quick. They were feeling it and kind of went away from what we intended to do. Still want to get some reversal and the bigs were playing pretty good on the inside so we talked about getting inside-outside look. We are talking about JY and Gib. Those are your go-to guys."
Jahmar Young on staying on the floor after he picked up his fifth foul.
"I caught an inadvertant elbow. I'm OK. It wasn't nothing, I didn't bleed or nothing, just was trying to get by the elbow and it was just a mistake."
I watched JY for a little bit after he fouled out with 52 seconds left. It was absolutely killing him that he couldn't be in the game but he was encouraging his teammate Gordo. But you have to wonder what it would have been like on their last two possessions had JY been out there since he's good at getting to the line.
"He's money late and I would have probably had something drawn up that would have involved him for sure," Menzies said."We had good looks. No knock on Michigan State, but it wasn't like they did anything that didn't give us opportunity to get a look."
Well watching the replays on ESPN as I'm sure you all have, it appears that there was a clear lane violation.....in super slow motion.....by Wendell McKines.....not Troy Gillenwater. Although the correct call, a terrible call that will probably propel the Spartans into the Sweet 16 when the fact is they weren't the most talented team in Spokane this weekend, let alone on the court on Friday night. But Maryland isn't a Sweet 16 team either.
You have read Jahmar Young's comments and most likely seen them on television by now. Here is most of Marvin Menzies' comments on the lane violation.
"There is a lot of judgement and freedom of judgement that is given to officials. In (official Ray Perone) opinion, he felt like it was something he should call at the particular time of the game, whether it happened or not, I don't even know. It was on the other side of the court. And regardless of whether it happened or no, he called it so it's like a foul that you don't think is a foul. Did he call the foul? Yes. If called a foul, then it's in the score book as a foul and it exists as a foul statistically for the rest of history. So did he step in on the lane violation? Because Ray called it? Yes, he stepped in the lane. And it will be engraved in the NCAA stats forever. So it doesn't matter whether it happened or not. And how it affected the game? It's hard to tell.I know we would only have to score two if we would have only needed two we would have had a much different approach to the last few seconds. I would have had something else designed that would have been able to get us to the free throw line at the very least because we had some success penetrating the ball."
Jahmar Young said Kalin Lucas didn't make JY eat his words, but said Lucas was a "great player."
JY also questioned the officials, as he received a technical for what appeared to be words with Delvon Roe that ended up in the two players being T'd up.
"The refs took the air out of the game for me and as a whole, my team felt the same way. Techs for talking to a player? He said, 'good move' and i said 'I know' and he gave techs out. We are men. This is collegiate basketball. The next step is pros. We're happy to be here and so are they. We are putting it all on the line. Just don't take the air out of the ball."
Kalin Lucas is as good as advertised, scoring a career high 25, but except for a flurry from Durrell Summers early on, the Spartans weren't even the best offensive team the Aggies have seen this season. Sparty was 25.9 percent in the first half. A previous poster said, why not go man in the first half? I don't disagree, but it's common to save something for the second half isn't it?
I don't second guess the Aggies there. I would have liked to see them go inside a little more late in the game. JY and Gibson took some quick 3s. Gibson missed one when the Aggies were down 65-63 with under three left and JY missed a quick jumper. Both were good shots, but I believe Rahman was in the game and the Spartans didn't have an answer for him or Gillenwater.
"We shot the ball a little quick. They were feeling it and kind of went away from what we intended to do. Still want to get some reversal and the bigs were playing pretty good on the inside so we talked about getting inside-outside look. We are talking about JY and Gib. Those are your go-to guys."
Jahmar Young on staying on the floor after he picked up his fifth foul.
"I caught an inadvertant elbow. I'm OK. It wasn't nothing, I didn't bleed or nothing, just was trying to get by the elbow and it was just a mistake."
I watched JY for a little bit after he fouled out with 52 seconds left. It was absolutely killing him that he couldn't be in the game but he was encouraging his teammate Gordo. But you have to wonder what it would have been like on their last two possessions had JY been out there since he's good at getting to the line.
"He's money late and I would have probably had something drawn up that would have involved him for sure," Menzies said."We had good looks. No knock on Michigan State, but it wasn't like they did anything that didn't give us opportunity to get a look."
Friday, March 19, 2010
Predictions
Jahmar Young compared the Spartans Kalin Lucas to Jonathan Gibson in terms of size and quickness. I think the Aggies would be well served to play a little man to man tonight with gibson on Lucas for stretches.
The keys to the game for me are rebounding and 3-point shooting. As in, the Aggies have to do both well in order to have a chance. Playing so much zone lends itself to giving up offensive rebounds, something the Spartans do 13.5 times per game. I don't know how the Aggies will all of a sudden become a good rebounding team, but they need to in order to have a chance in this game.
They also need to knock down the 3, which I think they will. I think playing against a different opponent that doesn't know the Aggies as well might give up some open looks early that they need to knock down.
Two guys I think need to play well are Hernst Laroche and Hamidu Rahman. If 6-8 freshman Derrick Nix starts at center, hopefully the Aggies will give Rahman some early touches inside. When Michigan State puts Draymond Green in the game, expect the Aggies to counter with Troy Gillenwater and the game to turn into a track meet. Laroche has played against some good point guards in his career and held his own. He does a good job taking care of the ball, but Laroche, like the other NMSU shooters, will need to hit some shots.
The keys to the game for me are rebounding and 3-point shooting. As in, the Aggies have to do both well in order to have a chance. Playing so much zone lends itself to giving up offensive rebounds, something the Spartans do 13.5 times per game. I don't know how the Aggies will all of a sudden become a good rebounding team, but they need to in order to have a chance in this game.
They also need to knock down the 3, which I think they will. I think playing against a different opponent that doesn't know the Aggies as well might give up some open looks early that they need to knock down.
Two guys I think need to play well are Hernst Laroche and Hamidu Rahman. If 6-8 freshman Derrick Nix starts at center, hopefully the Aggies will give Rahman some early touches inside. When Michigan State puts Draymond Green in the game, expect the Aggies to counter with Troy Gillenwater and the game to turn into a track meet. Laroche has played against some good point guards in his career and held his own. He does a good job taking care of the ball, but Laroche, like the other NMSU shooters, will need to hit some shots.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Bottom half notes
Should the Aggies advance, here are fun, informative facts on Maryland and Houston, who play at 7:40 on Friday.
Houston and NMSU are similar in that the Cougars are making their 19th appearance and also facing a tournament staple in Maryland. Although Houston's tournament drought went back to 1992 while NMSU has been here twice since 2007.
Houston
Possesses the nation's leading scorer in senior guard Aubrey Coleman at 25.6 per game. The 6-4, 200 pounder from Houston is also seventh in the country with 2.7 steals per game. He had a three-game stretch of 30 plus games this season. Guard Kelvin Lewis had 28 points and hit six 3s against UTEP in the C-USA championship game. Lewis was the C-USA tournament MVP.
Coaching
Tom Penders heas led four teams to the tournament and is 5-0 in Midwest Region first round games and is 6-1 in the first round when his team is seeded 10th or lower. He is tied with Maryland's Gary Williams for fifth on the active wins list with 648.
Maryland
In the tournament for the 14th time in the past 17 years. They have won nine of 11 entering the tournament. Guard Greivis Vasquez was named the ACC POY. The Terps are 5-3 as a No. 4 seed and 21-9 as one of the top four seeds. Vasquez was second in the ACC with 23.8 points per game, but he's also second in FT percentage, 3-point FG, he leads the ACC with 6.3 assists per game and he has led the Terps in rebounds seven times. The Terps led the league with 16.4 assists per game.
Coaching
Gary Williams is 441-237 at Maryland. He's 28-15 in the tournament and 24-12 at Maryland. He's second among active ACC coaches with 202 wins in the ACC.
Houston and NMSU are similar in that the Cougars are making their 19th appearance and also facing a tournament staple in Maryland. Although Houston's tournament drought went back to 1992 while NMSU has been here twice since 2007.
Houston
Possesses the nation's leading scorer in senior guard Aubrey Coleman at 25.6 per game. The 6-4, 200 pounder from Houston is also seventh in the country with 2.7 steals per game. He had a three-game stretch of 30 plus games this season. Guard Kelvin Lewis had 28 points and hit six 3s against UTEP in the C-USA championship game. Lewis was the C-USA tournament MVP.
Coaching
Tom Penders heas led four teams to the tournament and is 5-0 in Midwest Region first round games and is 6-1 in the first round when his team is seeded 10th or lower. He is tied with Maryland's Gary Williams for fifth on the active wins list with 648.
Maryland
In the tournament for the 14th time in the past 17 years. They have won nine of 11 entering the tournament. Guard Greivis Vasquez was named the ACC POY. The Terps are 5-3 as a No. 4 seed and 21-9 as one of the top four seeds. Vasquez was second in the ACC with 23.8 points per game, but he's also second in FT percentage, 3-point FG, he leads the ACC with 6.3 assists per game and he has led the Terps in rebounds seven times. The Terps led the league with 16.4 assists per game.
Coaching
Gary Williams is 441-237 at Maryland. He's 28-15 in the tournament and 24-12 at Maryland. He's second among active ACC coaches with 202 wins in the ACC.
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