NMSU hasn't been swept by both of its rivals since 2004-05, which I believe was the season Lou Henson was sick and the Aggies finished 6-24.
On Tuesday, the Aggies were halfway there after a 74-72 loss at home to UTEP.
I talked with Jack Nixon prior to the game. He said that unfortunately, the rivalry games are the games most fans base their opinion on for the rest of the year. NMSU is 3-11 against UNM and UTEP under Marvin Menzies. They've lost their last five against the Lobos, who come to town on Saturday and without Wendell McKines, the Aggies aren't likely to win at the Pit where they haven't won since 2002.
I was wondering what Aggies fans who read this blog felt. Would you rather beat the rivals or improve come WAC time with a mediocre record? The Aggies have certainly improved late in the year under Menzies, but this is the second time the Aggies start 2-5 in his four years here.
Other notes from the loss ...
— A huge play in the game was a Troy Gillenwater technical foul in the first half. He had just put the Aggies ahead with back to back 3s and then Christian Kabongo came back to tie the game at 30-30 but Gillenwater was whistled for a technical as the teams headed back up the floor. Randy Culpepper hit the free throws to put the Miners up for good.
— Hernst Laroche was great down the stretch, but he was 0-for-8 at one point and made his first field goal with 4:54 to play. Players will have off shooting nights from time to time, but he hhad just four assists with two turnovers. As one of two Aggies players who can get his own shot, Laroche can't afford too many 4-of-12 efforts.
— Again, I don't think the Miners are as talented as they've been in previous years. Tim Floyd outcoached the Aggies tonight I think. Culpepper went nuts from behind the arc in the first half, so what does Floyd do in the second half. Claude Britten, who would be a mid-level WAC post player, went right at Chili Nephawe to start the second half and helped push a five point halftime lead to 12 so Culpepper and Christian Polk could close it. Gordo Castillo had to be on the court for his experience and 3-point shooting, but the Miners were patient on offense and found the mismatch with Julyan Stone driving on Gordo whenever they were matched up.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Rahman out
Hamidu Rahman will not play tonight with an injured calf muscle. He's day to day for the UNM game on Saturday. Apparently it happened in practice on Monday.
Chili Nephawe will get the start.
Chili Nephawe will get the start.
Women's schedule
NMSU women's coach Darin Spence said he has 29 of the 30 games pencilled in for the Aggies schedule next season.
The schedule includes 17 home games and new home-and-away series with St. Mary's and Santa Barbara. Idaho State, Arizona, Washington State, St. Mary's, Santa Barbara, Florida A&M come to the Pan Am. The Aggies have road games at Missouri-Kansas City and they open at Houston.
NMSU plays UNM on Tuesday. It seems like they have a shot at ending a five-game losing streak to UNM.
The schedule includes 17 home games and new home-and-away series with St. Mary's and Santa Barbara. Idaho State, Arizona, Washington State, St. Mary's, Santa Barbara, Florida A&M come to the Pan Am. The Aggies have road games at Missouri-Kansas City and they open at Houston.
NMSU plays UNM on Tuesday. It seems like they have a shot at ending a five-game losing streak to UNM.
Monday, November 29, 2010
McKines update
Wendell McKines has a December 7 appointment with his doctor. He's still walking with one crutch, but Marvin Menzies believes the questions regarding his return either this year or next will become a bit clearer at that time.
"He might make a decision then or we will sit down. That would be nine games before we know what's going on. They will tell us what their opinion is and what the prognosis is for him being 100 percent. Once we know that date, we can make an assessment."
"He might make a decision then or we will sit down. That would be nine games before we know what's going on. They will tell us what their opinion is and what the prognosis is for him being 100 percent. Once we know that date, we can make an assessment."
Miners Round 2
I want to start by saying I expect an Aggies win on Tuesday. I don't think Jeremy Williams and Christian Polk can combine to hit 7 3s and I expect the same dominance on the glass and in the paint as we saw in El Paso.
"They had a few unchallenged 3s and they made a couple of them," Marvin Menzies said. "If they are going to take a shot, it needs to be a heavily challenged shot. If you get rolling, now your concentration and confidence is high. Those guys got warm and were comfortable in their own building. You have to hope that you can create a different atmosphere here."
Things I would like to see ....
Hamidu Rahman needs to start playing better all around. I think the key to that is giving it to the big man early and getting him on the board. Unfortunately, Hamidu lets his offense dictate how he plays on the other end I think, so some baskets and touches early could be big for him and the Aggies.
I talked to Troy Gillenwater on Monday. NMSU coaches said they weren't expecting UTEP point guard Julyan Stone to guard Gillenwater. Troy expects it again on Tuesday.
"I wasn't surprised. He is one of their best defenders," Gillenwater said. "He made me work for every bucket I got. He has long arms and is quick. He's a point guard but not an average point guard. I'm pretty sure they are going to do the same thing. They doubled me in the post and whenever I caught the ball in the post, I looked over my shoulder and there was two people right there."
Here are some comments postgame from Tim Floyd on why he had Stone matched up with Gillenwater.
"It was just something that we wanted to experiment with," Floyd said. "We've looked at Jeremy Williams and looked at (Gabriel McCulley) on those 4-man matchups. Julyan has been very good in practice. I love his versatility and the guy is literally as good a defender as I've coached and it's because h is motor runs and he worries about his assignment. He has shown us he can guard 1-4."
While Stone may very well be a good defensive player, the Aggies have to move off the ball when Gillenwater has it in the post. UTEP did well to get the ball out of his hands and Gillenwater made the right decision when he was doubled. Other players have to help out. Jeremy Williams was usually the UTEP player to come off his man in pick and roll or to stop penetration, meaning the Miners don't respect NMSU's role players ability to knock down shots.
"I would say there is a bit of watching," Tyrone Watson said. "We kind of rely on him to score a chunk of their points. When he gets the ball, everyone is kind of in a standstill mode just expecting him to be a superstar and score every basket and sometimes it's not realistic."
Watson, Gordo Castillo and Bandja Sy have to be productive offensively, even if it's assists or offensive rebounds, not necessarily scoring.
"We need to take good shots," Watson said. "I think a lot of us got out of our norm and a lot of people did things we don't normally do and then when we kind of hit a wall, we all crumbled onto each other and it resulted in a team breakdown kind of thing."
Watson talked about playing more man to man. They did a great job in it early in the second half of the first game, forcing six straight turnovers I believe at one point to get back into the game. I know that's what the Aggies ultimately want to play, but don't know if they are there yet just from a desire standpoint. I think the Aggies could be good once they realize they aren't going to be the offensive force they were a year ago. They are going to need to grind it out and tire teams out I believe.
"We just have to make shots and get stops. Defense is key in every game," Gillenwater said. "We killed them on the glass but we didn't get stops. We have to give credit to them because they shot the ball. I just remember taking the ball out of the net every time. We do it at times but it's not consistent enough right now."
"They had a few unchallenged 3s and they made a couple of them," Marvin Menzies said. "If they are going to take a shot, it needs to be a heavily challenged shot. If you get rolling, now your concentration and confidence is high. Those guys got warm and were comfortable in their own building. You have to hope that you can create a different atmosphere here."
Things I would like to see ....
Hamidu Rahman needs to start playing better all around. I think the key to that is giving it to the big man early and getting him on the board. Unfortunately, Hamidu lets his offense dictate how he plays on the other end I think, so some baskets and touches early could be big for him and the Aggies.
I talked to Troy Gillenwater on Monday. NMSU coaches said they weren't expecting UTEP point guard Julyan Stone to guard Gillenwater. Troy expects it again on Tuesday.
"I wasn't surprised. He is one of their best defenders," Gillenwater said. "He made me work for every bucket I got. He has long arms and is quick. He's a point guard but not an average point guard. I'm pretty sure they are going to do the same thing. They doubled me in the post and whenever I caught the ball in the post, I looked over my shoulder and there was two people right there."
Here are some comments postgame from Tim Floyd on why he had Stone matched up with Gillenwater.
"It was just something that we wanted to experiment with," Floyd said. "We've looked at Jeremy Williams and looked at (Gabriel McCulley) on those 4-man matchups. Julyan has been very good in practice. I love his versatility and the guy is literally as good a defender as I've coached and it's because h is motor runs and he worries about his assignment. He has shown us he can guard 1-4."
While Stone may very well be a good defensive player, the Aggies have to move off the ball when Gillenwater has it in the post. UTEP did well to get the ball out of his hands and Gillenwater made the right decision when he was doubled. Other players have to help out. Jeremy Williams was usually the UTEP player to come off his man in pick and roll or to stop penetration, meaning the Miners don't respect NMSU's role players ability to knock down shots.
"I would say there is a bit of watching," Tyrone Watson said. "We kind of rely on him to score a chunk of their points. When he gets the ball, everyone is kind of in a standstill mode just expecting him to be a superstar and score every basket and sometimes it's not realistic."
Watson, Gordo Castillo and Bandja Sy have to be productive offensively, even if it's assists or offensive rebounds, not necessarily scoring.
"We need to take good shots," Watson said. "I think a lot of us got out of our norm and a lot of people did things we don't normally do and then when we kind of hit a wall, we all crumbled onto each other and it resulted in a team breakdown kind of thing."
Watson talked about playing more man to man. They did a great job in it early in the second half of the first game, forcing six straight turnovers I believe at one point to get back into the game. I know that's what the Aggies ultimately want to play, but don't know if they are there yet just from a desire standpoint. I think the Aggies could be good once they realize they aren't going to be the offensive force they were a year ago. They are going to need to grind it out and tire teams out I believe.
"We just have to make shots and get stops. Defense is key in every game," Gillenwater said. "We killed them on the glass but we didn't get stops. We have to give credit to them because they shot the ball. I just remember taking the ball out of the net every time. We do it at times but it's not consistent enough right now."
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
It's always something
When was the last time you saw a team outrebound a team by 20 plus and lose? Has the other team shot 10 of 19 from 3-point land in a half? Probably not but that's what UTEP did on Tuesday in a 73-56 win over the Aggies.
That being said, UTEP isn't a very good team right now. Perhaps the Aggies can get the split next week.
Some things that stood out to me:
Gordo's shot is back. He was 2-of-4 from long range. Kabongo did a good job on Randy Culpepper. Kabongo had 7 points, 6 rebounds and picked Culpepper's pocket on an attempted blow by.
Julyan Stone, the Miners' point guard, guarded Troy Gillenwater. Stone got help in the post. Interesting matchup to watch if it happens again. Stone wasn't effective on offense shooting 1 of 6 with 7 boards and five assists.
Gillenwater was solid and he played 38 minutes. 18 points, 14 rebounds on 6 of 15 shooting.
That being said, UTEP isn't a very good team right now. Perhaps the Aggies can get the split next week.
Some things that stood out to me:
Gordo's shot is back. He was 2-of-4 from long range. Kabongo did a good job on Randy Culpepper. Kabongo had 7 points, 6 rebounds and picked Culpepper's pocket on an attempted blow by.
Julyan Stone, the Miners' point guard, guarded Troy Gillenwater. Stone got help in the post. Interesting matchup to watch if it happens again. Stone wasn't effective on offense shooting 1 of 6 with 7 boards and five assists.
Gillenwater was solid and he played 38 minutes. 18 points, 14 rebounds on 6 of 15 shooting.
Thoughts on UTEP
NMSU coaches approached the first meeting the Miners with the idea that the Aggies are familiar with the key players UTEP has. Through the first three games, Tim Floyd has kept the dribble drive motion offense the Miners played under Barbee. In the half court, Floyd has added NBA sets designed to isolate Randy Culpepper, Jeremy Williams and Julyan Stone.
Williams still doesn't have a jumper but he is explosive and looks to drive and get to the foul line. Tyrone Watson or Troy Gillenwater will likely guard him if the Aggies are in man.
Julyan Stone has a significant height advantage over Hernst Laroche. The Miners have posted Stone up in the past. If it happens again, it's the center's responsibility to help.
Culpepper and freshman Christian Kabongo could be a good matchup if Kabongo can find his way through screens.
John Bohannon and Claude Britton are in the post for the Miners, who essentially start four guards in Culpepper, Stone, Christian Polk and Williams as an undersized four. Unless the Miners center grabs a rebound, any of the other four will grab the rebound and start the break so it's important for NMSU to get back. Stone is averaging eight boards a game.
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