Terrance Joyner is running through the layup line so he was officially cleared today so we will see how much time he gets but he certainly adds some much needed depth both in practice and at the point guard position.
Also on this blog entry, would you all be interested in halftime updates of all games on the blog? I don't know how much readers would check the blog when you can watch online. Let me know.
Finally, Jahmar Young made his singing debut on the jumbotron, singing christmas carols so keep an eye out for that next time you come to the Pan Am
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Theus
These days it seems like losing a job in the NBA is better than actually winning.
Don't know if you saw this yet. I'm not a huge Parish fan but I think he puts it pretty well here. Former NBA players have turned into great NBA coaches, but it seems that Theus is more suited to college because the younger players want to reach where Theus has been. Who knows how he managed an NBA roster in a NBA city, but in a college town, Theus would be a big fish in a small pond who has a limited amount of proven success at NMSU.
Don't know if you saw this yet. I'm not a huge Parish fan but I think he puts it pretty well here. Former NBA players have turned into great NBA coaches, but it seems that Theus is more suited to college because the younger players want to reach where Theus has been. Who knows how he managed an NBA roster in a NBA city, but in a college town, Theus would be a big fish in a small pond who has a limited amount of proven success at NMSU.
Shot in the arm
Here is a snippet from my advance story on the Prairie View A&M game, but I'm sure this is what everyone wants to know.
After practicing with 11 players thus far, the Aggies hope to gain an influx and the depth that comes with it.
Freshman scholarship point guard Terrance Joyner and freshman guard Makhtar Diop could dress tonight. Diop and Joyner each arrived last spring, but have yet to suit up.
Joyner figures to add some depth at the point guard position, which freshman Hernst Laroche has played, almost exclusively, thus far.
“We have to wait until all of his grades get posted, and once his grades are posted, he will be eligible to play,” Menzies said. “Just because he is eligible to play doesn’t mean he is going to play. He doesn’t know the plays. It’s going to take a little time. People have to be patient and understand that.”
Menzies believes it is likely Joyner, and perhaps even guard Makhtar, could suit up tonight.
“I have a feeling that he will,” Menzies said. “I think the grades have to be in tonight at midnight. Given he has the right grade point average and so forth, he will join us officially. Makhtar is in the same boat.”
Joyner practiced for the first time on Saturday and the Aggies were off on Monday, so Tuesday was his second practice.
“We do need to try to get him minutes and we have to get him practice time and reps,” Menzies said. “He seems to be in shape. He has done a good job taking care of his conditioning so we will see where it goes from there.”
The biggest thing about this to me is not only the depth that it adds, but like coach said, the practice bodies. It's probably hard to do everything you want to do in practice when you only have 11 guys on the court and having Joyner and Laroche go at each other in practice will make both guys better.
After practicing with 11 players thus far, the Aggies hope to gain an influx and the depth that comes with it.
Freshman scholarship point guard Terrance Joyner and freshman guard Makhtar Diop could dress tonight. Diop and Joyner each arrived last spring, but have yet to suit up.
Joyner figures to add some depth at the point guard position, which freshman Hernst Laroche has played, almost exclusively, thus far.
“We have to wait until all of his grades get posted, and once his grades are posted, he will be eligible to play,” Menzies said. “Just because he is eligible to play doesn’t mean he is going to play. He doesn’t know the plays. It’s going to take a little time. People have to be patient and understand that.”
Menzies believes it is likely Joyner, and perhaps even guard Makhtar, could suit up tonight.
“I have a feeling that he will,” Menzies said. “I think the grades have to be in tonight at midnight. Given he has the right grade point average and so forth, he will join us officially. Makhtar is in the same boat.”
Joyner practiced for the first time on Saturday and the Aggies were off on Monday, so Tuesday was his second practice.
“We do need to try to get him minutes and we have to get him practice time and reps,” Menzies said. “He seems to be in shape. He has done a good job taking care of his conditioning so we will see where it goes from there.”
The biggest thing about this to me is not only the depth that it adds, but like coach said, the practice bodies. It's probably hard to do everything you want to do in practice when you only have 11 guys on the court and having Joyner and Laroche go at each other in practice will make both guys better.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
UTEP game
First I asked Coach Menzies about Terrance Joyner and Jahmar Young on Saturday. As of Saturday afternoon, Menzies said the Joyner situation was "status quo" meaning he's unlikely to suit up against UTEP unless something happened late in the day. I also asked him about Jahmar Young, and he said Young is fine after suffering a hand injury last week at North Texas.
Moving on to the Miners, I went and watched their game against UNLV. I'm a big NBA fan and watching the MIners reminds me of watching the Cavs sometimes. They try to get a transition bucket and if it's not there, either Stefon Jackson or Randy Culpepper try to create something off the dribble with Culpepper pulling up for a three or Jackson driving.
Culpepper is very athletic and very streaky while Jackson is consistent and more polished. I liked the freshman power forward Moultrie and Claude Britten, who came off the bench at center but i thought he was their best threat in the paint. Kareem Cooper (7-foot) starts with the 6-11 Britten coming off the bench.
Finally I didn't think UTEP did a good job getting back in transition defensively so the Aggies match up well in that aspect in that they are more than capable of getting up and down.
Moving on to the Miners, I went and watched their game against UNLV. I'm a big NBA fan and watching the MIners reminds me of watching the Cavs sometimes. They try to get a transition bucket and if it's not there, either Stefon Jackson or Randy Culpepper try to create something off the dribble with Culpepper pulling up for a three or Jackson driving.
Culpepper is very athletic and very streaky while Jackson is consistent and more polished. I liked the freshman power forward Moultrie and Claude Britten, who came off the bench at center but i thought he was their best threat in the paint. Kareem Cooper (7-foot) starts with the 6-11 Britten coming off the bench.
Finally I didn't think UTEP did a good job getting back in transition defensively so the Aggies match up well in that aspect in that they are more than capable of getting up and down.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Terrance Joyner
Aggies coach Marvin Menzies said that freshman point guard Terrance Joyner has been cleared to practice on Saturday. I hope to talk with Terrance in the next couple of days. However, practice and playing are two different things. While it is possible he could be eligible to play on Sunday, I think the soonest you could see him in uniform will be next week vs. Prairie View. Grades become official on the 16th I believe, but anything is possible. If he is cleared to play I will let you know.
Also, Menzies said the Aggies are in the planning stages for a road game at UCLA next year.
Also, Menzies said the Aggies are in the planning stages for a road game at UCLA next year.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Kansas
From reading various things lastnight and today I learned a couple things that were hard to determine listening to the game on the radio.
I think Aldrich being in foul trouble early on contributed to the fact that game didn't turn the way it ended up until the second half. Rebounding continues to be an issue for the Aggies. I think that their forwards are their best rebounders and hopefully one of their centers will assert themselves on the boards as the season goes on.Finally, the Aggies have proven that they can score and that should carry them in the WAC if their rebounding doesn't pick up. The 79 points they scored tied for the fourth most scored at Allen Fieldhouse in Bill Self's six years at KU. Score there and they can score anywhere
I think Aldrich being in foul trouble early on contributed to the fact that game didn't turn the way it ended up until the second half. Rebounding continues to be an issue for the Aggies. I think that their forwards are their best rebounders and hopefully one of their centers will assert themselves on the boards as the season goes on.Finally, the Aggies have proven that they can score and that should carry them in the WAC if their rebounding doesn't pick up. The 79 points they scored tied for the fourth most scored at Allen Fieldhouse in Bill Self's six years at KU. Score there and they can score anywhere
Monday, December 1, 2008
Discipline
This term could mean a lot of things for the men's basketball team this season, both in tough game situations and in the way Coach Menzies is handling his players this season.
First regarding Menzies, I think he did the right thing sitting Gabriel and Gibson for Sunday's game. Both are likely to return to the lineup on Wednesday at Kansas. Did it cost him the game? It's likely the Aggies wouldn't have been in the situation they found themselves in, losing on the road, with Gibson on the floor. But Menzies had already set a precedent earlier this season and to back off that now with a group of young guys could have cost him down the road. It sends a strong message that he is willing to sit a starter for not being where they are supposed to be.
On the court, it was good the Aggies got a close game in. The Aggie women for example, lost a couple close games before they learned how to win one the other night. Maybe against Kansas, but certainly against North Texas on Saturday, the Long Beach game will pay dividends as far as coming out on top in some of these close games.
First regarding Menzies, I think he did the right thing sitting Gabriel and Gibson for Sunday's game. Both are likely to return to the lineup on Wednesday at Kansas. Did it cost him the game? It's likely the Aggies wouldn't have been in the situation they found themselves in, losing on the road, with Gibson on the floor. But Menzies had already set a precedent earlier this season and to back off that now with a group of young guys could have cost him down the road. It sends a strong message that he is willing to sit a starter for not being where they are supposed to be.
On the court, it was good the Aggies got a close game in. The Aggie women for example, lost a couple close games before they learned how to win one the other night. Maybe against Kansas, but certainly against North Texas on Saturday, the Long Beach game will pay dividends as far as coming out on top in some of these close games.
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