Wednesday, April 25, 2012

NMSU signs a pair of shooters

On one day, the Aggies have matched the number of quote unquote shooters they had from a year ago.

NMSU signed 6-7 Croatia international Matej Buovac, addressing a need for a shooter from the perimeter. Here is a link to a blog entry I wrote on the young man prior to a visit he made to NMSU during the season.

Seems like a wing player with size, likely to contribute as a spot shooter off the bench. I believe that leaves the Aggies with one remaining scholarship.

Also joining the fold is Santa Rosa Junior College shooter Kevin Aronis, who averaged 12.3 points per game and shot 40 percent from 3-point range.  Aronis is interesting because he's the first junior college player to sign with the Aggies under Marvin Menzies. It shows the glaring weakness as the team gets ready for next  year.

Bandja Sy, Eric Weary, today's signees. While none are proven Division I shooters, the Aggies can ride one or two with the hot hand throughout the course of a game. Just my impression of the addition without ever seeing them play.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Menzies sticking around for now

LAS CRUCES — Multiple sources have confirmed that New Mexico State men’s head basketball coach Marvin Menzies has withdrawn his name from the list of candidates to become Colorado State’s next head coach.




Along the same lines, I wrote an email to Mike Martin because of the link to Menzies, and here is what he wrote back to me. 





"Marvin is certainly a viable candidate as is Reggie Theus. In all likelihood we'll pursue a candidate or candidates with Louisiana connections. Several have been the subject of initial consideration.
We will probably resolve our coaching situation by early next week. I hope Marvin stays at NMSU but he will succeed wherever he goes."

Thursday, April 5, 2012

CSU would be a logical next stop for Menzies

Personally, I was a bit surprised when Marvin Menzies' name was linked to Tim Miles old job at Colorado State. I thought perhaps Menzies was another year or two away from moving up the coaching ladder but getting to the NCAA's twice in three years will no doubt get him noticed.

Reports are out that Colorado State AD Jack Graham likely reached out to Menzies in New Orleans last weekend. The school hired JMI Sports for 75,000 to help conduct its coaching search.

Colorado State is good job with more resources.  The school paid another search firm $250000 to help hire football coach Jim McElwain.  McElwain signed at CSU for $1.5 million.

Miles made $500,000 last year while Menzies was in the $300,000 range last year. When his contract was extended prior to last season, receiving more money was simply not an option according to NMSU officials. Even if NMSU were able to come up with additional money, could the school near the half-million mark?

Doubtful.

Southern Miss head man Larry Eustachy, New Mexico assistant Craig Neal, and Weber State coach Randy Rahe, a man with CSU ties are also believed to be candidates for the position. Menzies has not interviewed but the CSU AD expects to name a coach in the next week.

Tough economic times at NMSU make it possible to believe Menzies is looking forward to the next stage of his career. NMSU coaches are expected to raise a required amount of money fundraising. In a conversation with Menzies early last season, he said he probably spends about 20 hours per week at certain periods throughout the year fundraising. He's good at it. But while it may not be unheard of at other schools, larger programs likely don't put such demands on the head coach.

Menzies has done about as well as a coach at NMSU can be expected. Put his team in contention for the WAC every year and get to the NCAA once every two or three years. I believe he likes it at NMSU  but there are stiff challenges here facing any coach. CSU would make sense.