But the reality is that after
losing back-to-back road games to Chicago
State and Missouri-Kansas
City last weekend, the Aggies are
currently in fourth place in the conference standings behind 4-0 Utah Valley ,
3-1 Chicago State
and 3-2 Missouri-Kansas
City .
That's the backdrop entering this weekend's
single game against 2-3Texas-Pan American on Saturday at the Pan American
Center .
"I think the guys know that they
didn't play well and they got beat," said Aggies coach Marvin Menzies,
whose team is 14-7 overall and 3-2 in WAC play. "Teams are going to be
motivated to play against us and we didn't respond the way that I would have
liked."
Menzies gave his players three days
off following Saturday's 68-66 loss to UMKC, not only to regroup, but for
players like Daniel Mullings and DK Eldridge (ankle) to rest.
"We needed it," Menzies
said. "DK was struggling a little bit and Daniel needed the rest. Having
those extra days off are valuable for the long term."
***
Menzies had targeted Saturday's
game for a possible return for NMSU sophomore center Sim Bhullar, who has
missed the Aggies first five WAC games with a foot injury.
"I have heard some different
things and we are still having him evaluated," Menzies said. "I'm not
sure if he will play this weekend or next weekend. I was maybe more optimistic
that he would be back, but we can't afford to push him back too quickly. We
want to have him for the rest of the year when he does come back."
***
Texas-Pan American has won its last
two games against UMKC and Chicago
State , both on the road.
UTPA had lost 10 straight prior to last weekend, beating Chicago State
84-61 two nights after the Cougars beat NMSU.
"You just don't know what you
will get on a given night," Menzies said. "I know what we are going
to get. We are going to get every team's best shot, but we have to use that as
motivation and be ready. (UTPA) won two tough games on the road. They have a
lot of talent and it looks like they are learning how to play together."
The Aggies opened WAC play last
year with back-to-back road losses at Texas-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. NMSU
went on to win its next 12 games.
"When we look back at it,
hopefully it will serve as an opportunity to really focus in and grow as a
team," Menzies said.
***
After losing two WAC games, the
Aggies dropped from 54 to 76 in this week's NCAA RPI rankings. At 4-0 in WAC
play, Utah Valley
jumped from 199 to 149, followed by Chicago
State (187), UMKC (193), Seattle (242), Idaho
(271), Grand Canyon (273), Bakersfield
(274) and UTPA (308).
2 comments:
Denial starts with the coach:
"I think the guys know that they didn't play well and they got beat," said Aggies coach Marvin Menzies.
Throwing your players under the bus and not taking responsibility for the outcome is something good coaches don't do.
Alan
I see the team not playing with focus and heart. Stop being so average.
It starts with the coach ~ get some fire and stop wondering when and if Sim will save the season. Bunch of babys
Cory
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