tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post3428669343683083377..comments2023-03-22T09:16:14.682-06:00Comments on Basketball Diaries: Halfway home: Looking back, ahead at Aggies and WACJason Groveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865320061941648252noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-5125625488247565092011-01-27T20:01:43.379-07:002011-01-27T20:01:43.379-07:00Sitting at the game...why don't the ags ever t...Sitting at the game...why don't the ags ever take the hard foul on the breakaway layups? Playing weak!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-60675270063088436202011-01-27T15:48:07.261-07:002011-01-27T15:48:07.261-07:00Could be the last time you get to yell "Noona...Could be the last time you get to yell "Noonan" in the Pan Am. Maybe the guy will miss from the charity stripe before he graduates. Can't believe he was sticking JY at the end of the triple OT tourney loss after JY dropped 33 on BSU his freshman year. Ags kept Noonan off the glass though. They need to work on him and Montreal and they can factor in the WAC outcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-58704505902425274132011-01-27T12:50:36.591-07:002011-01-27T12:50:36.591-07:00Aggies must play with a little more of a chip on t...Aggies must play with a little more of a chip on their shoulder to get in there and box out for boards. Hustle for loose balls is good but down low is where games are won/lost. Anon 1:55 is correct. That's what Wendell brings to the team. If somebody shows Chile how to channel his emotion he'll be an automatic double-double. Soft hands for a big guy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-38522660062046401842011-01-27T11:44:19.770-07:002011-01-27T11:44:19.770-07:00no, don't play cupcakes. Remember two years a...no, don't play cupcakes. Remember two years ago all the complaints were about Boston, Menzies and the weak schedule. This year they had far and away the toughest preseason schedule, overall good for the team's progress despite L's, and what you hear is more complaints from the same vocal whining minority. Serving up instant milk to these folks ain't possible. What's Theus coach now? ..AAU still? He'd be all but forgotten in Las Cruces it wasn't for Knauber and a transfer from Prairie View A&M and a throat punch to Coby Karl. Glad to see that Menzies isn't entering melees or jumping on the scorer's table with his own cult of personality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-67770543531488727062011-01-26T14:57:50.744-07:002011-01-26T14:57:50.744-07:00El Guapo -
Next year's success won't mean ...El Guapo -<br />Next year's success won't mean near as much to you if you don't suffer as a fan through the lean times. Who wants to win more than the players, but what Menzies is holding them back? They can't get the ball through the hoop right now. You can go along for that ride with them by attending games. For fans who just want to follow a coach, how's McCarthy's career coming along (which is not to say that I didn't enjoy his success)? Cannot believe that a fan who has mailed it in bothers to check JG's blogsite. Rest of you who brag that you don't attend home games to assuage your ego's - - it's only a game... ggyaah!Napoleon D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-41620668651446791102011-01-26T13:55:22.611-07:002011-01-26T13:55:22.611-07:00The biggest blow this year has been the loss of We...The biggest blow this year has been the loss of Wendell McKines...bottom line. Not only has losing his 10+ rebounds and 12+ points hurt, but more importantly, his leadership on the court. The Aggies would be 6-1 in conference with Big Wen and probably could have beat UMASS, USC, and split with UTEP and UNM. <br /><br />We can talk about MM, CK, and HAM, but we lost the heart and soul of the program when Wen went down. <br /><br />But ask any coach (including Stew) in the WAC who they DONT want to play in March. It's NMSU. <br /><br />The fans in LC suck...<br /><br />-DBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-44545086532016847772011-01-26T11:11:28.988-07:002011-01-26T11:11:28.988-07:00Jason, you made many fair points. I realize NMSU ...Jason, you made many fair points. I realize NMSU is in a tough situation...go after guys like Reggie and we are stepping stone. Go after guys like MM and who knows what you get. Scheduling is also difficult...schedule up, lose a lot of games, have terrible attendance. Schedule down, no chance at at-large, but most likely have better attendance because Las Cruces as a whole likes a winner (no matter the quality of opponent). Not how I am, but how the lion's share of the community is. <br /><br />Now a couple of things:<br /><br />"It's almost as if NMSU fans care more about the coaches personality than the wins and losses."<br /><br />No, its that fans care about wins and losses, but also want the coach to be good in all aspects including off the court.<br /><br />"I thought my column did address why the Aggies are not as good as we thought they would be — the biggest reason being they don't have any consistent scoring threat outside of Gillenwater and that Hamidu Rahman needs to step up."<br /><br />Doesn't MM have something to do with this? Either his recruiting is lacking or his player development is lacking.<br /><br />Bottom line I am not happy about the coaching, but I will still be one of the less than 5,000 fans in the Pan Am tomorrow and every remaining home game.<br /><br />Anon 9:34Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-18153193339451746982011-01-26T10:41:15.977-07:002011-01-26T10:41:15.977-07:00I didn't include an evaluation of Menzies beca...I didn't include an evaluation of Menzies because other things have stood out to me, both at NMSU and league wide that I thought deserved some recognition and that NMSI is still in contention. I didn't mean to insult readers saying that bashing the coach doesn't take a lot of thought. It's just always the first thing people go to. Is Menzies the best game coach NMSU has ever had? Probably not. Has he kept NMSU relevant in basketball? I think so. Perhaps not to the fans' expectations, but rarely will any coach, player or administrator live up to those expectations.Jason Groveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865320061941648252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-31093865452771844722011-01-26T10:40:59.639-07:002011-01-26T10:40:59.639-07:00Anon 9:34, I understand the fans frustration with ...Anon 9:34, I understand the fans frustration with a perceived indifference in Menzies' demeanor in postgame interviews. I talk to him often and know the losses get to him. It's almost as if NMSU fans care more about the coaches personality than the wins and losses. So you would rather have a Reggie Theus, who was fiery and good with the media but said from the beginning he wanted to be a NBA coach and bounced when the first opportunity came along. How is that not talked about more by NMSU fans? Or the fact that due to a number of circumstances, the Henson era cost the Aggies a scholarship in two of Menzies' four years?<br /><br />I believe if and when Menzies leaves Las Cruces, NMSU fans will complain about his replacement and write about how great a coach Menzies was.<br /><br />I thought my column did address why the Aggies are not as good as we thought they would be — the biggest reason being they don't have any consistent scoring threat outside of Gillenwater and that Hamidu Rahman needs to step up. <br /><br />If you want me to rip the head coach, I could do that but fans in this town would come to his defense when the Aggies reach the semis or championship game of the WAC tournament.<br /><br />Let me ask you this. When was the last time you were blown away by any of the current coaches in the WAC outside of Logan Utah? Verlin has done a good job this year at Idaho, but he also fell off the map last year with a more talented team. Carter couldn't get to the WAC final with two NBA draft choices, Cleveland had a loaded roster last year with a NBA pick and has gone 0 for his last 4 this season, La Tech has regressed, San Jose remains the same.<br /><br />I understand the NMSU fan base wants to beat UNM and UTEP and Menzies' record against those teams has been reported by the Sun News. NMSU played the league's toughest non conference schedule. Would you rather play cupcakes like Utah State and rack up wins? There is an argument to be made there since learning how to play together while picking up wins and building confidence can pay dividends later on. But it won't get you an automatic bid. Utah State has to win the league tournament this year. If NMSU could have done better in the non conference, they played the schedule that could have been beneficial. Scheduling is part of running a program as well, and NMSU had a great schedule and a great home schedule but couldn't take advantage of it.<br /><br />When UTEP beat the Aggies here this season, I wrote on this blog that the NMSU coaches were outcoached in the second half. I've also written about the stagnant halfcourt offense that seems to revolve around pick and roll or pick and pop or the weave at the top of the key. You are right that he is the head coach so is therefore accountable for the success of the team, but the bottom line is that the team is 4-3 and could very easily be 6-3 after the weekend and in contention for a No. 2 seed, to which the tone of the fans will likely change...again.<br /><br />To answer your personnel questions, Kabongo lost his starting spot because of his shot selection and Sy is often yanked not after one mistake, but after a string of bad turnovers. The three players you mentioned are two freshmen and a sophomore who are going to be up and down anyway. None of the young guys have been good enough to leave in the game so why not see if Sy or Kabongo has the hot hand. If not, they are pulled. I liked your UNM example. Obviously you watch the Aggies closely, so you know the NMSU centers don't play the pick and roll very well at all this year.Jason Groveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865320061941648252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-24158723781464000802011-01-26T10:09:00.459-07:002011-01-26T10:09:00.459-07:00A good coach wills his team to find a way to win.
...A good coach wills his team to find a way to win.<br /><br />Reggie Theus inherited a 6 win team and willed his team to a 16-11. <br />It wasn't pretty but, had the team playing good "D", team ball and getting those tough wins.<br /><br />Coaching has everything to with it.<br /><br />I also agree that I'm fed up with Menzies post game chuckles after a loss.<br />Reggie was fuming after a loss and Menzies tries to laugh it off.<br />I can't wait till he gets fired, let's see him laugh it off!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-1479943935650704142011-01-26T09:48:14.372-07:002011-01-26T09:48:14.372-07:00Here is just one example of Menzies coaching inade...Here is just one example of Menzies coaching inadequacy. Aggies up 19-18 on the road in the most hostile environment in the WAC. 17 straight points by Utah St. before Menzies calls a timeout. Game over...well done coach.<br /><br />Another example. 2 nights before, Laroche picks up first foul with 1:12 to go in the half, 22 seconds later he turns it over and commits a foul. While Laroche is not our best player one could argue he is our most important since he is our only viable point guard. But Menzies is asleep at the wheel as usual, and leave Laroche in. 9 seconds later Laroche gets foul number 3 in the first half.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-83962867146232181452011-01-26T09:35:30.809-07:002011-01-26T09:35:30.809-07:00The fans do not play. All these kids and coaches s...The fans do not play. All these kids and coaches set goals for themselves before the season. When they made those goals they did not have the fans in mind. The team is the way it is because of the coach and the players. The MM has continually failed to get his teams to continually play at a high level. The players don't take pride in the things they need to so that they can be the dominant team that they have the potential to be. We can not blame the fans for their short comings that is not right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-2638555031449062011-01-26T09:34:17.879-07:002011-01-26T09:34:17.879-07:00Jason, doesn't the coach have a little somethi...Jason, doesn't the coach have a little something to do with how good the Aggies are compared to "how good we thought they would be"? How would you rate MM as an in game coach? Do you think he manages the game well, makes necessary adjustments during the game, etc? What do you think MM does well, what do you think MM does poorly, both on and off the court?<br /><br />I will give you an example, at home against UNM, Alford had Gary run the high pick and roll over and over. We continued to try (ineffectively) to play over the screen and have the big man hedge out. Over and over Gary got in the lane and got to the FT line or created a shot for someone else. He only took 2 and missed both 3 PTs all game. Why, not try playing below the screen and daring Gary to take the 3. Especially, since the Lobos were setting the pick at least 5 feet from the 3 PT line. <br /><br />What about how after every single loss, MM laughs about it on the radio with Jack? What about how MM let's Kabongo take bad shots and not hustle without any consequences, but one mistake for Sy or Dixon and it is straight to the bench? What about when the coach says on the radio after being blown out at home by St. Mary's "I've never won more than seven games since I've been here in non-conference so I'm one short of the most I've ever won,"? As if going 6-7 in non conference is an accomplishment. And then he puts the same thing in the Sun-New in his guest commentary. <br /><br />I could go on, but what takes less thought is just writing an article that summarizes the Aggies record and what has happened in the WAC so far this year. What takes real thought is actually addressing why the Aggies are worse than we thought, and acknowledging that the coach shares the blame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-51028203889767172552011-01-26T07:26:55.228-07:002011-01-26T07:26:55.228-07:00Jason - excellent reply and I think you are right ...Jason - excellent reply and I think you are right on the mark. Coach is doing a good job, the fans are not.<br /><br />Big AlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-79258223897958058162011-01-25T20:59:12.449-07:002011-01-25T20:59:12.449-07:00The onions? I didn't give the team or any othe...The onions? I didn't give the team or any other player a grade. Unlike most of the people who post here, I don't blame everything on the head coach. The Aggies just aren't as good as we thought they were going to be. The easy way out is to blame the coach because that takes the least amount of thought.Jason Groveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865320061941648252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-30124483097831804292011-01-25T17:03:38.765-07:002011-01-25T17:03:38.765-07:00So what about Menzies?
You gonna give him a mid te...So what about Menzies?<br />You gonna give him a mid term grade?<br /><br />I think you lack the onions to give him a bad grade because he might snub you for a story, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-52465394903292337152011-01-25T11:29:02.121-07:002011-01-25T11:29:02.121-07:00Gotta have some stones to be a good rebounding tea...Gotta have some stones to be a good rebounding team. Until the Aggies find some, it ain't happenin'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-37324900719809781942011-01-25T10:18:26.668-07:002011-01-25T10:18:26.668-07:00Where would this mediocre team be with out Troy Gi...Where would this mediocre team be with out Troy Gillenwater?<br />Kid can flat out play!<br /><br />Aggie fans have already mailed it in.<br />I look forward to seeing the Mckines/ Gillenwater tandem, give em hell next year.<br /><br />There's always next year Aggie fans.<br /><br /> El GuapoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-61922554540323094992011-01-25T09:59:12.439-07:002011-01-25T09:59:12.439-07:00Jason, how can your halfway point assessment not i...Jason, how can your halfway point assessment not include an assessment of the coach?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319260418553490797.post-35203865018787161192011-01-24T21:23:01.626-07:002011-01-24T21:23:01.626-07:00It seems that one of the primary stategies of the ...It seems that one of the primary stategies of the aggies is to work the ball into Hamidu under the basket. What is the probably that he walks, that he bobbles the ball away, that he misses a layup? What is the probably that it is a wasted possession?Coyotenoreply@blogger.com