Friday, November 12, 2010

Season opener

Here's the box score in case you haven't seen it yet. 

From listening to the Aggies 92-76 win on the radio, sounds like it was a solid overall performance. I asked Troy Gillenwater (career high 30 with 8 boards and five 3s) if Louisiana was sagging and daring them to shoot the 3 (NMSU was 12 of 25 from long range). He said the triples were the result of good movement and the open man hitting the shot. Hernst Laroche didn't miss a shot from the floor, hitting 6 of 6 and 4 of 4 from the arc for a career high 21 to go with 8 assists. Sounds like his offseason paid off the first night out.

The postgame comments from Marvin Menzies challenged the community to come out on Monday. Do you think it will work? I would like to see some better crowds out this year and it figures to increase with the competition they have coming in (Pacific beat UTEP 66-61 at UTEP) and the roster they have back.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Marvin Menzies on opener

New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies talks a little about the Aggies opener on Friday at Louisiana-Lafayette. The Aggies have a good chance to open 2-0 for the first time in his three years here and the first time since 2004 before the schedule really takes off with Arizona, UMass, USC, UTEP twice and UNM twice in the next month. For the first time since I can remember, the Aggies open the season without the offcourt distractions they've had in the past. Lafayette was picked to finish fourth in the Sun-Belt West after going 13-17 and 10-8 in league last year.





Here are this weekend's WAC games.
November 12 (Friday)
San Jose State at Eastern Washington, 5:30 p.m. PT
^Montana State at Hawai‘i, 7:00 p.m. HT
Fresno State at Brigham Young, 7:00 p.m. MT
New Mexico State at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7:00 p.m. CT

November 13 (Saturday)
Montana at Nevada, 2:00 p.m. PT
Western State at Boise State, 5:00 p.m. MT
^Cal State Fullerton at Hawai‘i, 7:00 p.m. HT
Weber State at Utah State, 7:00 p.m. MT
Austin College at Louisiana Tech, 8:00 p.m. CT
Eastern Oregon at Idaho, 8:00 p.m. PT

^ Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Impressions from exhibition

The Aggies handled Division II Eastern New Mexico 98-72 on Monday in front of 3,621 at the Pan Am.

A few things that I wanted to talk about. It's obvious to me that, in the half court at least, the Aggies will run the ball through Troy Gillenwater.

Shocker there Groves, I know. But it's not how I expected at least. When Gillenwater is on the floor, it seemed like he was the one trailing Hernst Laroche. He is spending a lot of time on the perimeter early in the possession. He will set a pick or get the ball if the Aggies swing it or Laroche gets trapped, where Gillenwater can then drive, dump it into the post or spot up. We all knew that he was the most skilled offensive player, but it's clear the Aggies' focus is to run if it's there, and if not, get Gillenwater the ball where he can make something happen.

Gillenwater:
"Coach is putting me in positions where I'm comfortable at scoring and facing the basket. I think that is a new look this year. I'm just trying to be as versatile as possible and help the team in as many ways as I can."

The Aggies committed 26 turnovers  with just 18 assists. Marvin Menzies said some of those turnovers came as a result of trying to feed Gillenwater when it wasn't there.

Menzies:
"They look to Troy too. A few of the turnovers were guys trying to go to the man. But you have to move the ball and get reversal and swing it  and search the post without staring and telegraphing your passes. A lot of that is timing and just experience and chemistry and that will come. Troy is obviously one of the better players and he is going to have to pick up his share of rebounding and do some other things besides scoring and he did that."

I wouldn't worry about the turnovers too much and I wouldn't put too much stock into the 55 rebounds, 20 offensive rebounds and 10 blocks against a D II club. But the Aggies did show that their style of play has been tweaked a little.

Menzies:
"I don't think you can put too much stock into the numbers we had tonight. We had such a physical advantage. It's hopefully a measure of things to come but not something you can hang your hat on outrebounding  Division II team. It was a telling stat, but so were the turnovers. It was way too many. We are going to run this year. We have adjusted some of our speed game concepts so if we are going to push the ball at the pace that we want, then we are going to average a couple more turnovers than we would if we didn't. I can live with a couple extra but I can't live with a boatload extra."

I like how the Aggies' schedule opens up against two opponents they should have no trouble with. It will give Menzies a better chance to evaluate some position battles. Here is the one I have been harping on the most.


Tyrone Watson — 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block 3-6 FG, 4 TOs in 24 minutes.
Bandja Sy — 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4-of-7 FG 0-2 3-pt, 4 TOs in 18 minutes.

But there are other spots Menzies is looking at as well before the schedule's degree of difficulty significantly increases next week.

"I did use tonight as a chance to maybe try to balance out the minutes a little so I can get some film and go back and teach those guys again. You look at it like Renaldo (Dixon) and BJ (West) are really competing for that back up four spot. You have Bandja and Tyrone kind of vying for the 3 so there is a lot of competition still in practice. The line hasn't been defined for me enough to say this is the one we are rolling with. But there is always going to be opportunity if you earn it and take it. It's all got to be earned right now. I think the top 7 guys or so are pretty much locked in right now."

Freshmen guard Chrisitan Kabongo and freshman forward Tshilidzi Nephawe showed that they will contribute this season with more playing time and experience. I liked Kabongo's ability to guard the ball and Nephawe didn't play like a freshman so I liked the effort and the physicality while everything else will continue to develop.

Kabongo:
"We know that we can score. We just have to be able to defend and that's what we really really stress in practice. We don't like doing it but we have to do it because that is what is going to help us win games. As far as a spark, I think we just woke up. I think the first couple of minutes, we were just getting comfortable on the court but as the minutes went on, the sweat kicks in and the energy just rises after that."

Gillenwater:
"I think they played good today. I think their effort was definitely there. They played hard, they had really good intensity and will help us a lot  this year once they start to get more comfortable in the pace of play of college ball. I think Christian had a really solid game. He played hard. He was good on defense. He is going to get better down the road."

Menzies:
"Have a little (Gibson) there in CK. He does a good job of hawking the ball. Just have to try to train the brain not to be a reacher

I certainly have my question marks entering the season. I think that teams that are perimeter oriented will give the Aggies trouble (St. Mary's). If a team takes Laroche away from the inbound, the Aggies are going to need either Castillo or Kabongo to be able to break the pressure. I think the ultimate goal is to have Kabongo back up Laroche and that seems to be there, but he will be out of control at times this year I think. Outside of Castillo, the Aggies don't have the shooters they've had in the past. Gillenwater and Kabongo and maybe Laroche have the skills to knock it down, but none are proven shooters from distance yet. Watson and/or Sy have the athleticism to be a slashing type of player that could break defenses down and create a shot. I think the player to prove to be the most consistent will wind up solidifying the rotation, but there can't be the ups and downs. I think Watson has the potential to be that guy because he does so many little things. Sy has improved but time will tell if he has the confidence in his second year.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Random and/or inconsequential observances from first half against Eastern


NMSU leads 48-31 at the half on 65.6 percent shooting.  Troy Gillenwater leads the way with 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting in 11 minutes.. Gordo Castillo has eight, knocking down 2 of 3 from the 3-point line. 

Tyrone Watson had six points and two rebounds but he turned the ball over three times in the first half. Bandja Sy had four points and two rebounds.
Watson was benched after a charge and a turnover for Sy in first two minutes

When in full court, if a guard tosses ball over Gillenwater or Sy, Hamidu Rahman comes over to trap.
Christian Kabongo could be the on ball defender they’ve been missing last couple of years. Instant energy of the bench.
Interesting early lineup: Kabongo running the point, Gordo, Watson, Nephawe and Dixon.

Gillenwater looks a little troubled by an ankle. Maybe not. 

Sunday, November 7, 2010

What to look for in exhibition game vs. Eastern New Mexico

It's always hard to gauge how good or bad the Aggies are going to be based on these exhibition games. Last year I was blown away by Bandja Sy against Western. I'll get back to Bandja in a minute.

Here are a few things I'm looking forward to for the exhibition game against Eastern on Monday at the Pan Am. Feel free to throw in what you're looking for as well.

Rotation: I feel like the starting five should be Hernst Laroche, Gordo Castillo, Tyrone Watson, Troy Gillenwater and Hamidu Rahman.

Four of those spots are fairly nailed down one would think. Castillo is a logical choice to start out, at least  until Christian Kabongo proves he's ready to surpass a senior. I talked to Gordo about what they are expecting from him this season. Look for him to back up the point guard at times this season while Laroche is on the bench. At least to start the season. Christian Kabongo could ultimately end up as the main backup at point guard.

Gordo: "I'm not as quick as Hernst but I know the offense. I've been here so long. So I can get the ball and get us in the offense and get us going. Maybe give Hernst a break and get CK used to it. He's a freshman but he's catching on. I think that's what they are trying to do, just ease CK into it and not just throw him out there right away."

Practices and the scrimmage against Texas Tech last week have prepared the Aggies to open the season, Gordo said.

"I think we are definitely where we want to be. We might be a little ahead but to us, nothing is ever enough. We just keep on getting better. Guys have been going at each other. We are going at it like a real game. We will have mistakes but we have to learn from it and get those  younger guys in there and get them a feel so they know what to do and how it is."


Bandja Sy, Chili Nephawe, Christian Kabongo will be battling early on for minutes. But it's not just 1-8 that hasn't been settled. Freshman Renaldo Dixon, sophomore BJ West and Abdoulaye Ndoye are all capable of contributing in spot duty.

Marvin Menzies: "We have a few guys who are competing for positions and want to see how they perform on the floor in the real game against opponents other than their teammates. We want to see if there is some separation to give the coaches some better clarity. That is just walking out. There is still going to be opportunities for those type of guys but there are guys competing for minutes, not just to start but to be on the floor. We can use this game as a measuring stick at least before we start against Louisiana. They are all guys when given their minutes, if their performance is at a maximum, it will get them more minutes, whether they are in the playing eight or have an opportunity as the ninth and tenth man."

On Renaldo Dixon, who due to the injury to Wendell McKines, will likely not redshirt.
"He's progressing at a pretty good rate. He is still very much a freshman but he has a great upside. He is a great student and is a joy to coach and a great athlete. Strengthwise he is OK, it's just his familiarity with the system where he is struggling right now but that comes with time."

Defense, rebounding:
The Aggies have all said the right things regarding an increased focus on these two aspects. I'm sure it depends on the lineup on the court that will dictate what defense to play. If Castillo plays more minutes, look for the Aggies to play more zone than normal, which is a good thing this year with the added length that Castillo and Watson or Sy adds along the baseline. Watson and Sy would likely be at the midcourt level of the Aggies' 2-2-1 press while they fall back into the zone so the hope is that there could be some turnovers and easy baskets there. Rebounding should be much improved with Gillenwater, Rahman and either Watson or Sy playing on the wing.

Menzies: "We have struggled with rebounding early on the past couple seasons. As the season progresses and the emphasis is there, they develop at it. We didn't play Michigan State to within three points because we outscored them. We rebounded 40-40. Rebounding wins championships. People say defense wins championships. My feeling is that offense will get a bunch of people in the stands and people like to see that. It will help you win some games, but if you want to win championships, you have to rebound."

Troy Gillenwater:
I want to see how much Troy has improved. We got a glimpse of it last year and against Michigan State, I would say that Gillenwater and Rahman both showed that they are high major players playing at a mid major. But that was just one game. Troy has range and a post game that will be tough for teams on the Aggies schedule to match up with. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but I guess we will soon find out.

ENMU

Here is the box score from Eastern New Mexico's game against UTEP. Here is their boxscore from their game against UNM.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Menzies comments

I was going through my notebook from the past couple weeks and or months. Here are some quotes first from today's press conference with Marvin Menzies.


Outlook for the season
"I'm really excited about possibility of having another chance to make it to the tournament. All of the kids are anxiously awaiting to get into some real competition which happens every year about this time. Seeing that in practice which is good. Seeing some chemistry which i think canada gave us an early boost. Seeing more retention from plays from last year. It's like you're growing from last year. ... You can look at your team all year long but until you lace them up against other people, it's hard to tell how you really measure up. We are playing a bunch of teams that we haven't played yet. Even Hawaii has a brand new coach. Are we better than them? Not yet. Not until we play them and beat them."

On Wendell McKines being around while rehabbing
"Wendell gets it. He understands that it's important that he's there. He's doing a phenomanal job of tutoring younger guys. He also talks about the negative and the potholes that he has had to roll over and just keeping them focused by his own life experiences. He has really grown up and I'm really proud of him."

On Troy Gillenwater
"I expect him to play in the NBA one day and compete and prepare to be an NBA player. At the same time, I can say that about several other guys on the team. He probably just has a realistic chance of doing it. He's heading in the right direction and has the right frame of mind. The work ethic is improving."


Here is a link to a story I wrote about the Aggies having an opportunity to change their identity a bit from the past couple years. People talk about having to replace 40 points per game lost from Jonathan Gibson and Jahmar Young. I don't think they can and I don't think they need to. I think that they certainly have the ability to replace 30 points though and be a better defensive team and a better rebounding team, limiting teams to one shot and running off the miss.

Here is a comment from Menzies from the other day when we were talking about the potential changes to the WAC

"We have to grow our program based on what we are trying to do here and not what is going to happen on any other campus. If we play a strong schedule in the non-conference, regardless of what our conference is, it will put us in a good position. Scheduling has a lot to do with it and as long as UNM and UTEP are playing the way they have as of late, I think you are going to have some great RPI games there as well as any home and homes that you can schedule and guarantee games that can keep your RPI up. If you have to reload every year, that makes it tough but if you are bringing in kids who are going to be returning players that have an understanding for your system then you are going to be in position to go play some teams and win on the road and do some things to be in position to be an at-large team."