Jahmar Young and Wendell McKines were at it again on Saturday night.
Jahmar continues to be a deadly scorer and Wendell is a tireless worker. The Aggies came back and beat Fresno State.
NMSU has a streak of winnable games on the schedule leading up to the WAC Tournament. The only thing that doesn't work in their favor are two long road trips - at La. Tech and at Hawaii. But those are still games the Aggies can get.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Pan American Center
We are doing a project at the paper on the history of the Pan American Center.
What an incredible basketball venue. The Pan Am has seen mostly solid, to good to great teams play their over the years. Quite amazing.
NMSU has had only two losing seasons on their home floor. Two! That's insane. The building's been open for 40 years!
The program was top notch in the 70s. It went to a Final Four. It was strong. You can see how lifelong Aggie fans would have a high set of standards for their hoops team. How could you not if you have followed the program for their 40-year existence in the Pan Am?
The basketball tradition is strong at NMSU. There is a standard that was set a long time ago. For a mid-major school, I think it's impressive.
What an incredible basketball venue. The Pan Am has seen mostly solid, to good to great teams play their over the years. Quite amazing.
NMSU has had only two losing seasons on their home floor. Two! That's insane. The building's been open for 40 years!
The program was top notch in the 70s. It went to a Final Four. It was strong. You can see how lifelong Aggie fans would have a high set of standards for their hoops team. How could you not if you have followed the program for their 40-year existence in the Pan Am?
The basketball tradition is strong at NMSU. There is a standard that was set a long time ago. For a mid-major school, I think it's impressive.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Saturday's game
For starters, I would like to apologize that I failed to get anything up following the Nevada game. I was in Memphis this past weekend and didn't get a chance to write. Considering what I said the last time I posted, I really should have gotten something up sooner about the team's win vs. Nevada.
I saw bits and pieces of the Nevada game on TV. It was a gutty game and I give the Aggies credit. Going into it, I did not think they were going to win. I was surprised that they beat the Wolf Pack, especially minus Gillenwater. I'll be the first to say it. I just didn't see it coming.
I stand by everything I wrote on my last blog post. I still think the team has underwhelmed to a large degree. The win over Nevada doesn't change my perception of the Aggies that much. I give them credit, but I still voice similar concerns about the team. One game doesn't turn everything around.
The one thing I have learned about the team is that they continue to play hard for Menzies. I said it following the San Jose State game at home, when they blew a big lead but came back and won. That was a tough spot for them and they managed to get back on the Spartans. They proved it again on Saturday. Other teams would have packed it in on the second game of a tough road trip, minus Gillenwater no less. Being on ESPN may have given them a lift and they didn't fold.
Nevada is down this year. The Wolf Pack have lost at home to Idaho, Louisiana Tech and the Aggies. They also should have lost in Las Cruces. They stole that game late. I actually think Nevada has a good team, but they have lost some head scratchers this season.
Again, I give the Aggies credit for Saturday. It was a good win for them.
I saw bits and pieces of the Nevada game on TV. It was a gutty game and I give the Aggies credit. Going into it, I did not think they were going to win. I was surprised that they beat the Wolf Pack, especially minus Gillenwater. I'll be the first to say it. I just didn't see it coming.
I stand by everything I wrote on my last blog post. I still think the team has underwhelmed to a large degree. The win over Nevada doesn't change my perception of the Aggies that much. I give them credit, but I still voice similar concerns about the team. One game doesn't turn everything around.
The one thing I have learned about the team is that they continue to play hard for Menzies. I said it following the San Jose State game at home, when they blew a big lead but came back and won. That was a tough spot for them and they managed to get back on the Spartans. They proved it again on Saturday. Other teams would have packed it in on the second game of a tough road trip, minus Gillenwater no less. Being on ESPN may have given them a lift and they didn't fold.
Nevada is down this year. The Wolf Pack have lost at home to Idaho, Louisiana Tech and the Aggies. They also should have lost in Las Cruces. They stole that game late. I actually think Nevada has a good team, but they have lost some head scratchers this season.
Again, I give the Aggies credit for Saturday. It was a good win for them.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Bothersome
Where do we begin with the New Mexico State basketball team's road trip?
First off, Terrance Joyner is busted in the El Paso Airport with marijuana. That's a great way to get things started. Your not going on spring break Terrance, this is supposed to be a business trip. At least we would like to think so. He made a mockery out of the system on that one.
As for the game, the Aggies made it competitive to close out the first half. Then, USU came out in the second half and was on fire. NMSU couldn't keep up. I feel like the Aggies are often outscored in the second half. NMSU was thoroughly handled in the final 20 minutes on Thursday night.
At the end of the day, there is no shame in losing to Utah State. But I have seen a program that had a good deal of excitement around it when I first got here two years ago, go flat. This was a good team not too long ago. An NCAA team, a team that looked to be on the cusp of, dare I say it, the Top-25. They're nowhere near it now! Who's to blame? I hate to say it because I think he's a nice guy, but the head coach has to shoulder the load on this one. Marvin Menzies stepped into a very good situation here last year and the program hasn't improved, it has taken steps backward. You might not like to hear it, but look at the facts. They didn't go to the NCAA Tournament last year with a loaded team and they ain't goin this year either.
I hope it improves, I really do. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm way off. Time will be the judge. But, as of now, I am not impressed.
First off, Terrance Joyner is busted in the El Paso Airport with marijuana. That's a great way to get things started. Your not going on spring break Terrance, this is supposed to be a business trip. At least we would like to think so. He made a mockery out of the system on that one.
As for the game, the Aggies made it competitive to close out the first half. Then, USU came out in the second half and was on fire. NMSU couldn't keep up. I feel like the Aggies are often outscored in the second half. NMSU was thoroughly handled in the final 20 minutes on Thursday night.
At the end of the day, there is no shame in losing to Utah State. But I have seen a program that had a good deal of excitement around it when I first got here two years ago, go flat. This was a good team not too long ago. An NCAA team, a team that looked to be on the cusp of, dare I say it, the Top-25. They're nowhere near it now! Who's to blame? I hate to say it because I think he's a nice guy, but the head coach has to shoulder the load on this one. Marvin Menzies stepped into a very good situation here last year and the program hasn't improved, it has taken steps backward. You might not like to hear it, but look at the facts. They didn't go to the NCAA Tournament last year with a loaded team and they ain't goin this year either.
I hope it improves, I really do. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm way off. Time will be the judge. But, as of now, I am not impressed.
Aggie recruiting class
Are the players that the New Mexico State Aggies signed impact players for the football program? Tough to tell.
One thing that was refreshing on Wednesday though was to hear DeWayne Walker talk about what type of a team he's looking to build. Strong along the lines and lots of talk about the defensive side of the ball.
Now comes the tricky part: Finding out just how skilled these newcomers are and if they can make an impact on the Division-I level. Hal Mumme brought in some talented kids too. Chris Williams, Chase Holbrook and A.J. Harris to name a few. That didn't equal a whole lot of wins.
The team's philosophy will now shift to the defensive side of the ball. I feel a little better about that, but getting real talent is the ultimate key. And it goes deeper than the starters. Building depth is something that has proven to be elusive for the Aggies. Walker has said all the right things so far, however, and I think the team is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, that equals more wins for the program.
One thing that was refreshing on Wednesday though was to hear DeWayne Walker talk about what type of a team he's looking to build. Strong along the lines and lots of talk about the defensive side of the ball.
Now comes the tricky part: Finding out just how skilled these newcomers are and if they can make an impact on the Division-I level. Hal Mumme brought in some talented kids too. Chris Williams, Chase Holbrook and A.J. Harris to name a few. That didn't equal a whole lot of wins.
The team's philosophy will now shift to the defensive side of the ball. I feel a little better about that, but getting real talent is the ultimate key. And it goes deeper than the starters. Building depth is something that has proven to be elusive for the Aggies. Walker has said all the right things so far, however, and I think the team is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, that equals more wins for the program.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Hal Mumme
What terrible news that former Aggie football coach Hal Mumme is sick with prostate cancer.
It's incredible about Hal. As a coach, everyone had their opinion about his ability. The reality is that when I heard the news, all the coaching stuff became incredibly unimportant and irrelevant to me.
I wish Hal the best in fighting the battle and coming out on top. I knew him personally and the news caught me off guard. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
It's incredible about Hal. As a coach, everyone had their opinion about his ability. The reality is that when I heard the news, all the coaching stuff became incredibly unimportant and irrelevant to me.
I wish Hal the best in fighting the battle and coming out on top. I knew him personally and the news caught me off guard. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
J.Y.
As the New Mexico State men's basketball team gets a few days off until this Thursday when they tavel to Utah State, we turn our attention to Jahmar Young.
Young is having a remarkable year scoring the basketball. He dropped 32 versus San Jose State at home and then came back on Saturday with 25 points against Hawaii.
Jahmar leads the WAC with 18.3 points per game and has been solid throughout the year. I can think of only one game where he played really bad and that was hosting Nevada. Other than that, he's been solid, if not spectacular.
I don't know where the team would be without Young. A few more losses seem to be just about right though.
Young is having a remarkable year scoring the basketball. He dropped 32 versus San Jose State at home and then came back on Saturday with 25 points against Hawaii.
Jahmar leads the WAC with 18.3 points per game and has been solid throughout the year. I can think of only one game where he played really bad and that was hosting Nevada. Other than that, he's been solid, if not spectacular.
I don't know where the team would be without Young. A few more losses seem to be just about right though.
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