January 28, 2005

Danny Granger update

Ritchie McKay told me today that Granger has been cleared by the team doctor to play Saturday against UNLV. But McKay added that he is unsure if he will play Granger because he doesn't want to take any chances with his star forward's knee.

Here's a link to my story today, which is about the possibilities at point guard now that Kris Collins is out with a broken foot. Incidentally, Collins broke his right foot. UNM's release had Collins breaking his left foot.

Lobos' offensive engine looking for distributor

January 23, 2005

Recruiting info

I had a story in Saturday's Tribune about the 2006 recruiting class. I left out information about Lawrence Westbrook, a high-scoring guard at Chandler High in Chandler, Ariz.

The reason? Well, his high school coach didn't exactly provide a ringing endorsement. Something tells me he isn't the type of guy the UNM coaching staff will continue to pursue.

Westbrook, a 5-10 shooting guard, averages about 40 points per game and might break the state scoring record held by Mike Bibby. I asked his coach about Westbrook's other statistics.

"No assists and no rebounds," Mike Ellsworth said. "All he does is shoot. So you'll have a ball hog on your hands."

Then I asked Ellsworth if Westbrook was a junior or a senior.

"He's a junior," Ellsworth said. "But you can have him this year."

Wake Forest, California and Michigan have also come calling, but "a lot of schools are backing off now. I haven't heard from anyone in a while," Ellsworth said.

A look at some of the other recruits can be found here:

Las Vegas prep star catches Lobos' eye

January 21, 2005

Bogut: `Stay home, Danny'

I had a funny interview with Utah's Andrew Bogut earlier this week. The great thing about many foreign athletes is they weren't raised to give bland, non-answers to every question.

Bogut, who is Australian, doesn't speak in cliches. He's a little cocky, a little brash and a lot of fun to write about. I asked him whether he was disappointed Granger might not play Saturday at Utah.

Joe American athlete would say something silly, like, "It's too bad because we'd like to match our best against their best and see who wins." Liar. Bogut just thought it was a stupid question. His response was basically that he hoped Granger wouldn't play, because it would make UNM easier to beat.

That, along with some analysis from Wyoming coach Steve McClain, is in today's Trib.

Granger-less Lobos get no sympathy

Air time

Obnoxious personal plug warning: I'll be on "The Ian Martin Show" around 4:30 p.m. today to discuss Lobo hoops.

For a fun game you can play at home, you should try to figure out how much pain I'm in as I talk. I had my widom teeth yanked recently and speaking is still a bit of a chore.

January 20, 2005

Skepticism about the Lobos

Here's one Mountain West Conference reporter who doesn't think much of the Lobos without Danny Granger.

In the Thursday edition The Salt Lake Tribune, Patrick Kinahan writes "Goodbye, Lobos. New Mexico's gaudy non-conference 13-2 record won't mean much now that starting forward Danny Granger may be out for up to six weeks." You can read the rest of the story here:

Goodbye Lobos

I had two stories in The Trib on Thursday. The first is a quick update on whether Granger will play.

Granger's status up in the air

The second is my weekly MWC notebook. The lede item is on Andrew Bogut talking about what a stud he is and everyone else basically agreeing.

Bogut pads NBA draft position

January 17, 2005

Plan B

Ritchie McKay has a secret plan to keep the Lobos winning without Danny Granger. You'll have to read about it in today's Trib.

Granger likely out at least two more games

Also, Trib columnist Richard Stevens offers his latest and greatest. He calls the loss at Air Force embarrassing and costly but explains why the Lobos could pull out a win at BYU.

BYU ripe for UNM plucking even without Granger

Granger and his knee

The UNM senior forward will break his media silence at a news conference today. Granger will speak after UNM's practice today at about 1:15 p.m.

My guess, and it's an educated one, is that Granger is doing fine. He might not play against Utah or BYU but should be back for the home games against UNLV and San Diego State at the end of the month.

Check out The Tribune Web site later today for an update.

January 13, 2005

Chris Mooney

Air Force's new coach is an interesting guy. He's just 32, but he started at the bottom and worked his way up quickly.

Princeton graduates like Mooney don't usually go into coaching and teaching. They go to Wall Street or to graduate school or into consulting. It can be a nice gig, being 22-years-old and making $150,000.

Mooney went from Princeton back to high school, teaching English and coaching. (And not making 150K.) Ten years later, he's the head coach at a Division I college. (And probably making more than 150K). That's a quick ascent, not unlike the one Ritchie McKay made.

Mooney is the lead item in today's story, which is a Moutain West Conference notebook. This is my first MWC notebook. Look for them every Thursday in The Trib.

MWC notebook: Air Force coach has had quick climb

January 11, 2005

Media restrictions

It's about to get a little bit tougher for reporters to do their jobs -- and for fans to read about the team they love.

Lobos coach Ritchie McKay is putting more restrictions on beat guys like myself who need to talk to UNM players for stories. McKay is declaring players off-limits after games unless they are brought up to the interview room. In the past, we could grab any player we wanted as he came out of the locker room.

McKay opens one practice a week to the media. This week, McKay says media members can watch only the final half hour of practice.

Lobos fans might be the best thing this program has going for it. And judging by the e-mails I get, Lobos fans hunger for news about their team. This makes it tougher for them to get what they want.

McKay has a team full of mature, intelligent young men. They should be able to handle a few questions a couple times a week.

January 10, 2005

Granger update

Danny Granger had minor arthroscopic knee surgery today to repair a torn lateral meniscus. He will miss the Air Force game, maybe more.

Ritchie McKay will appear at a press conference this afternoon at The Pit.

Trib coverage

I wrote a pair of stories for today's Trib. The first is about Danny Granger. Call it The Silence of the Lobos. He hurt his knee, he might miss next week's game, and, uh, that's about all UNM has to say about that. Here's the link:

Lobos keep mum about Granger's hobbled left knee

Story No. 2 is about the young guys who stepped up Saturday when Granger went down. Also, note Steve McClain's semi-veiled slap at the Lobos' schedule deep in the story.

Youngsters step in after star goes down

RPI

The latest RPI replica from Collegiate Basketball News came across the wire this morning. It says it's through Jan. 9, but the ratings do not reflect UNM's win over Wyoming on Saturday.

The Lobos are 94th. The Mountain West is rated 10th, behind the West Coast Conference, Missouri Valley Conference and Conference USA, as well as the six BCS conferences.

Here's how the Mountain West breaks down:

42. UNLV
63. Utah
91. Wyoming
94. New Mexico
130. Air Force
153. San Diego State
175. BYU
186. Colorado State

Among Lobos opponents this season, Wake Forest is No. 4 and Oregon is No. 9. The next-highest rated Lobo opponent outside of the MWC is Tennessee at No. 80.

January 09, 2005

MWC intensity

You can tell the Lobos aren't playing the likes of Western New Mexico and North Carolina A&T anymore.

Ritchie McKay's inner Bob Knight -- minus the cursing, of course -- came out Saturday in UNM's Mountain West opener against Wyoming on Saturday.

He took a dig at Wyoming coach Steve McClain's constant complaining, yelling to an official, "Do I have to get on the court and beg like McClain?" He stomped his feet and yelled when he thought the Cowboys were guilty of a five-second violation. And he got in the face of another official when he thought Wyoming got away with an over-the-back.

He even argued with a reporter -- OK, with me -- for trying to talk with Danny Granger about his knee injury. "This interview's over," he said. (See The Tribune on Monday for more details.)

The sudden intensity is a definite change. The Lobos have been able to cruise on talent and superiority for much of the season. Now that their opponents are more talented, the team seems to be playing (and being coached) with an edge.

One last thought: Was it just me, or does Wyoming point guard Jay Straight constantly palm the ball?

January 05, 2005

Danny Granger

Some interesting notes on senior forward Danny Granger from the UNM sports information office:

Granger is the only player in the nation averaging at least 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks per game.

He leads the MWC in steals and is second in points, rebounds, blocks and 3-point field goal percentage.

Granger averaged 19.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season. If he averages at least 19 and nine this season, he becomes just the third Lobo to do that twice in their UNM careers. The others were Mel Daniels and Willie Long.

Lobo stats

UNM's dominant play in its 13 wins this season are evident when looking at national statistics. The Lobos are ranked among the nation's top 25 in several categories. They include:

FG percentage: 7th at 52 percent.

Points per game: 14th at 83.9 points.

3-pointers per game: 16th with 8.9.

Scoring margin: 21st at plus 18.3.

January 04, 2005

Lobos not on TV

A correction to my previous post. The UNM-Wyoming game will not be on TV afterall. Greg Remington, the sports information director at UNM, sent out an e-mail today amending some previously released information.

The UNM game at Air Force on Jan. 15 will be on KRQE-News 13. The station will show it on tape delay following an AFC playoff game on CBS.

Lobos on TV

The UNM-Wyoming basketball game will be televised on KRQE-News 13. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at The Pit.