I'll Be a Son of a Shark

[CoachC]

Nov 10: Our 2nd exhibition vs Bellarmine. Now it's time to get serious and play well. If we were to lose this one, I would be very concerned.

Any concerns the media had about this team after the first game, disappeared by the first media time out in this one, when the Knights were already down for a standing 8 count. We clicked on all cylinders at both ends of the court, and everyone we played tonight played very well. We scored from all over the floor and had 5 guys in double figures including all 3 newcomers. Ray led us with 18 pts, and 8 rebs, Angell had 16 points and showed the elements he brings to the game at the 3 we did not have last year, as he scored inside and out, and played stellar defense. Johnson added 10 and also played solid defense at the 4. Martin added 10, Inyo just missed a double double with 11 points and 9 rebs. Miller also just missed a double double with an exceptional floor game in 26 minutes. 9 pts, 12 asts, 2 stls, and just 1 TO. Durham just missed getting in the double digits parade too with 9 pts, and Stetson played solidly as well in 15 minutes. It'll be tough for him to get the kind of minutes he was used to last season, but he'll still be an important part of the rotation. Throw in 6 asts in 13 minutes for Conley, and it's obvious we have amazing depth. The fight for minutes is going to be epic.

The one thing I didn't like about this game is that we only got to the line 4 times and we need to draw more contact. On the other hand we put them on the line just 4 times too as the officials let them play.

The score doesn't matter but we win 88-61

[CoachC]

And now the ball goes up in earnest. A quality program for our opener on a neutral floor, but we'd better get used to it. It only gets tougher from here. The Illini have had a couple of tough rebuilding seasons finishing 11-18 a year ago. They are still a very young squad with just one Senior and only 4 upperclassmen. It could be another difficult year for them, and no offense to them, we'd like to get it off to a difficult start for them, then good luck to them the rest of the way.

For the opener we'll be starting Miller, Martin, Angell, Johnson, and Jackson.

An outstanding opening frame for us as we got out of the blocks running, and the young Illini had no answer for our superior talent in the front line. We shoot 61% for the half, dominate them on the boards 21-9, 9-3, get to the line 18 times and lead at the half 54-38.

A great way to start the season! After grabbing a big lead early we were able to extend it in the 2nd half and the Illini never had any hope of making a significant run. THey had no answer for our inside game, and we outrebounded them 44-23 20-7. We turn them over 19 times on 11 steals, but our own 15 turnovers was too many for us. We do still have a postive 22-15 a/to ratio however. The biggest problem for us was lack of perimeter defense which we saw often last year, especially from beyond the arc where they were 9-22 with many of their misses coming late. We have to clean that up. We had 5 players in double figure scoring, and everyone we played during the guts of the game put forth outstanding efforts.

Wilson had 6 asts 3 stls, but an uncharacteristic 4 TOs in 24 minutes. Conley backed him up admirably at the point with 5 points 6 asts, 1st in 15 minutes.

With his offensive burden significantly lightened this year, Martin was content to let the game come to him and 10 pts on 5/8 shooting in 21 minutes. There will be nights when he needs to shoot more, but I applauded him on his decision making tonight

Jon Angeli said hello to DI basketball in a big way with a double double in his first game, and in incredible stat line: 15 pts, 5 asts, 11 rebs, 5 stls, and a block in 29 minutes. He killed them in the first half, and their attention to him in the 2nd half just opened up the floor for everyone else.

John Willis had a terrific game off the bench with 12 pts, 7 rebs and a steal in 20 minutes. Willis' play limited Vernon Johnson to just 13 minutes in his debut but he still managed to pull down 7 rebs.

Inyo had 13 points, 7 rebs; Martin Ray a fine debut with 14 points, 2 asts, 5 rebs, 1 stl and 2 blks.

Stetson (7 pts) and Durham (9 pts) were also very very good off the bench. Our bench play was so solid that there was never any letdown no matter who we had on the floor at the time.

We were able to empty out the bench in the last couple of minutes and it was nice to see Pat Bullock sink a rhythm 3 for his first points as a Lobo.

I certainly can get used to this kind of offensive production.

Final: UNM 94 U of I 69

[CoachC]

Nov 13: As expected top ranked Arizona blew out Miss. St. 80-51. It goes without saying that our next game will be a horse of a different color. Their all American point guard scored an otherworldly 53 points against Miss St. How on earth are we ever gonna be able to stop him?

[CoachC]

I don't see anything SPECIFICALLY in the NCAA rules that says I can't chain him to my goal standard.

[CoachC]

With so little time to prepare for this game so early in the season, this is certainly going to be a tough assignment. If we spend too much energy on Dupree, there are plenty of other Wildcats capable of hurting us. On the other hand, Miss. St. took the other approach and allowed Dupree to do what he wanted while locking down everyone else and daring him to beat them all by himself, and then he went out and basically beat them all by himself. We'll just have to adjust to the game as it goes on and hope for the best. The main thing is, I want to see us play our tails off and give a good account of ourselves.

We play very good defense in the first half, holding Dupree to 5 points, 3 of them coming at the buzzer. We also rebounded well. The one thing we didn't do was take care of the ball and 3-12 turnover deficit for the half. Because of the turnovers and the 3 point shot at the buzzer by Dupree we trail at halftime 35-28. We MUST take better care of the ball in the second half if we don't want this game to slip away from us.

The turnovers continued in the 2nd half, and in fact our guard play was atrocious all around, providing very little offense and once again not getting out on the 3s where they were 11-18. Of all the ways I thought we might get beat tonight, 18 turnovers wasn't one of them.

The front line was pretty good again, and they we clearly had them outmanned inside.

Angelli had 8 points 8 rebs and 2 blocks
Inyo 12 pts 7 rebs
Johnson 4 pts, 3 rebs, 3 blocks in 20 minutes but needs to get a little more active offensively.

Off the bench Ray had 12 pts, 3 rebs, and 5 blocks and his post defense is outstanding.
Willis played very well off the bench again as well with 4 pts, 7 rebs and a block in 15 minutes, and has earned a start in our next game.

I don't to see 18 turnovers the rest of the season, however, and we have to play much better perimeter defense. After locking down Dupree for 20 minutes we let him 3 point his way to 25 points in the last 20 minutes counting the 3 he hit at the buzzer before intermission and he wound up with 28. We didn't totally embarrass ourselves against the best team in the nation despite the final score, but our guard play has to be better than this.

Final: UNM 53 Arizona 76

[CoachC]

Nov 19: The Wildcats whipped Georgetown by 34 and Stanford by 21 to finish their storm through the Coach's Classic, so at least we were in good company.

[CoachC]

Nov 20: We fall out of the polls after the lost to the Wildcats. Jon Angeli is named MWC freshman of the week. Also in the past week since we got back home we recieved signed LOIs from all 3 of our recruits.

[CoachC]

The Rams split their 2 home games losing to Miami (FL) and beating UC Irvine.

In the first half the Rams displayed the best interior defense and rebounding we've seen thus far, and we also got into a bit of foul trouble for the first time. Our defense was strong, however , and the Rams are a bit limited offensively and we still take a 38-26 lead into the locker room. WE also turned them over 12 times on 8 steals, while turning the ball over ourselves just 4 times as our guard play returned to form.

Solid if not mesmerizing all around game as we shoot 48.4 from the field, outrebound a good rebounding team 35-31,13-8, and win the a A/TO battle easily (20-10, 10-21)

Wilson after a lackluster 1st half, played much better in the half and winds up with 8 asts, a stl and a block and just 2 TO in 25 minutes.

Martin continues to appear to be lost in the offense scoring just 4 pts on 3 shots and doing little else. Durham had a good game though with 10 pts, 3 asts, and a block and continues to be our best defender at the 2. He'll move into the starting lineup next game while Martin tries to get it sorted out.

Everyone is falling in love with Jon Angeli. He's going to be difficult for most of our opponents to deal with all season. He has such poise and confidence in his game as a freshman. After missing his first 5 shots of the game on intermediate jumpshots, it didn't faze him, and he adjusted by driving to the basket from the wing over and over to lead us with 21 pts. The rest of his stat line was impressive as well 2 asts, 8 rebs, 3 stls and a block. He's the total package, and it's going to be a delight to have him around for the next 4 years.

Willis had another good game as well, even if it wasn't reflected in his stat line other than his 3 stls in 16 minutes. He understands the Amoeba as well as anyone on our roster, and has improved his game a lot since last year. Coming off the bench Vernon Johnson had his best all-around game of the season and is another stat-sheet filler with 8 pts, 2 asts, 6 rebs, 3 stls, and 3 blocks in 25 minutes. Right now Willis and Johnson are giving us a wonderful defensive presence at the 4 and everything else they do is butter.

Inyo keeps playing consistently well with 14 pts, 5 rebs, and a steal. Off the bench Roy was limited to just 13 minutes tonight because of early foul trouble, but still pulled down 7 rebs and had a block. It's so hard right now for Tatum to get minutes, but his 4 pts, and 4 rebs in 3 minutes did NOT go unnoticed.

Larry Guy is struggling for minutes right now even more than Tatum but gave great effort in his 2 minutes with 2 pts and a rebound. It's all about doing something good when you get on the floor, and I had lots of words for encouragement for Larry too after the game

A solid team game against a good program. VCU's ability to rebound and play defense should find them improving on their 18 win season from last year and find somewhere to play in the post season

FINAL: UNM 75 VCU 52 and it was a lot closer than that until the last 6 or 7 minutes of the game.

[PointGuard]

Wow, Angeli looks like he will be the Angel Beneath Your Wings.

[CoachC]

After taking over a declining program last season, Coach Greedy Briggs came in and promptly led the Shockers to a 20 win season, regular season Valley title, and an NCAA appearance as one of the last at large teams. Still rebuilding and with 6 freshmen on the roster, the Shockers this year are off to a 0-3 start, but their most recent loss was a good performance against #20 Maryland on the road in a 13 point loss. These Shockers are better than their record would indicate and very well coached. This is no gimmee either.

A solid first half performance puts us up 34-16 at the half.

Another game much like the last, nothing to put in a time capsule, but good enough. We get out on the 3 pt shots for once, with the Shockers going 5-25 from beyond the arc, although admittedly they don't have a lot of perimeter threats.

Conley had a strong game off the bench in 20 minutes and he and Wilson combine for 8 pts, 11 asts.

Martin looked much much better coming off the bench and he and Durham combine for 25 pts at the two. we were also better defensively with Durham starting, so that experiment will continue.

Angeli.. what can you say? Team high 15 points, 6 rebs and 4 stls in 29 minutes. He's the Energizer Bunny.

Willis and Johnson combine for just 4 pts but 12 rebounds, 1 stl, and 2blks from the 4, plus the usual solid defense.

Inyo gets to double digit points once again and he and Ray combine for 18 pts, 12 rebs in the low post, and defensively no one is getting in on either of them. Ray with 1 block now has at least 1 in each of his first 4 DI games.

Final:
UNM 65 Wichita St. 48