College basketball is a 40-minute game.
Playing only 30 minutes, on average, constitutes a loss, especially during the conference schedule. This scenario has been the storyline for this season's New Mexico men's basketball squad.
While staying competitive in all of their six conference games, the Lobos have not gotten over the hump, winning just one. The run n' gun style of play has been effective, but only for three quarters of the game, or until their gas tanks register empty.
Maybe it's time for a change, a quickly disguised makeover. A motion offense cannot produce efficiently without an inside presence. The ball must move somewhere other than the perimeter, which means all movement inside, then outside.
The answer: sophomore center Chad Bell and freshman forward David Chiotti roaming the paint, Jamaal Williams at his natural position, the small forward, and guards Ruben Douglas and Javin Tindall scoring from the perimeter. This scenario gives the undermanned Lobos three guards, Mark Walters, Ryan Ashcraft and Jeff Hart off the bench with an extra post player in Mike McCowan. Slow the offensive pace down and play a half-court game. The number of shots may decrease, but the shooting percentage could drastically improve.
Bell had an impressive performance Monday night in Utah, playing 11 minutes, scoring six points while recording three rebounds and two blocks. As for Chiotti, his game has improved since day one as he continues to get bigger and stronger. Maybe the fuel the Lobos so desperately need is stored in the tanks of these willing big men. If so, maybe the team's tank won't run empty.
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Though the answer is easier said than done, it is definitely worth a shot for turning the season if not, the future around.
Saturday night, the Lobos (7-12, 1-5 MWC) will have to change, at least for the night. UNM welcomes the Air Force Academy (10-9, 1-5 MWC) and their Princeton-style offense to The Pit. Averaging a measly 57 PPG the Falcons run an offense in which they use the entire 35-second shot clock and prevent opposing teams from getting into transition. Their plan is to get in a slow-down game for the entire 40 minutes and it usually works well.
Without a player taller than 6 feet 9 inches, AFA may be the perfect opponent for UNM to insert Chiotti and Bell in the starting post positions and a chance for head coach Ritchie McKay and his Lobos to fine-tune a half court offense. UNM cannot afford another game in which there is just one pass-and-shoot in offensive series throughout the game. The Lobos simply don't have the athleticism or the all-around firepower to beat the more talented Mountain West competition with this strategy.
The Lobos desperately need this win as they continue inching closer to the dubious record books. UNM fans do not want this year's team to have the distinction of having the second-worst record in the modern era of Lobo hoops. The 1980-81 squad finished 11-15 overall and 6-10 in the Western Athletic Conference. The only season gloomier was the 1979-80 Lobogate team that finished the year 6-22 overall and 3-11 in the WAC.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., at University Arena. The game will be tape delayed on Channel 13 (KRQE) at 11:35, and can be heard live on 770 AM.
