There’s no question Darington Hobson is a performer.
He’s also a master when it comes to histrionics, evidenced by his exaggerated tendency to peacock inside The Pit. Just like his patented slow-motion jumper, Hobson’s over-the-top persona is equally a part of his mystique. Often times, the simplicity of a run-of-the-mill shot for Hobson becomes an overt display of puffery.
Even so, there’s no exaggerating Hobson importance to the UNM men’s basketball team. So, then, you can understand the angst of Lobo nation when fans saw Hobson take a nasty spill on the biggest national canvass, in front of thousands of people inside HP Pavilion and millions of viewers across the nation.
And this time — if only this time — Hobson wasn’t embellishing anything, especially his pain, a stinging sensation which radiated from his wrist down his finger tips.
“I just thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish the game,” Hobson said. “It hurt every time I dribbled or tried to shoot or make a pass.”
To the casual observer, Hobson appeared to be seriously injured, potentially limiting his availability to play, not only in the Lobos’ first-round matchup with No. 14 Montana, but in the future should the Lobos advance.
But when Hobson slammed down on the oak-solid hardwood, his teammate Dairese Gary hardly looked on in dismay. If anything, Gary was thinking, “Oh, please.”
“He gets hurt a lot, and rolls around and then gets back up,” Gary said, cracking a smile. “I wasn’t worried too much.”
Suffice it to say, Gary was in the minority.
As Hobson hobbled to the sideline, Lobo head coach Steve Alford called timeout to allow the junior-college transfer to gather himself. Hobson returned to the game. And on Friday, X-rays turned up negative on his left shooting wrist, much to the relief of Lobo Nation.
While fans breathed in a collective sigh of relief, Alford said he never doubted Hobson would be available the rest of the way.
“I’m kind of wired that way. I think every time you fall you get up that anyway,” Alford said.
Three months ago, however, Alford said Hobson wouldn’t have risen, returning back in time to continue playing in the game.
“I think that’s where he’s grown. He’s matured. He’s played through his body not being 100 percent,” Alford said. “I don’t think that’s something he was properly versed at being able to do three months ago. I thought he did a really good job in that game last night — getting banged pretty good and then finishing the game.”
Obviously, Alford had much to do with Hobson’s evolution from being fragile to sturdy and dependable — the countless conversations the two engaged in, the coaching and the individual-focused mentoring.
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“Yeah, I might have had a small role in that,” Alford said, chuckling. “When you look at our coaching staff, we’re all former players. There’s nothing these guys can throw at us where they’re tricking us or they’re pulling one over on us. We’ve been there and done that. You get banged up and your body’s at 70 percent. So, ‘OK, it’s at 70 percent. Big deal. Play.’ Nobody’s body in March is going to be 100 percent.
And at 70 percent, Hobson still managed his 14th double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
“It’s tournament time,” Hobson said. “… This is something I dreamed about, playing at this level, on this stage. Not a lot of people get the opportunity to do this. (I’m not) going to let a little injury keep me from playing.”
Especially not a sore wrist, let alone an achy backside.
“They’ve been stretching me out, trying to rub some of the soreness out,” Hobson said about his butt, before stopping himself mid-sentence. “That’s kind of weird …”
What’s not uncommon is players battling through similar injuries, said Huskies’ head coach Lorenzo Romar.
“I’ve seen it too many times,” he said. “Unless there’s something broken or something extremely, extremely bad which requires immediate help, guys come in and they step up.”