Redshirt sophomore guard Devon Williams refused to answer the question after Saturday’s game, instead asking for the next question with a big smile on his face. The Lobos will face the Aztecs today at Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.
UNM (10-4, 2-0 Mountain West) won its second game of conference play on Saturday night, knocking off undefeated Colorado State in WisePies Arena, aka The Pit. This was the second of a two-game home stand to open conference play.
The Lobos are now in a four-way tie for first place in the Mountain West with Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada, who are all undefeated in conference play early this year.
Now the youthful Lobos will travel to San Diego to play the preseason Mountain West favorite Aztecs.
“Fish (SDSU coach Steve Fisher) is always going to have them ready to play,” head coach Craig Neal said. “They’re always going to be able to guard you. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”
This will be the first trip to Viejas Arena for many of the new faces. The only players with experience in the hostile atmosphere are senior guards Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney, junior guard Arthur Edwards, sophomore center Obij Aget and Williams.
Viejas Arena is arguably among the toughest places to play in the country, with “The Show” student section heckling any opposing team. Neal said he appreciates the rivalry and enjoys traveling west.
“They’re a terrific team and a terrific program,” he said. “We’ve really enjoyed our battles with them. We look forward to our battles with them.”
The Aztecs (11-4, 1-1 Mountain West) are coming off of a tough loss against Fresno State on Saturday. They look to bounce back against the Lobos — and they have yet to lose at home this season.
SDSU is led by junior forward Winston Shepard and senior J.J. O’Brien, who are averaging 10.8 and 8.5 points per game, respectively.
“Winston, of course, was one of the guys projected that could be player of the year,” Neal said. “He’s a terrific player, really active.”
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The Aztecs will be without their senior leader Dwayne Polee II after he collapsed midway through the first half of their game against UC Riverside on Dec. 22. His return for this season is still questionable.
“I just feel bad that they lost Polee,” Neal said. “That’s one of those things that’s really scary.”
SDSU and Polee II are still awaiting news from the doctors as to what caused the collapse. Fisher said in a Dec. 27 press conference that if Polee II feels anything like the way he looks, “He’s feeling pretty good. He looks like a million bucks.”
Polee II was averaging 8.4 points per game in 12 contests played. He was also averaging 0.9 assists per game and 0.5 blocks per game.
Cullen Neal out
Craig Neal announced Saturday that sophomore guard Cullen Neal will submit the necessary paperwork to the NCAA for a medical hardship (redshirt). The NCAA is expected to make a decision by April. If granted, Cullen Neal will have three more seasons of play for the Lobos.
“He’s just not responding like we thought he would,” said Craig Neal about Cullen. “He’s having a hard time jumping; I think it’s really tough for him. I know he’s emotional just because he wants to play with Hugh and wants to play with Deshawn.”
Anyone who has watched a Lobo game might have noticed that Cullen Neal is always in a seat next to his father during games. Craig Neal said Cullen has always been this way.
“Ever since he’s been a little kid, he’s been by me,” Craig Neal said. “He’s been around our program and around how we’ve run our offense and around how we carry ourselves and the way we’re supposed to act since he was 7 or 8 years old at practices.”
Craig Neal said he will continue to let Cullen travel with the team because he’s another set of eyes on the bench, and the team looks to him for leadership.
Kyle Tomasi is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @KyTo22.
UNM vs.San Diego State
Tuesday
9 p.m. MT
CBS Sports Network
