Shooting was an issue for the New Mexico men’s basketball team in its first two exhibition games. UNM seemed to have come out of its slump in its season opener against the Idaho State Bengals in a 79-55 win on Friday night.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team will open its season in Chicago against opponents that will give the Lobos some much needed experience. UNM boarded nine underclassmen on the plane to the Maggie Dixon Classic that begins today against University of Texas Pan America. The Lobos only have one starting senior following Ebony Walker’s suspension. “We’re going to be able to get out there and play three tough games,” head coach Yvonne Sanchez said. “These guys are looking forward to it and so are we.”
The New Mexico women’s basketball team will be without its starting center for some time. Redshirt senior Ebony Walker has been suspended indefinitely and stripped of her captain label after being charged with domestic violence and aggravated assault against a household member late Tuesday night.
The New Mexico men’s basketball team has had an up and down offseason, but hopes to fix many of the issues that have been the reason for the inconsistency.
The New Mexico men’s basketball team took the court for the first time this season in front of 13,131 fans at home, defeating West New Mexico 89-45 in the team’s first exhibition. Senior guard Hugh Greenwood and sophomore guard Cullen Neal combined to score the team’s first 23 points, nine of which came off of three straight 3-pointers by Greenwood.
In a night ruled by nerves, good 3-point shooting and a team song and dance, the New Mexico women’s basketball team was introduced to its home crowd during the annual Lobo Howl. Coming down the ramp in The Pit for the first time in the 2014 season in front of 7,123 fans on Friday night, the Lobos appeared decidedly uncomfortable.“These guys were so nervous during the 11-man break, the full-court drill that we did,” head coach Yvonne Sanchez said. “You could tell by the shots and the passes; but they enjoyed it so much.”
Walking around campus this past year and a half, students may have noticed something a little different about senior guard Hugh Greenwood. That something? He has been growing his hair past his shoulders.He said he grew the long locks because his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer more than 18 months ago.Other members of the Lobo men’s basketball team got on board to help, too. Head coach Craig Neal and his son, sophomore guard Cullen Neal, have also been growing out their hair to show support for Greenwood’s family.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team is counting on its solid rapport to propel the unit through the season. The Lobos were picked to finish ninth (122 points) in the Mountain West preseason poll, following last year’s 11-19 finish. UNM is looking to build on its 6-12 conference record last season that featured a first-round exit in the Mountain West Tournament.Media members selected Colorado State to finish first in the MW after receiving 21 first-place votes and 276 points. Boise State was picked to finish second with 241 points and Wyoming was selected to place third with 235 points.
Media members aren’t predicting a down year for the New Mexico men’s basketball team.Mountain West Conference officials released the men’s basketball MW Preseason Media Poll Tuesday afternoon, where the Lobos found themselves sitting in third place.
ast year New Mexico couldn’t win tight games down the stretch, and head coach Yvonne Sanchez said doing so will be a stepping stone for the 2014 women’s basketball season. UNM has lost its last seven games that have been decided by six points or fewer. Sanchez said that was partly due to the immaturity of the team last year, but she expects the squad to learn from those mistakes.“A lot of those close games we just weren’t tough enough to finish. We were just too young,” said Sanchez, whose team opened practice last week. “I’ve learned a lot from that, and it starts with me.”
A lot of new faces stepped onto the Rudy Davalos Center court on Friday afternoon. Nine, to be exact.“I’m real excited. Fired up to start,” second-year UNM head coach Craig Neal said. “I’m going to miss the guys that graduated for sure. We’ve got a good group of guys here — a lot of talent, on paper, but they have to show that on the floor.”
Basketball camps around the country have been structured similarly for many years, but REAL Hoops hopes to change that and bring something different to the table.
New Mexico and men’s head basketball coach Craig Neal agreed to a new contract for six-years that’s worth $5.7 million, plus incentives, the University announced Monday morning.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team concluded its tour of Italy with a 54-41 loss to the Netherlands National Team.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team had trouble closing out the Netherlands national team in its first loss of the Italy exhibition tour.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team has grown during its exhibition tour in Italy. The squad improved to 2-0 with a 70-54 victory over the Adriatic Sea Sirens last Saturday. “We played well,” head coach Yvonne Sanchez told reporters of GoLobos.com.
Senior guard Antiesha Brown received the game’s MVP after scoring 16 points in a 74-37 route against AS Vincenza on Thursday night in the opening game of the NCAA Vicenza Tour exhibition.
Former New Mexico men’s basketball player Cameron Bairstow signed a three year deal with the Chicago Bulls earlier today. The Bulls selected Bairstow in the second round of the NBA draft with the 49th overall selection in June. The terms of the contract were not released per term policy.
Team chemistry and shaping the incoming freshmen for collegiate play is the major focus of the New Mexico women’s basketball team this offseason. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez has added five new faces to a roster containing just three seniors. In order to get her young unit ready, Sanchez and the Lobos will be boarding an international flight to Italy to play four exhibition games in anticipation for the 2014-2015 season.
From player to coach, Amy Beggin has climbed through the ranks of the New Mexico women’s basketball program by taking advantage of opportunities. Beggin’s next break will be as assistant head coach, after her promotion from director of operations last Tuesday. She takes over for former Assistant Coach Edwina Brown, who stepped down last month.
Solutions by The State News
