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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 16-14;
6-8 in MWC (6th)
Postseason: Lost to Minnesota 96-62 in first round of NIT.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Douglas 18.2
Rebs: Williams 5.1
Assists: Carey 3.2
FG: Williams 51.9%
3pt: Douglas 44.9%
FT: Douglas 83.8%
01-02 Stats:
New Mexico | MWC
KEY LOSSES
Marlon Parmer | 12.8 ppg
Eric Chatfield | 12.1 ppg
Patrick Dennehy | 10.6 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Senque Carey | Senior
G | Ru. Douglas | Senior
F | Jamal Williams | Soph
F | Michael McCowan| Soph
C | Chad Bell | Soph
Player to Watch
Ruben Douglas
Senior Forward
First MWC player to post four 30-plus games in single season.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Lobos open conference play at Colorado State and then go to Wyoming (Jan. 18). Two losses there, and eighth place isn't out of the question.
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NEW MEXICO LOBOS
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Ritchie McKay left Oregon State to come home and replace Fran Fraschilla atop the Lobos' program, but McKay's dream coaching job could have a very rocky beginning. He has inherited a once proud program that is reeling from the on- and off-court drama of recent times. Just four lettermen return from last year's 16-14 team and McKay -- whose father played for New Mexico in the early 1960s -- has little to no proven frontcourt players. One positive is senior guard Ruben Douglas, one of the league's best players. He chose not to test the NBA draft early, and now will have the offense built around him. But the Lobos are woefully thin down low. Gone is leading rebounder Patrick Dennehy (transferred to Baylor), center Moustapha Diagne and forward Cody Payne (knee injury, left the team). It all means New Mexico will play smaller than in past seasons, and one undersized player with a chance to be very good is sophomore forward Jamal Williams (6-6, 220). He averaged 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds last year, but must improve a dismal 38 percent from the foul line.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Ironic, really, that so many players decided to bolt and Douglas is one who stayed. He has electric skill and the ability to score in bunches. If the point guard spot can produce solid play from senior Senque Carey and junior transfer Javin Tindall, Douglas should flourish with good looks. But others must step up and free him with countless screens. How tough is Douglas? He averaged nearly 37 minutes per game in the final month of last season.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Williams is really a delight to watch at his size, a player who shot 51.9 percent from the field and who appears healthy from the stress fracture that hampered him toward the end of last season. But passion and energy can only secure you so many rebounds. New Mexico will have a tough time inside against anyone other than perhaps Air Force, and that's not a given. The Lobos need center Chad Bell (6-11) to play more like a senior than the sophomore he is.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
New Mexico, in its 100th season, received some votes for last place in the conference media poll and no one blinked. Think about that. The built-in advantage of a sold-out Pit no longer means automatic victory. The Lobos will struggle to earn a winning record this season.
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