Dec. 12, 2008
Lobo Basketball
Saturday: Lobos vs. Ole Miss
When/Where: 2 p.m., The Pit
On The Air: Versus; 770 KOB-AM
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
Six blocked shots is a whole heck of a lot of blocked shots. To put the number into perspective, look at it this way:
— Only four Lobos have had more than six blocks in a game since the stat started being recorded in 1978: Luc Longley, Khari Jaxon, Wayland White and Kenny Thomas.
— Danny Granger, a budding NBA superstar, never had more than six blocks in a game in his two years at the University of New Mexico.
So, the six shots that 6-foot-9 Daniel Faris slapped away Wednesday night in UNM’s 57-54 win at San Diego was a pretty impressive number. Probably shows a lot of great timing, huh, Daniel? Probably shows tremendous jumping ability and a special gift of anticipation, right, big guy?
Naw. Not so, says the often too-humble Lobo.
“I think I just kept getting lucky,” said Faris. “It was just one of those games where the ball kept coming to my hand. I definitely didn’t think I was Wilt (Chamberlain) out there. I realize I’m not a shot blocker.”
OK, maybe Faris isn’t an enforcer of the paint ala Wilt the Stilt or even like ex-Lobo Luc Longley, who was a long-armed 7-foot-2. But Faris must be doing something right. He leads the Mountain West Conference with 2.22 swats per game and has blocked at least one shot in every game this season to help pad his season total of 20 blocks.
Faris also was a pretty complete enforcer vs. San Diego as he pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds to go with his career-high swats.
“I just wanted that game really bad,” said the UNM senior. “I knew we needed it and that it was a game we could win. I didn’t know I had that many blocks and I didn’t know I had that many rebounds. I could never get over eight (rebounds) before, so I kind of thought I was around eight again.
“I know we need a big rebounding presence and I know it’s part of my job to come out and try to do that. Rebounding is always one of my assignments.”
Rebounding is something Lobos coach Steve Alford continues to stress as a key need for his 2008-09 Lobos. Obviously, it is a key against an athletic bunch of Ole Miss jumping jacks, who invade The Pit at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Lobos have been outrebounding their opponents this season, but have been outrebounded by 4.8 boards a game in the past four games.
If Faris can pull down 13 vs. Ole Miss, you have the feeling Alford will be more than tickled. It also might come in handy if UNM can win the battle inside the paint because the Lobos might be hard pressed to beat Ole Miss on the perimeter.
The Rebels’ strength appears to be on the outside behind the two-gun combo of junior David Huertas and sophomore Chris Warren. Huertas is scoring at a 21.4 clip while gunning a hot 47 percent from 3-point range. Warren comes in with a 20.4 average and complements those stats with 34 assists and 19 steals.
They both shoot better than 82 percent from the line and with the ball in their hands at the end of a game, a team does not want to find itself having to foul down the stretch. “Their team has two great guards,” said Faris. “But every team has some bigs, so I still have a job to do.”
The Ole Miss bigs are 6-9 DeAundre Cranston and 6-7 Murphy Holloway. That Rebel duo combines to average 10.2 points and nine rebounds a game.
The Lobos are 5-4 going into the Ole Miss game and the Rebels are 6-2. Ole Miss isn’t playing bad ball, but the Rebs were hurt badly this year when they lost two starters, Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins, for the season with knee injuries. That pair combined for 26 points in Ole Miss’ 85-77 win over the Lobos last year in Oxford.
The Lobos and Ole Miss share a common opponent in Central Florida. UNM lost 72-71 to the Knights in The Pit and Ole Miss hammered Central Florida 78-46.
“Ole Miss is a very good team,” said Faris. “This is a big test for us. I think we have been improving little by little, but a win against Ole Miss would be a big step for us.”
Lobo Notes: Lobo football coach Mike Locksley will speak to The Pit crowd at halftime. … The Lobos are 35-1 in their past 36 non-conference home games and are 4-1 in The Pit this season . … UNM has won 25 straight games when allowing fewer than 60 points. … The Lobos are No. 1 in the Mountain West in field goal percentage defense at 38.6 percent.
—