Stevens: Lobos Want to Run Versus Adams State

November 06, 2014

New Mexico Lobos Men’s Basketball – In The Pit

Friday: 7 p.m., Adams State Grizzlies at New Mexico Lobos (exhibition)

On The Air: 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network; Live Stream via www.themw.com

GoLobos.com: Game Story, Statistics, LoboTV

By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com

The flavor of the Lobos that Coach Craig Neal scoops onto the Bob King Floor Friday night vs. Adams State is the same flavor of the month he unveiled in New Mexico’s first exhibition.

Vanilla.

The other colors of the rainbow – the colors of the 2014-15 Lobos – will hit Neal’s canvas at a later date.

“I don’t think we are going to show a lot,” Neal said of his Lobos’ 7:05 p.m., tip Friday against Adams State of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

“We have two games coming up on the 14^th and 16^th (Idaho State/Cal State Fullerton) and I don’t really want to show a lot. We were pretty basic the other night (89-45 win over Western New Mexico) and we’ll continue to be pretty basic.

“We will continue to play at a high level and get our defensive system in and do things we are doing to do defensively, but it will be pretty vanilla.”

There are at least two reasons Neal’s Lobos will be basic vanilla vs. Adams State. The Lobos will want to focus on playing good basketball and executing against Adams State. The Lobos also don’t want Idaho State or Cal State Fullerton to see too many of UNM’s set plays.

“The chance to compete in The Pit, one of college basketball’s premiere venues, is something we will relish,” said Adams State Coach Louis Wilson. “Regardless of the outcome, our kids will never forget the night they played in front of some of college sports’ best fans.”

Lobo fans will see a lot of Lobos play on Saturday and they will see Neal’s Lobos play at a high energy level. Neal’s run-and-gun package/flavor is no secret. The Grizzlies will get a taste of it on Friday.

Neal also is hoping the Grizzlies have a bit more bite to them. Western New Mexico was picked to finished 14^th (last) in the RMAC and Adams State is picked to finish fifth.

“Friday will be a little bit different game in the sense they have some Division I transfers and are picked a little higher in the RMAC,” said Neal. “We will play a little better competition on Friday that will challenge them a little more and we’ll see where we are.

“They (Grizzlies) play fast and it will be an interesting game for us. They sometimes play the way we want to play.”

If the Grizzlies like to run, they probably will run with the Lobos. It’s an exhibition for Adams State, too, and a run with a long, lean and athletic team like New Mexico will be a good test for the Grizzlies. Adams State also plays Nevada and Boise State of the Mountain in exhibition games this season.

Neal will be looking to further develop chemistry in a game situation while evaluating various combinations of Lobos. Neal returns six players from 2013-14, but also has to stir in another six Lobos for this season’s run at a Mountain West title.

Neal is willing to overlook some early “learning” mistakes, but he won’t compromise when it comes to honest effort. He wants his Lobos to play hard.

“The kids are working hard,” said Neal.

The Lobos are loaded with quick and athletic guards this season and the leadership – and points – are expected to come out front from senior Hugh Greenwood and sophomore Cullen Neal. Neal averaged 7.1 points last season and Greenwood averaged 6.2. Neal had 22 points, six boards and eight assists vs. Western. Greenwood had 18 points going 4-of-7 from behind the line.

“I like the way those two came out and played with confidence,” said Coach Neal. “I just want them to play the game and take advantage of what they have, what they see on the floor. They made plays early.

“I want those guys to come out fast. The thing I don’t want to do is get going so fast that we take bad shots or turn the ball over.”

The Lobos, behind Greenwood and Neal out front and Deshawn Delaney on the wing, have a decent feel of what they will get on the perimeter. Greenwood averaged 31.8 minutes last year followed by Delaney at 20.0 and Neal at 19.9. This trio forms the bulk of the returning experience.

The inside load was carried by Cameron Bairstow (32.9 minutes/20.4 points) and Alex Kirk (32.0/13.3). That’s the hole that has to be worked on. Neal has 7-1 Obij Aget, 6-10 J.J. N’Ganga, 6-9 Jordan Goodman and 6-9 Joe Furstinger. Neal also has 6-8 Devon Williams and 6-7 Sam Logwood on the wings.

“I don’t think this year that we have guys on our team, right now, where we can dribble down, like we used to do with Cam and Alex and just throw it in there,” said Neal. “I think our guys are going to score in transition. I think our big guys are going to score with angles. I think they will score on high-low where we set people up.”

Friday’s game is the first ever between UNM and Adams State. The Grizzlies were 17-10 last season.

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