New Mexico Lobos Men’s Basketball at ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Thursday’s Schedule: Game 3- New Mexico vs. Boston College, 3 p.m. (MT), ESPN2
Also Thursday: Game 1- Texas A&M vs. Dayton. Game 2- Charleston vs. UConn. ESPN2; Game 4- George Mason vs. West Virginia.
Friday’s Schedule: Game 1 winner/loser vs. Game 2 winner/loser; Game 3 winner/loser vs. Game 4 winner/loser.
Lobos On The Air: ESPN2; 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network
GoLobos.com: Game Story, Complete Stats
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
In a tournament environment, sometimes the first game is the easiest – as far as preparation. After that, well did you win or lose? And who else won or lost?
It’s a mystery ride for Craig Neal’s New Mexico Lobos at the 2014 ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off after the Lobos jump on the court Thursday with Boston College.
The Lobos have two games under their belts and ditto for the 1-1 Eagles, so film has been dissected and plans have been made.
“It’s an ACC team,” Coach Neal said about the Eagles, which does explain a lot. It means the Eagles recruit at a high level, usually play at a high level, and definitely compete at a high level.
However, this is a new-look Boston College team – and ditto for Neal’s young Lobos. It’s a mystery ride for both head coaches as far as Friday’s opponent, but they have a decent grasp on what to expect – and what they need – from their teams.
Neal has a pair of guards in Cullen Neal and Hugh Greenwood, who Boston College surely will be targeting. Neal is versatile in how he can score and savvy at getting to the free throw line. His court vision, ball handling and decision-making has improved. He might be the toughest Lobo to defend.
Greenwood’s game is mature, but he is still adapting to the demands to be a bit more selfish in 2014-15, but that’s a good selfishness. The Lobos need Greenwood to shoot and score.
The biggest question mark for Coach Neal is all that inside talent. He has a lot of it – lean, lanky, athletic potential. Now, a few of those Lobos need to simmer to the surface. The three games in Puerto Rico should help with that simmering and give Neal a better grasp of how he wants to develop his team.
OK, there are a lot of factors that decide who wins the scoreboard in any game, but the guard vs. guard factor when Lobos battle Eagles should be huge.
The Lobos’ proven scoring is out front. The Eagles’ proven scoring is out front.
Boston College has a least one player, who should be targeted by the Lobos: junior guard Olivier Hanlan. He made the preseason Top 50 list for the Wooden Award because he can be very good. The Wooden is for college’s best player and Hanlan also made the Bob Cousy Award list which goes to the nation’s best point guard. (Expect Cullen Neal to make that list before his Lobo career ends).
The Eagles will look to Hanlan to control the tempo, control the Eagles’ offense – and score. He averaged a team-high 17.5 points in Boston College’s two games so far this season. He is the leading returning scorer in the ACC after averaging 18.5 points a year ago.
The 6-4 Hanlan has help out front. The 6-5 Aaron Brown will bring a healthy 16.5 scoring average to Puerto Rico. He scored 12 vs. UMass and 21 vs. New Hampshire, a 58-50 BC win. Brown is a graduate-student transfer from Southern Miss and also played two seasons at Temple.
These are not only good guards, who can score. They are tall guards, who can score.
The Eagles also are searching for answers – and scorers – inside. Will Magartiy, a 6-11 forwards, averages 6.5 points. Dennis Clifford, a 7-foot-1, should be an interesting matchup with UNM’s 7-1 Obij Aget. Clifford averages 6.0 points and 5.5 rebounds. Boston College also has some size and production in 6-6 wing Patrick Heckmann, who averages 5.0 points and 6.0 boards.
Boston College, so far this season, doesn’t show much depth in either scoring or rebounding. The Eagles went 8-24 last year and have a first-year coach in Jim Christian. The No. 17 UConn Huskies, the defending national champions, should be considered the marque team in this event behind senior guard, Ryan Boatright.
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former award-winning Sports Columnist and Associate Sports Editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.