Stevens: Lobos Again Adjust to Injury/Change

December 16, 2014

New Mexico Lobos Men’s Basketball – In WisePies Arena/The Pit

Who/When: 8 p.m. (MT), Wednesday – Central Arkansas (0-8) at New Mexico (6-3)

On The Air: ROOT Sports; 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network; 1450-AM ESPN Deportes

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Ticket Special: Four tickets (bench areas, row 1-10), four hot dogs and four drinks for $60. Must purchase the “Four-Point Play” in person at the Ticket Office.

By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com

If you are thinking about giving Lobo Coach Craig Neal a Christmas present, don’t give him that puzzle from out of “The Twilight Zone”. You know, that mystical, haunted puzzle that changes shapes and pieces every time you go to work on it.

Neal already has that puzzle. It’s called the 2014-15 University of New Mexico men’s basketball team.

“It could be an interesting mix and match of people we play,” said Neal of Wednesday’s 8 p.m., tip with Central Arkansas. “It will be interesting.”

The rumor isn’t true that the first thing Coach Neal does every day is call the team doctor to see which players are healthy for practice that day. But it might be the second things he does… .

The Lobo lineup does seem to be an ever-changing landscape and Neal will have to deal with that vs. the UCA Bears.

Jordan Goodman is back in. Sam Logwood is out.

Cullen Neal (ankle) is still out and ditto for Arthur Edwards (finger). Logwood injured his shoulder in a collision under the bucket during the ULM game on Dec. 13. There is no structural damage, but Logwood has to let the sprain heal – and quit hurting.

Jordan has played in five games for the 6-3 Lobos, but has missed the past four games. His season and career-high minutes as a Lobo (19) produced 19 points on Nov. 11 vs. George Mason.

“I think Jordan will be ready to go and he knows how to score the ball,” said Neal. “He has to get his feel back, but he knows how to play. . I think he is full-go.

“I’m sure he’s going to be a little rusty, but you are talking about a guy who has made ten practices out of 46. He also missed June, July and August. That’s a lot.”

Physically, Goodman is a good replacement for Logwood, a 6-foot-7 freshman. Goodman is 6-foot-9 and was a JC All-American as a sophomore. He was rated as a top five JC prospect at Harcum College. Goodman has a big-time body, but now he has to show the work ethic and intensity that turns potential into reality.

“I hope Jordan comes back and gives us something,” said Neal.

Among the things Neal wants from all of his Lobos are honest effort, rebounding and defensive. He also would like to see better shooting and improved offense. There is a good chance that 0-8 Central Arkansas will throw a zone up at UNM and challenge the Lobos to shoot from the outside.

Neal said his Lobos got a lot of good looks against the ULM zone, but missed too many open shots. He also said maybe a few Lobos went beyond their roles when it came to launching outside shots. “When guys think they are open, they think they have the right to shoot,” said Neal. “There will be some discussions … “

Neal said the ULM game film was not as pretty as the 54-46 score that favored the Lobos.

“Wasn’t very happy with it,” Neal said of that review. “Not as good defensively as it looked like we were. It was not very good offensively.”

The Lobos shot 33.9 percent from the floor in that win, but held ULM to 29.1 percent. “It’s not exactly the defense; it was just a lot of bad shooting,” Neal said of ULM’s 29.1 success rate.

Neal also was happy with the Lobos’ execution on offense against the ULM zone. When you attack a zone, you want it to collapse, change shapes, and then you attack the weaknesses or the open areas.

“We are not driving and making two guys play (the dribbler),” said Neal. “The biggest thing in a zone is you have to make two guys (defenders) play one. We’re not doing that. We are kind of going around the perimeter.

“When we catch it in the high post, we are not looking to make a play. There are some things we have to work on.”

Central Arkansas is coached by first-year coach Russ Pennell, who is the former interim head coach at Arizona. He led the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in 2009. The Bears’ leading scorer is freshman guard Jordan Howard at 16.6 points per game. He is a primary target for the UNM defense. Howard has scored more than 20 points in three games.

The Lobos are led in scoring by Deshawn Delaney with a 13.7 average followed by Hugh Greenwood at 10 points per game. Greenwood is shooting only .275 percent from the floor and .246 from 3-point range. He is 14-of-78 in UNM’s past six games.

“Hugh is battling himself: ‘Am I the point guard? Am I the shooting guard?,’” said Neal. “That’s hard. He is trying to figure it out.”

Greenwood is trying to figure it out because just like Neal, the Lobo players are dealing with that mysterious puzzle. The pieces keep changing.

Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former national award-winning Sports Columnist and Associate Sports Editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.

New Mexico Lobos 2014-15 Roster

No.

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

Exp.

Hometown (Prev School)

J.J. N’Ganga

6-10

250