ThunderDan49
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-03-2017 10:27 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: (07-03-2017 10:07 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote: (07-03-2017 07:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: (07-03-2017 07:09 PM)Clarity Wrote: Sure for the big guys not for mid-majors. Size is a big advantage at the less skilled level.
NMSU played virtually all of last season with a from court of Wilkins at the 5, Chuha at the 4, and either Taylor or Haley at the 3; with J. Jones coming off the bench to sub for either Wilkins or Chuha. Bhullar played very few minutes last season. And yet, it was enough to win the WAC tournament. What has really changed from a year ago? Wilkins, Chuha, and J. Jones are back. And, I guaranty you Marlon Jones will see more playing time than Bhullar saw last season. And, we still have a very athletic Johnny McCants on the bench. At the 3 position, 6'6 Stewart and 6'3 Lofton will definitely be an offensive upgrade from 6'5 Taylor and 6'7 Haley.
But a 6'3" guard playing the three is going to be at a total disadvantage at the defensive end
I doubt that will be a problem.
Isaiah Thomas was getting his butt handed to him on the defensive end by guys that were 5 inches taller than him, it'll be a problem.
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07-04-2017 12:32 AM |
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Clarity
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
No offense but that's complete crap. Not sure why you're putting it in quotes, we won it. Are you trying to demean it somehow? Regular season is a way better gauge of who is the better team. A full schedule of games with road tests and adversity compared to a 3 game tournament anyone can win. It's obvious which one is a better gauge. There's a reason a lot of people want to drop conference tournaments all together.
(This post was last modified: 07-04-2017 12:37 AM by Clarity.)
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07-04-2017 12:34 AM |
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dancingNMSUaggie
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-04-2017 12:34 AM)Clarity Wrote: No offense but that's complete crap. Not sure why you're putting it in quotes, we won it. Are you trying to demean it somehow? Regular season is a way better gauge of who is the better team. A full schedule of games with road tests and adversity compared to a 3 game tournament anyone can win. It's obvious which one is a better gauge. There's a reason a lot of people want to drop conference tournaments all together.
Here we go....
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07-04-2017 12:58 AM |
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NMSUPistolPete
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
As an Aggie fans, I want NMSU to win the regular season title every year. But all it guarantees us is an NIT berth. As a one bid conference, the WAC tournament is the event all teams are preparing for during the season. CSUB should be happy they won the regular season but it rings hollow if they can't put a stamp on the season by winning the WAC tournament. NMSU fans are fully aware of this from the year prior. NMSU had the best WAC team in 2015-16 but a buzzer beater in the WAC tournament (which you display proudly on your posts) tarnished the accomplishment. The 2014-15 season, was the only time NMSU won the regular season and tournament in the same year. But NMSU can hang their hat on 5 NCAA tournament appearances in 6 years. That is what has defined NMSU as the team to beat in this conference. Nobody talks about UVU winning regular season four years ago. But CSUB going to the NCAA tournament in 2016 has put your program on the national map.
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07-04-2017 12:58 AM |
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Clarity
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
Yes going to the NCAA tournament is better never said it wasn't. Just said the regular season was a better gauge of whose the better team, which is an objective fact.
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07-04-2017 01:06 AM |
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NMSUPistolPete
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-04-2017 01:06 AM)Clarity Wrote: Yes going to the NCAA tournament is better never said it wasn't. Just said the regular season was a better gauge of whose the better team, which is an objective fact.
In many cases it is the best gauge as to who is the best team but not always. It is however the best gauge as to who is the most consistent team; weathering shooting slumps, injuries, etc.
Four years ago, I would argue NMSU was a better team than UVU but the Wolverines were more consistent in their performance and won the regular season. However, NMSU played half the WAC season without Sim Bhullar due to injury. But he was healthy come WAC tournament time.
This last season, NMSU weather the storm throughout a lot of injuries but they where dialed in and ready to play by WAC tournament time. NMSU possessed the best RPI in the WAC and rode a 20 game before the wear and tear of a short bench took its' toll. Every team NMSU met wanted to be the team to end NMSU's streak; so our team could not afford to have an off night. We got everyone's best. CSUB was finally the team which pushed NMSU beyond their physical and mental limits and consequently the wheels fell off in Bakersfield ending our streak.
Additionally, toward the latter part of the season, Coach Weir over coached the team. He slowed the team's tempo in order to save the player's legs for the tournament. However, that cost us the UVU home game because it took the Aggie team away from what made them successful earlier. Our team was built to run. So, our players actually had a team meeting after the UVU game requesting Weir to let them return to their original uptempo style; and let the chips fall where they may come WAC tournament time; tired legs or not. And the rest is history.
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07-04-2017 02:59 AM |
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FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-04-2017 12:32 AM)ThunderDan49 Wrote: (07-03-2017 10:27 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: (07-03-2017 10:07 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote: (07-03-2017 07:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: (07-03-2017 07:09 PM)Clarity Wrote: Sure for the big guys not for mid-majors. Size is a big advantage at the less skilled level.
NMSU played virtually all of last season with a from court of Wilkins at the 5, Chuha at the 4, and either Taylor or Haley at the 3; with J. Jones coming off the bench to sub for either Wilkins or Chuha. Bhullar played very few minutes last season. And yet, it was enough to win the WAC tournament. What has really changed from a year ago? Wilkins, Chuha, and J. Jones are back. And, I guaranty you Marlon Jones will see more playing time than Bhullar saw last season. And, we still have a very athletic Johnny McCants on the bench. At the 3 position, 6'6 Stewart and 6'3 Lofton will definitely be an offensive upgrade from 6'5 Taylor and 6'7 Haley.
But a 6'3" guard playing the three is going to be at a total disadvantage at the defensive end
I doubt that will be a problem.
Isaiah Thomas was getting his butt handed to him on the defensive end by guys that were 5 inches taller than him, it'll be a problem.
Zach Lofton > Oscar Frayer
Zach Lofton > Josh Bruan
Zach Lofton > Gerald Martin
Zach Lofton > Casey Martin
Harris, Ndir, Lofton, Chuha, and Wilkins is the top starting five in the WAC.
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07-04-2017 10:42 AM |
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LopesUp
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-04-2017 10:42 AM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: (07-04-2017 12:32 AM)ThunderDan49 Wrote: (07-03-2017 10:27 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: (07-03-2017 10:07 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote: (07-03-2017 07:21 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: NMSU played virtually all of last season with a from court of Wilkins at the 5, Chuha at the 4, and either Taylor or Haley at the 3; with J. Jones coming off the bench to sub for either Wilkins or Chuha. Bhullar played very few minutes last season. And yet, it was enough to win the WAC tournament. What has really changed from a year ago? Wilkins, Chuha, and J. Jones are back. And, I guaranty you Marlon Jones will see more playing time than Bhullar saw last season. And, we still have a very athletic Johnny McCants on the bench. At the 3 position, 6'6 Stewart and 6'3 Lofton will definitely be an offensive upgrade from 6'5 Taylor and 6'7 Haley.
But a 6'3" guard playing the three is going to be at a total disadvantage at the defensive end
I doubt that will be a problem.
Isaiah Thomas was getting his butt handed to him on the defensive end by guys that were 5 inches taller than him, it'll be a problem.
Zach Lofton > Oscar Frayer
Zach Lofton > Josh Bruan
Zach Lofton > Gerald Martin
Zach Lofton > Casey Martin
Harris, Ndir, Lofton, Chuha, and Wilkins is the top starting five in the WAC.
Welp... You had the right school.
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07-04-2017 11:02 AM |
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gleadley
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
I'm sure Lofton will be just fine for NMSU. Perhaps I just hold too high a view of the WAC to go along with the assumption that the best player from a far inferior league will come in and dominate ours. We have another thread about the WAC's best returning players. How would any of those guys perform if they were going up against Chi St & UTRGV for an 18 game conference schedule? That is essentially what Lofton did last season.
I hope he does do well for NMSU, along with all the new JUCO guys. I just might hold off on passing out WAC POY awards at this point.
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07-04-2017 11:52 AM |
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Lopes87
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
Casey Martin joined the Lopes MBB team too? Sweet!
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07-04-2017 12:33 PM |
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Vaqueronation
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
Zach Lofton > Oscar Frayer
Zach Lofton > Josh Bruan
Zach Lofton > Gerald Martin
Zach Lofton > Casey Martin
Harris, Ndir, Lofton, Chuha, and Wilkins is the top starting five in the WAC.
[/quote]
CA I bet you didn't even know Zach Lofton existed before he joined.
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07-04-2017 02:04 PM |
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RoosHouse
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
I don't mean to be negative but Derrick Griffin was best player on Texas Southern and in SWAC last year.
That could be a good sign when Lofton and Chuha are on the court.
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07-04-2017 02:13 PM |
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Clarity
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
Casey Martin lmao
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07-04-2017 02:27 PM |
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NMSUPistolPete
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-04-2017 11:52 AM)gleadley Wrote: I'm sure Lofton will be just fine for NMSU. Perhaps I just hold too high a view of the WAC to go along with the assumption that the best player from a far inferior league will come in and dominate ours. We have another thread about the WAC's best returning players. How would any of those guys perform if they were going up against Chi St & UTRGV for an 18 game conference schedule? That is essentially what Lofton did last season.
I hope he does do well for NMSU, along with all the new JUCO guys. I just might hold off on passing out WAC POY awards at this point.
Although, I wouldn't be too quick to proclaim Lofton as the next WAC POTY, He is a little bit better player than what frequents an "inferior league" like the SWAC. Keep in mind, he was originally recruited to the Missouri Valley (Illinois State); a mid-major conference which carries more weight than the current WAC. Then Minnesota was more than willing to add him to their roster before he subsequently broke team rules; that's a P5 school who recognized his talent. And, finally after a two year hiatus from competitive/organized basketball he becomes SWAC Player of the Year (and SWAC Newcomer of the Year) in a single season. Although a season still needs to be played, I would say Lofton's talent is on par with the best of the WAC. I'm not sure he is the best player in the WAC or even on the Aggie team; NMSU has two other legit POTY candidates... Sidy Ndir and Eli Chuha. But I think Lofton's talent will shake up things in the conference. At the very least, he makes up for the loss of Braxton Huggins.
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07-04-2017 02:28 PM |
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Trod0
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
From the looks of it the Aggies will have a better team than they did last year. I think we have upgraded from the players that have left. Also we have more much needed depth. Last year we got worn out because of no depth and it showed. A fatigued Aggie team gave some WAC fans a false sense that their team was actually better than NMSU. Yes the WAC has gotten better but no team was better than a healthy, rested Aggie team. If Jan's gets his team playing the way he wants, this year will be no different.
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07-04-2017 05:34 PM |
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Clarity
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
Looking forward to revisiting some of these comments later in the season.
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07-04-2017 06:14 PM |
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SoCalBobcat78
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
POY (07-04-2017 02:28 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: (07-04-2017 11:52 AM)gleadley Wrote: I'm sure Lofton will be just fine for NMSU. Perhaps I just hold too high a view of the WAC to go along with the assumption that the best player from a far inferior league will come in and dominate ours. We have another thread about the WAC's best returning players. How would any of those guys perform if they were going up against Chi St & UTRGV for an 18 game conference schedule? That is essentially what Lofton did last season.
I hope he does do well for NMSU, along with all the new JUCO guys. I just might hold off on passing out WAC POY awards at this point.
Although, I wouldn't be too quick to proclaim Lofton as the next WAC POTY, He is a little bit better player than what frequents an "inferior league" like the SWAC. Keep in mind, he was originally recruited to the Missouri Valley (Illinois State); a mid-major conference which carries more weight than the current WAC. Then Minnesota was more than willing to add him to their roster before he subsequently broke team rules; that's a P5 school who recognized his talent. And, finally after a two year hiatus from competitive/organized basketball he becomes SWAC Player of the Year (and SWAC Newcomer of the Year) in a single season. Although a season still needs to be played, I would say Lofton's talent is on par with the best of the WAC. I'm not sure he is the best player in the WAC or even on the Aggie team; NMSU has two other legit POTY candidates... Sidy Ndir and Eli Chuha. But I think Lofton's talent will shake up things in the conference. At the very least, he makes up for the loss of Braxton Huggins.
Very nice pickup. Lofton was the 2nd leading scored as a sophomore on that Illinois State team at 11 points per game. He had a basketball scholarship at a Big Ten school and he was a POY in a D1 conference. He should definitely help.
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07-04-2017 08:28 PM |
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FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
New Mexico State is going to have a deadly starting five, but even if Sidy Ndir isn't healthy, you can always go to this line-up
PG Harris 5'9
SG Lofton 6'3
SF Stewart 6'6
PF Chuha 6'8
C Wilkins 6'10
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07-05-2017 02:41 PM |
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NMSUPistolPete
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-05-2017 02:41 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: New Mexico State is going to have a deadly starting five, but even if Sidy Ndir isn't healthy, you can always go to this line-up
PG Harris 5'9
SG Lofton 6'3
SF Stewart 6'6
PF Chuha 6'8
C Wilkins 6'10
I like your enthusiasm but the perimeter players you have listed have yet to play a minute together. There will be a lot of growing pains before the Aggies enter WAC play. Keep in mind, Baker, Ndir, and Huggins were together practicing and playing for two years prior to last season. You can't just plugin players and expect similar results.
Additionally, without a healthy Sidy, NMSU lost all their three point shooting from a year ago. We have what appears to be a very talented group of guards but we don't know how long it will take them to dial in from the perimeter; or if any of them are a good as perimeter shooters as Baker and Huggins. A year ago, I knew what we had with Baker, Huggins, Ndir, etc... not so much this year.
I like our team. But until we see the skills each of these new guys bring, I can't say with any confidence that we will or can win the WAC.
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07-05-2017 04:38 PM |
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FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992
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RE: SWAC Player of the Year Commits to New Mexico State
(07-05-2017 04:38 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote: (07-05-2017 02:41 PM)FINALFOUR1970SWEETSIXTEEN1992 Wrote: New Mexico State is going to have a deadly starting five, but even if Sidy Ndir isn't healthy, you can always go to this line-up
PG Harris 5'9
SG Lofton 6'3
SF Stewart 6'6
PF Chuha 6'8
C Wilkins 6'10
I like your enthusiasm but the perimeter players you have listed have yet to play a minute together. There will be a lot of growing pains before the Aggies enter WAC play. Keep in mind, Baker, Ndir, and Huggins were together practicing and playing for two years prior to last season. You can't just plugin players and expect similar results.
Additionally, without a healthy Sidy, NMSU lost all their three point shooting from a year ago. We have what appears to be a very talented group of guards but we don't know how long it will take them to dial in from the perimeter; or if any of them are a good as perimeter shooters as Baker and Huggins. A year ago, I knew what we had with Baker, Huggins, Ndir, etc... not so much this year.
I like our team. But until we see the skills each of these new guys bring, I can't say with any confidence that we will or can win the WAC.
I doubt it will be a problem. They practice together all fall so I'm sure they will be ready to go by the time December comes around. Harris has been around for a year practicing with the squad, Ndir, Chuha, Jones, Wilkins, and Jones has been around. Lee and Buchanan are already on campus, including the two freshman.
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07-05-2017 10:16 PM |
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