(01-31-2021 02:13 PM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 01:19 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 09:45 AM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 06:33 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(01-31-2021 01:29 AM)Lopes87 Wrote:  NMSU struggled vs Arizona Christian to start the year and had hiccups vs BenU. Then they fell to CSUN who isn't good after and gave up almost 40 points to them in the 2nd half. The same issues they have had vs ACU BENU and CSUN came to life again vs GCU.

"NMSU struggled vs Arizona Christian to start the year" - NMSU was unable to practice 5-on-5 prior to arriving at Arizona Grand Resort. And, they took the ACU game only days before the official start of the D1 season. NMSU was shorthanded with injuries and ACU had been playing for over a month.

"...and had hiccups vs BenU" - NMSU played better but Jabari Rice broke his foot during this game. NMSU was still playing shorthanded with its roster.

"Then they fell to CSUN who isn't good after and gave up almost 40 points to them in the 2nd half." - Keep in mind, NMSU entered that games without the services of starters Jabari Rice and Clayton Henry; who were both sidelined with extended injuries. The CSUN game was played 28 days after the BenU game; taken at a moments notice. And leading up to the game, NMSU was unable to practice; being sidelined for weeks by two positive COVID tests. NMSU simply ran out of steam at the end of that game; being only their 3rd game.

You should be happy GCU won handedly. But don't put too much stock in the wins as you do realize if NMSU has no more stoppages, they will be much improved by the time March rolls around. What NMSU needs now is a month of uninterrupted play to iron out the kinks. Jans has a lot tools in the Aggie toolbox... Jans just needs to get this group to play together and on the same page in his playbook. GCU has been very fortunate to have very few disruptions. This has not been the case for NMSU thus far.

At this point in the season, the only GCU player NMSU doesn't have an answer for is Midtgaard. The rest of GCU roster doesn't concern me given what NMSU's has in its roster.

Staying in a hotel where AAU tournaments and other guest are staying isn't a great idea. It would appear that NMSU wasn't as diligent with the covid protocol as well. I think they are the only mens program to shut down 3 times. Partially b/c of where they picked to stay in AZ.

Also NMSU the last two games had more in common with Rod Barnes CSUB teams than previous NMSU teams. #FlopLikeAFish

Given the COVID restrictions in New Mexico, NMSU's financial situation, and the promises made by the Arizona Grand resort, the Aggie program played the best hand dealt to them. It wasn't ideal but it allowed NMSU to participate this season; sort of. As for your frustrations with flopping, you do realize "flopping" can be called by the refs. If it wasn't called on NMSU to your liking, that's on the refs not on NMSU. NMSU is a smart defensive team. At the moment, our players are out of shape from lack of condition/practice. Once our Aggies gets their legs back and sharpen up the defense, it will get worse for the opponents as NMSU will get to spots quicker and take a lot more charges.

Teams that flop are like you said out of shape or not very talented and need to toe the line of disrespecting the game. NMSU is just out of shape and I don't think we see them dive like soccer players going forward. Officials gave NMSU multiple warnings in both games, officials didn't want to call them for flopping around like fish. The on on Rice was less of a flop and Gilyard vs Lever where Ale catches the ball and Gilyard gets snipped from the nose bleeds.

If I was you, I would be more worried that GCU has peaked. Don't worry about NMSU, GCU has it's own problems.