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Men's basketball: Lobos reflect on selfish ways

Pack forced to learn meaning of `team'

By Jeremy Fowler
Originally published 09:19 a.m., January 4, 2007
Updated 11:49 a.m., January 4, 2007

FORT WORTH, Texas — Frustrated and embarrassed, the University of New Mexico Lobos pointed the finger at each other.

These players have a "freakin' agenda," coach Ritchie McKay said.

Everyone is trying to play "one-on-one," forward Aaron Johnson said.

They are "playing for themselves," guard Jeffrey Henfield said.

It seems Wednesday's devastating 64-52 loss to TCU - last season's Mountain West Conference doormat at 6-25 - ushered in a harsh reality that hit the Lobos (11-5) like an avalanche.

This team isn't as together as it thought, and TCU exposed them on what was supposed to be a celebration in the conference opener.

"We talk about being together and we don't back it up," said Johnson, whose Lobos are 0-4 in an opposing team's gym this season. "That's it in a nutshell. We love each other and we love to talk about it, but when it's time to make a play, we all just go back to our old ways. We start playing one-on-one.

"There's no more talking. We just have to do it."

It's not like the numbers show numerous players firing it up on offense. Save guard J.R. Giddens (6-of-15 from the floor), no Lobos player took more than seven shots. Guard Tony Danridge, who is second on the team at 11.7 points per game, played just 12 minutes, two in the second half, and missed all four of his shots for no points.

But UNM rushed shots early in the shot clock.

Giddens missed two jumpers in the closing minutes for the second consecutive game. The junior couldn't lift UNM in its 70-68 loss Monday at Texas Tech.

Guard Darren Prentice, one of the only players to spark the Lobos with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, said the game plan isn't the problem.

A different mindset would help the selfishness, he said.

"We come out to these games thinking we can show up and win," Prentice said. "But teams are coming out harder than we are. We have to come out with more heart. We have to play harder."

For weeks, UNM has preached the need for better defense - better interior defense, better perimeter defense, better fast-break defense.

But the loss was highlighted by UNM's horrendous offensive outing, shooting a frigid 25 percent (6-of-24) in the second half and 36 percent (18-of-50) for the game. After TCU began the second half on a 14-0 run, the Lobos continued to brick.

The Horned Frogs (9-4) showed what a little textbook man-to-man defense on the perimeter can do.

"We knew they were an athletic team, so we just had to put pressure on them from the outside," TCU guard Neil P. Dougherty said. "Our defense really played well after we calmed down at halftime."

Henfield said solid defense in the future will bolster a staggering offense because of the fast-break opportunities.

"We just have no commitment on defense," Henfield said. "We just need to fix it and stop playing in segments. If we do that, we'll be fine."

Defense couldn't solve the mental breakdowns that plagued the Lobos against the Horned Frogs.

There was guard Jamaal Smith's late-game turnover, followed by forward Daniel Faris committing an offensive foul that negated guard Chad Toppert's 3-pointer.

Then Johnson missed two free throws with a little more than three minutes remaining.

"This is no way to start the conference," Johnson said. "Not with the goals that we have."

Goals that could begin to vaporize unless the Lobos decide to put playing better basketball at the top of their agenda.