Site Map | Archives

Home › Sports › LoboZone

Men's basketball: Lobos aren't giving up, despite dead-last status in the MWC

By Jeremy Fowler
Thursday, January 25, 2007

Forward Tony Danridge argues over a call during UNM's loss to BYU. Danridge was the only Lobo to score in double figures, with 21 points. He had UNM's first eight points Wednesday night at The Pit.

Photo by Erin FredrichsTribune

Tribune

Forward Tony Danridge argues over a call during UNM's loss to BYU. Danridge was the only Lobo to score in double figures, with 21 points. He had UNM's first eight points Wednesday night at The Pit.

A 21-point bashing in The Pit hasn't changed much for the University of New Mexico men's basketball team.

Ritchie McKay again addressed his job status to the media.

The disappointment and embarrassment of Lobos fans echoed louder on message boards.

Athletics Director Paul Krebs again stated he's sticking by his policy of evaluating programs and coaches at season's end.

J.R. Giddens again played the mystery card - starting the game on the bench for goofing around in practice, ending the game on the bench with a sprained left ankle.

Tony Danridge again showed up.

Nobody else did - again.

Again the motion offense went motionless.

Again The Pit hosted an announced crowd of less than 14,000.

The Lobos are again in last place in the Mountain West Conference.

Does that about cover it?

One thing, however, was different about Brigham Young's 70-49 blowout over the Lobos (12-9, 1-5 in MWC) in front of an announced crowd of 13,511. Even opposing players are starting to smell the troubled status of the once-storied program.

After giving the diplomatic answer - the Lobos are a good team, this was a great win - BYU center Trent Plaisted gave it away.

"I'd like to give you the real answer," Plaisted said.

Keeping it "real" is this: The Lobos have won one game in 24 days. Losing six of its last seven has UNM poised for its first dead-last finish in a conference since 1958.

Giddens can't take the losing, as evidenced by his storming out of the back door of The Pit minutes after the game.

Problem is, the Lobos' top guard led the stinkfest with zero points on 0-of-5 shooting and two turnovers. Giddens didn't start the game because, as McKay says, five players played better and harder than Giddens during recent practices. Giddens hit the floor halfway through the second half after re-injuring his sprained left ankle and never returned.

A quote from BYU guard Austin Ainge seems to say it all about the floundering Lobos.

"I can't remember the last time we blew a team out in conference play," Ainge said.

The Lobos are officially whipping boys.

BYU's 21-point win matched their Feb. 26, 1998, performance of the same total in The Pit. That victory snapped UNM's 41-game home winning streak.

This year's team lost in The Pit less than three weeks ago against Colorado State.

"This is an adverse time," McKay said. "We're struggling. It's very frustrating because this team is talented. I'm responsible."

McKay said his job is to "get a competitive team on the floor, be a mentor and add value to young people's lives. If I'm not doing it to the level of satisfaction, so be it."

Players and coaches say this losing trend is correctable.

McKay said his team has displayed segments of good basketball in recent weeks.

The body language of Lobos players during and after the game didn't show the urgency for correction.

More like quitting.

"This is just frustration we're showing," guard Darren Prentice said. "We don't feel like this is the end. We (haven't given) up on this team."

These days, the only Lobos player who doesn't seem to need correction is Danridge, the only Lobo to finish in double figures with a team-high 21 points.

Guard Jamaal Smith said the coaching staff gave them a message to carry into Saturday's matchup at UNLV.

"We can either quit or fight back," Smith said. "There's still some fight in us, so we're going to fight back."

But is it too late?

"We still have time left to make something happen," Smith said. "Not much time, though."