COMMENTARY: Key takeaways from UNM over UCLA, a look ahead to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Courtesy of AP
The UNM men’s basketball team is coming off one of the program’s best non-conference wins in recent memory.
A 72-64 win over No. 22-ranked UCLA on a neutral floor in Henderson, Nev. on Friday.
UNM’s first seven field goals were scored by seven different players.
Three players scored in double-figures: Donovan Dent had 17 points, Nelly Junior Joseph with 16 and CJ Noland with 13.
This Lobo team could be a much deeper - and more balanced - team than ones of the past.
Nine Lobos had made at least one field goal (22 points from the bench). Seven players also saw double-digit minutes in playing time, and eight Lobos saw positive numbers in the plus-or-minus.
Point totals are the keys to any game and the Lobos were extremely efficient at it against the blue-blood Bruins. They shot 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from three (6-of-15).
It was a much different picture - shooting wise - than the one UNM painted against Nicholls to open the season. The Lobos went 7-of-36 from the 3-point line with 2 players going 1-for-9 each.
What isn’t different is the dominating force Junior Joseph has been imposing on the opposition. Junior Joseph - again - turned in a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while shooting a smooth 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Junior Joseph looked unstoppable throughout. He could position himself wherever he wanted and grabbed rebounds like Dennis Rodman in his prime.
Pitino said he told his team at halftime to make UCLA stop Junior Joseph or Dent.
“I think Nelly is one of the best bigs out there, certainly in (the Mountain West Conference),” Pitino said. “(UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau) went toe-to-toe with (Junior Joseph). Bilodeau is a good player, but I thought Nelly was really good as well.”
Dent also looked the part of one of the best point guards in the country - he looked like the best player on the court Friday night. This is not taking anything away from Junior Jospeh’s dominant game.
But keeping Dent on the court (and healthy) will be key to UNM’s success.
He had a knee heavily wrapped against Nicholls but came into the UCLA game sleeveless - until he took a spill on a wet part of the floor that sent him to the locker room. Dent did return to the game, but with the same tape and leg sleeve he had on his left leg/knee against Nicholls.
Dent was asked about his knee after the win against UCLA and said he’s had some lingering bumps and bruises.
“Me and the trainer, we definitely knew, it was the same knee, same area,” Dent said. “I just hurt it a little bit more each time…Just felt a little more pressure. It didn’t feel too great.”
UNM needs Dent on the floor as much as possible, he’s the motor that keeps this bus going.
Although it’s early in the season, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut backup point guard to back Dent.
Yet.
There were glimpses of Noland running the offense along with true freshman Kayde Dotson. There was a noticeable drop-off in production when Dent exited the floor, not only in production but also in confidence level.
Noland helped maintain a Lobo lead. Having the ball in his hands is something he’s become accustomed to - he was a primary ball handler at North Texas and Oklahoma.
Pitino said Noland responded well after a rough start to the season in the Lobos home opener against Nicholls.
“He’s a veteran and the free throws were great in under-pressure situations,” Pitino said. “You know, that’s why you sign a guy like Noland to deliver in those moments.”
Other notable takeaways are centered around Filip Boravicanin, Tru Washington and the team’s defense.
Although, neither Borovicinan nor Washington scored more than six points (Borovicanin had six while Washington had three points), both contributed in other noticeable ways.
Washington’s ability to create defensive pressure set the tone for the defense and led to his 5 steals (UNM forced 21 UCLA turnovers, which led to 21 Lobo points).
Washington has been consistently active with his hands, aggressive in guarding the ball, and gets a plethora of deflections (a stat we need to track manually).
He’s the defensive catalyst on this Lobos squad.
UNM’s overall defensive effort did not go unnoticed either. The Lobos gave UCLA guards fits all night, forcing them into sideline traps by hedging screens, and taking away ball reversals by the weak-side rotating effectively.
It’s a welcoming sight as this team continues to develop roles and chemistry.
Borovicanin saw significant minutes against UCLA: 24.
And rightfully so.
He logged a plus-7 on the final stat sheet. Not specifically because of the six points he had, but because he made both of his 3-point attempts, pulled down two rebounds and had three assists.
Borovicanin’s skillset is more primed for the guard position, but at 6-foot-9-inch, he could play a unique role within UNM’s offense.
Borovicanin has the ability to shoot, the vision to anticipate the offensive motions, rebound and defend within the scheme - all basic ingredients Pitino needs for the formula to work.
As the Lobos look to continue to build the momentum off of their 2-0 start and the UCLA win, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi visits The Pit next.
The Islanders were picked fourth in the Southland Conference pre-season poll and are 1-1.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was defeated by No. 14 ranked Purdue in their season opener 90-73.
Purdue, who is looking to find a new identity without All-American Zach Edey, controlled the pace for most of their victory over the Islanders.
Purdue was able to build an early lead thanks to nine first-half three pointers.
The Boilermakers led 49-33 at halftime but a scrappy Islanders’ effort in the second half pulled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi within three points with about six minutes left.
The Islanders used a 54 percent shooting effort to erase the 16-point halftime deficit.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went 5-of-10 from the 3-point line in the second half to chip away at the Purdue lead.
But the Boilermakers were too much.
Purdue used a 9-0 run – with the help of foul trouble by Texas A&M-l Corpus Christi – to seal the deal.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Division II Dallas Christian College, 76-50, on Friday to earn their first win of the season.
Islanders to focus on:
Garry Clark: The 6-foot-8-inch senior from St. Louis, is averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds on the season. The Islanders most efficient player according to EvanMiya.com can also shoot the 3. He hit two beyond the arc against Purdue.
Owen Dease: The 6-foot-8-inch forward had 20 points and 7 rebounds against Purdue and had two 3’s and nabbed and 3 steals.
UP NEXT: Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi at New Mexico
Time: Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Location: The Pit
Listen: Lobo Radio Network
Watch: Mountain West Network
